NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS 1250 New York Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005-3920 tel: (202) 783-5000; fax: 202 393-3235 internet: www.nmwa.org
		• The Narrative Thread: Contemporary Women's Embroidery from Rural India February 4 – May 9, 1999
			Featured in this noteworthy exhibition are approximately 20 recent, communally-embroidered quilts by village women from Bihar in Eastern India. The exhibition introduces the public to a regional Indian aesthetic and technique, while narrating the complexities and concerns of daily life of village women in contemporary India. The technique of embroidered quilts, or Kanthas, dates back to the 18th century when women in Bihar and Bengal transformed old cloths into elaborately decorated quilts, often as gifts for festive occasions. Revived and reshaped by Adithi, a private organization committed to rural development, contemporary kanthas in Bihar have become a medium of expression for the village women and a viable source of income. While the style of the quilts is charmingly folkloric, they often address deep social or political issues, including the caste system, girls' right to an education, the importance of re-forestation, and measures to counteract the threat of AIDS. The themes and stories range from Hindu epics to lessons in health care. A supplementary video and informational pamphlet about the women's position in their poor rural society accompanies the exhibit. The exhibit will travel to the PALO ALTO ART CENTER, Palo Alto, California (May 20 - July 11, 1999).
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