In the Weave: Bhutanese Textiles and National Identity

L Gallery
April 10 - August 2, 2008

In the Weave presented traditional, village-based weavings from the remote Kingdom of Bhutan. The intricate textiles showcased the artistry of traditional craftspeople from one of the most isolated countries in the world. The majority of pieces in the show were lent to the University of Texas at El Paso from the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, which was founded in 1799 and currently houses more than 2.4 million works of art and culture. The exhibition was held in conjunction with UTEP's annual Bhutan Days celebration. The celebration took on special significance because the Smithsonian Museum's Annual Folklife Festival, the largest annual cultural event in the U.S. capital, was chosen to honor the cultures of both the country of Bhutan and the State of Texas..