"The Fabric of Moroccan Life"
2002-03-24 until 2002-06-23
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis, IN, USA

Bright colors and lively geometric and floral designs dominate more than 150 magnificent embroideries, hangings and rugs featured in The Fabric of Moroccan Life, which is the largest exhibition of Moroccan art ever presented in the United States.

These anonymous masterworks, which are part of a long oral tradition that has been passed down through generations of Moroccan women, are distinct and varied in their color, design and technique. Authentic Moroccan jewelry and costumes enhance the presentation of this collection that is as diverse as the north African nation's landscape and culture: from snow-peaked mountains to arid deserts, and timeless villages to modern cities.

The exhibition explores the artistic importance of these handcrafted rugs and textiles as they relate to the traditional lives of Moroccan people.

Drawn entirely from the IMA's permanent collection, most of these one-of-a-kind works of art have never been exhibited. The majority of works in the exhibition were acquired by Admiral Albert P. Niblack, an Indiana native and officer of the U.S. Navy, while he was stationed in Gibraltar in 1917. His vast collection of embroideries and weavings was passed on to his sisters and was bequeathed to the IMA by the Niblack family in 1933.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of Indiana

Other Important Exhibitions in Indianapolis