Bowers
brings Tibet to Southern California
By
Lesley Nickus
On-line Forty-Niner
On
April 15, the Bowers Museum will host
"College Night 2004," providing
college students from Orange and Los Angeles
counties the opportunity to view one of
the most rare exhibits in the world, "Tibet:
Treasures from the Roof of the World."
The
exhibit showcases 200 sacred treasures
from Tibet, making them available for
viewing in the United States for the first
time in history. Without traveling to
Tibet, most students would never come
across and opportunity to expand their
artistic knowledge and enjoyment such
as this. "It was very important from
an educational and cultural perspective
to reach out to all college students in
Southern California," the museum
president Pete Keller said.
The
exhibit was contracted in December of
2002 and has been organized by three of
California's most qualified curators:
Terese Tse Bartholomew, Patricia Berger,
and Robert Warren Clark. It is divided
into four sections to allow for pleasurable
viewing and maximum educational ease.
The
first of four sections introduces viewers
to the history and culture of Tibet, using
panels, timelines, murals and special
historical displays such as the Seal of
the Fifth Dalai Lama. The second features
a skull cup or "Kapala," made
of a human skull belonging to an important
figure of the time. In Tibet, use of the
skull in art represents a high degree
of respect for the person to whom the
skull belonged. The third section displays
twenty devotional paintings called "Thangkas,"
in addition to examples of carefully crafted
sculptures. It will also provide an opportunity
for the viewer to become familiar with
the Tibetan Buddhist deities.
Tying
the sections together will be an exhibition
of valuable works of art used in the daily
lives of ancient Tibetans, ranging from
jewelry to ceremonial items. Among these,
a Gold Teapot made of more than 200 pieces
of turquoise that was used by Tibetan
nobility as a serving utensil. This exhibit
is sure to provide a unique insight into
the lifestyle and history of ancient Tibet.
"Tibet:
Treasures from the Roof of the World"
can be seen through September, 2004. However,
the Bowers Museum has made a special event
for students including live music by Matt
Costa and Ryan Whitney and drawing for
gift certificates to local restaurants
and shops on April 15 only. Dinner will
be served by the highly regarded restaurant
"Tangata" between 6:30p.m. and
8p.m., and the exhibit doors open at 6p.m..
In addition to "Tibet," permanent
exhibits "Vision of the Shaman"
and "California: the Golden Years"
will also be available to visit.
Tickets
are available at the Bowers ticket center
for $15 pre-sale and $20 at the door.
For more information please contact the
Bowers Museum at (714) 567-3600 or visit
their Web-site at www.bowers.org.
