Saturday, September 27, 2008

Magic Carpet Ride



The special Ming Dynasty show recently packed up at the Asian Art Museum before traveling on to Maryland and Missouri, of all places.



On Thursday afternoon, the huge building was delightfully empty so you could stroll through the permanent collection in perfect peace.



In the ancient India section, one is greeted by carved elephants, Buddhas, and major phallic symbols (see above).



Newly displayed textiles are dotted throughout the museum including the extraordinary Pakistani headwrap above.



In the Korean section, my favorite monster screen has returned, a 19th century trompe l'oeil library created for a 19th century ruler who was nostalgiac for his days as a scholar.



Around the corner are modern fabric pieces...



...which seem to be a Korean specialty.



The second floor room for special exhibits is currently displaying a grab-bag of "Arts of the Islamic World"...



...with an exquisite Koran in the center.



Say what you want about Muslims, but any religion that has inspired rugs such as the one above will never truly die.

12 comments:

  1. I love the fabric colors!

    http://apaintersdiary.blogspot.com/

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  2. yeah, i love going..it makes me want to travel! how are and mr T?

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  3. Yea...
    I heart that fabric...

    And I love love love your writing...

    I'll be your regular reader for now... :)

    Care to trade link?
    ;)

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  4. Hello!
    I came by your blog today for the very first time. I've never been able to understand the passion that some have for blogging but I love reading stuff that awakens the mind and inflames the imagination. I think yours is an admirable blog and reading through your archives was interesting. I couldn't resist the temptation to do just that. The more scope it gave to my mind although I was hoping to read and leave quietly without surprising you with any comment. Perhaps you will be inviting back sometime if you think a counter visit is worth one infringement of your normal routine. I'll look out for your arrival. Until then, take care.

    btw: have you seen or read the master and margarita?

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  5. Glad to see religious perseverance comes down to the quality of your rugs. Apparently textile factories have replaced oil pipelines as the bastions of freedom and civilization.

    So it goes.

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  6. Dear Pedro: Mr. T and I are doing fine although we're very busy dudes these days.

    Dear mira: I decided not to have a blogroll because it's too much like "who's the most popular?" in elementary school, but if you create something you think I should link to in particular, send me an email.

    Dear red eyes: I haven't read "The Master and Margarita" though it's definitely on the list.

    Dear nelson: I was actually paraphrasing the writer Saki who once wrote something to the effect that "People may say what they want about the decline of Christianity, but any religion that has created Green Chartreuse will never truly die."

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  7. hmmmmm, going places is one simple way to be enlightened too. like your narration and photos too.
    keep up the "blog of note" level and all the best of health to you and all your secret admirers too, from Healthy Wealth blogger, http://theinnozablog.blogspot.com

    perhaps one day my blog will be in the blog of note too. see you there.

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  8. I liked the rug. I love carpets.. Nice blog.. Carry on

    Cheers
    Randeep

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  10. Your blog post about the "magic carpet ride" sounds like quite the adventure! I enjoyed reading about your experiences and the magic of discovery that travel can bring.
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