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Oglethorpe University Museum of Art to Display
Tibetan Masterpieces
Atlanta — Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA) announces the
exhibition “The Female Buddha: Women of Enlightenment in Tibetan
Mysticism” featuring works from the collection of Shelley and Donald
Rubin (Oglethorpe ’56). Presenting 72 masterpiece watercolors, or tangkas, and eight pieces in wood and bronze, the exhibition will
open September 15, 2002 and run through February16, 2003, beginning
OUMA’s Year of Asia.
“OUMA is honored to present an exhibition from one of
Oglethorpe’s most prolific and important art-collecting alumni,
Donald Rubin,” emphasizes Lloyd Nick, director of Oglethorpe
University Museum of Art. “The Rubins were selected as one of
America’s top 100 collectors by ‘Art and Antiques’ magazine for
their significant and extensive cultural treasure.”
“Their collecting of these rare tangkas actually preserves an
ancient art, which has been methodically destroyed by those trying
to suppress and eliminate the Tibetan culture, much like the
destruction of art in Afghanistan,” Nick continued. “Recently, the
Dalai Lama has publicly come out to encourage collectors like the
Rubins to obtain as much of his culture’s art as possible to protect
it. Rubin, however, as a long-time collector, anticipated His
Holiness’s desperate plea and humanitarian urging.”
This selection from the Rubin collection, one of the premier
collections of Tibetan art outside of Tibet, has never before been
loaned for exhibition. “It is socially timely and visually
exciting,” states Nick. “Thanks to our curator, Glenn Mullin, this
exhibition at OUMA marks the first time that this thematic focus,
female Buddhas, has been presented in the United States.”
The Rubins are building a museum in Manhattan (set to be
completed in 2004) to house their collection.
In recognition of the importance of
this exhibition, OUMA has received a DeKalb Council for the Arts
grant.
Visitors will be able to explore deeply the ancient and ongoing
traditions of “The Land Above the Clouds” through related
programming, such as a lecture series and the exhibition
book-catalog by Glenn H. Mullin, curator and world-renowned scholar
of Tibetan culture and student of the Dalai Lama and several other
internationally-known authors.
Founded as Oglethorpe University Art Gallery in 1984 and expanded
in 1993, Oglethorpe University Museum of Art is a nonprofit
university museum whose mission is to bring meaningful culture to
Atlanta through the exhibition of art that is representational,
international and often figurative and spiritual.
Comprised of two spacious galleries and occupying some 7,000
square feet on the third floor of Lowry Hall and Philip Weltner
Library of Oglethorpe University, OUMA offers an attractive and
pleasant environment for the viewing of elegantly curated exhibits.
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art is easily accessible, offers
ample free parking and admits visitors free of charge. The museum’s
Gift Shop features a wide selection of Museum-inspired and
multicultural gifts, books and crafts.
For further information about OUMA events or to schedule a docent
tour, call 404.364.8555 or go to our award-winning website
http://www.oglethorpe.edu/museum_of_art/.
Museum Hours:
Tuesday through Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.
Closed Monday and University holidays
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