Falnama: The Book of Omens Celebration with Kirby
Washington D.C., CA
10/20/09-01/25/10
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In celebration of “Falnama: The Book of Omens”, mural artist Michael Kirby will recreate an image from the exhibition the artwork on view in the Sackler Gallery.Kirby will use a technique called ephemeral mural painting, also known as street painting. Over a period of five days, using mediums such as pastels, lacquers and tempura. Kirby will recreate an image of the sun found in a Falnama created in the 1580s. The original painting is on loan from Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, and can be seen in the exhibition.  It will include three unusual, illustrated manuscripts that were once used by sultans and shahs in Iran and Turkey to explore the unknown through the practice of divination. This is the first exhibition of these rare manuscripts, which are notable for their monumental size, brilliantly painted compositions and diverse subject matter. The Freer and Sackler galleries will host a live video stream of Kirby at work throughout the week. Interviews with the artist and curator will be available on Ustream.

Location: Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art
12th and Jefferson Drive S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20013

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Visit www.ustream.tv/channel/freer-sackler-asian-art and www.asia.si.edu

via EM Staff, 14 October 2009 9:09am | |