Frist Center Presents VISHNU: HINDUISM'S BLU-SKINNED SAVIOR, 2/19

An exceptional exhibition devoted to Vishnu, one of Hinduism's three major deities, opens at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, in Nashville, Tennessee, on February 19, 2011.

Vishnu: Hinduism's Blue-Skinned Savior

contains more than 170 paintings, sculptures, textiles, and ritual objects created in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh between the fourth and twentieth centuries. Loaned by museums and private collections internationally, the works have been selected both for their superb aesthetic quality and their historic significance. As such, they open a window onto Hinduism past and present, as well as onto many of India's art-making traditions. Vishnu: Hinduism's Blue-Skinned Savior is the first major exhibition to be devoted to Vishnu.

On view at the Frist through May 29, 2011, it has been organized by the Frist Center and is curated by Joan Cummins, the Lisa and Bernard Selz Curator of Asian Art at the Brooklyn Museum, where it will be shown following its presentation in Nashville.

Frist Center Executive Director Susan Edwards states, "The Frist is thrilled to present Vishnu: Hinduism's Blue-Skinned Savior, which, in addition to enlightening audiences about Hinduism, creates a compelling portrait of historic and contemporary Indian society. This is especially important at this point in time, as India's influence on global culture rapidly expands. The Frist is grateful to Joan Cummins for bringing her vast knowledge and expertise to this project. We look forward to welcoming both the Nashville community- including its many South Asian residents-and visitors from across the country and the world to see this magnificent exhibition."

The Frist Center gratefully acknowledges the exhibition sponsors: Platinum Sponsor is The HCA Foundation on behalf of HCA and the TriStar Family of Hospitals; Gold Sponsor is First Tennessee. The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is supported in part by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission and the Tennessee Arts Commission. The Frist Center thanks the Vishnu Advisory Committee and Friends of Vishnu for their support of this exhibition.

Vishnu: Hinduism's Blue-Skinned Savior is accompanied by a 292-page, fully

illustrated catalogue with an introductory essay and object entries by Dr. Cummins and scholarly essays by Leslie C. Orr, Associate Professor of Religion, Concordia University; Cynthia Packert, Professor of Art History, Middlebury College; and Doris Meth Srinivasan, Research Fellow, SUNY Stony Brook. Published by Mapin Publishing, Ahmedabad, India, it will be available for $40.00 from the Frist Center for the Visual Arts Gift Shop and select museum shops and online outlets.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, located in a historic Art Deco building in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the premiere visual-arts organizations in the southeastern United States. A non-collecting institution, the Frist organizes and presents a year round program of distinguished and varied exhibitions, as well as an array of educational offerings for all ages. Since opening to the public in 2001, the Frist has presented more than 100 exhibitions of works from major U.S. and international museums, and organized more than 40 exhibitions, a number of which have traveled to museums nationwide. Together, these have represented a great diversity of artists, movements, historical eras, and geographical locations. The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is supported in part by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission and the Tennessee Arts Commission. For additional information, visit www.fristcenter.org.

 

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