Inside Iowa State
Oct. 27, 1995


INDIAN ART ON DISPLAY

The art of women living in India is the focus of an exhibit 
that opens Monday, Oct. 30, in Gallery 181, College of 
Design.

At least once a year, Hindu women in India create sacred 
drawings and paintings to encourage good luck and keep danger 
and evil from their homes and families. In some areas, women 
repaint their walls and floors seasonally; in other areas 
they are repainted weekly; and in some communities in the far 
south, they are repainted every day.

Even though millions of Indian women regularly decorate their 
homes, this art has received little attention. The exhibit, 
"Women's Ritual Art of India: Views from Three 
Photographers," records the profusion and diversity of this 
art form.

Stephen Huyler is a cultural anthropologist who has spent 
large portions of the past 24 years traveling and conducting 
field research in India. The focus of his work has been rural 
arts, especially those related to sacred rituals. He has 
aone-man show on display at the Smithsonian's Arthur M. 
Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C.

He will present a lecture, "Painted Prayers: Women's Ritual 
Art in India," at 4:10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, in 238 Coover. A 
reception will follow in Gallery 181.

Jyoti Bhatt and Raghav Kaneria have been widely exhibited in 
India. Both teach at the College of Fine Arts at the 
University of Baroda in Gujarat. Bhatt is a painter and 
graphic artist and Kaneria a sculptor in all mediums. The two 
have photographed rural arts in India since the 1970s and 
their photographs have appeared in several Indian exhibitions 
and illustrated numerous articles.

The exhibit runs through Nov. 29. Gallery 181 is open 9 a.m.-
4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 2-4 p.m. Sunday. Free parking is 
available on Sunday in the lot west of the College of Design. 
The gallery will be closed Nov. 19-26 for the Thanksgiving 
holiday.

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University Relations
Iowa State University