Purdue News
Purdue News
|
|
February 25, 2003 Purdue Galleries' exhibits feature Jewish women and Earhart memorabiliaWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Two new Purdue Galleries' exhibits beginning in March will highlight the stories of Jewish women and Amelia Earhart. "Women of the Book: Jewish Artists, Jewish Themes" will be on display in the Robert L. Ringel Gallery from March 10 through April 27. An exhibition of artist books by Jewish women artists from around the world, its themes include family rituals, traditions and liturgy, the Holocaust, the integration of Jewish culture into art, humorous takes on being "Jewish," cultural memory, and the celebration of festivals, among others. The exhibit features more than 100 book works which emphasize the sense of belonging to either a cultural or religious community. Many of the books were made especially for the exhibit. Other books have been printed in large editions and will be made available for reading at tables placed in the gallery. A reception and lecture on the exhibit will take place from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 9, in the Purdue Memorial Union, Room 118. Judith Hoffberg, a professional book artist and the curator who developed the exhibit, will speak. Hoffberg publishes a newsletter entitled "Umbrella," which covers news and reviews of the field of artist books. Her own collection of more than 5,000 book works is housed at the Special Collections of the Arts Library at UCLA. "Women of the Book" is sponsored by the Ben and Louise Klatch Jewish Arts Series. Hoffberg's presentation is presented with the support of the Department of Jewish Studies. Showing concurrently in the Stewart Center Gallery is "Flight Trails," an exhibition of Amelia Earhart memorabilia. It will publicly unveil the George Palmer Putnam Collection of Amelia Earhart Papers, featuring a recent gift to Purdue Libraries from Sally Putnam Chapman, granddaughter of Earhart's husband George Putnam. With this gift, the Amelia Earhart collection in Purdue University Libraries Special Collections is now the largest, most comprehensive repository of materials in the world relating to the life, career and mysterious disappearance of the famous aviatrix. Before her Purdue-funded plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on her around-the-world flight in 1937, Earhart served as a consultant in the Department of the Study of Careers for Women at Purdue. The "Flight Trails" exhibit is part of Purdue's "Centennial of Flight" celebration, acknowledging the anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first manned, powered flight and the university's ongoing role in aviation and aerospace history. Craig Martin, director of Purdue Galleries, says he is pleased Purdue has compiled such a comprehensive collection of Earhart memorabilia. "The 'Flight Trails' exhibit will include her writings on education and careers for women," Martin says. "Her poetry is included, as well as letters from the head of the Navy, a former first lady and average Americans who were inspired by her crusade. All of these are testaments to how this woman and aviator changed history." Sally Putnam Chapman, Earhart's step-granddaughter and biographer, will open the exhibit with a lecture entitled "Amelia Earhart Putnam — Flyer" at 4 p.m. Monday, March 10, in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. A reception will follow in the lobby adjacent to Fowler Hall and the Stewart Center Gallery. The exhibit is a collaboration between Purdue Galleries and Purdue Libraries. The Robert L. Ringel Gallery in the Purdue Memorial Union and the Stewart Center Gallery are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, until 8 p.m. on Thursday, and from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. CONTACT: Craig Martin, (765) 494-3061, gallery@purdue.edu. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
|
