Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul--a must-see if you're in Washington, San Francisco, Houston, or New York.
As I briefly mentioned yesterday, the East Building of the National Gallery of Art (NGA) is currently host to an amazing and exquisite exhibit. The contents of this exhibit are the result of brave men and women in Afghanistan who hid national treasures and saved them from plunder and destruction by the Soviets and the Taliban.
Afghanistan: Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul is a breathtaking exhibit of artifacts from this Silk Road nation covering a period from 100 B.C. to 100 A.D. For the next 17 months, this exhibit will travel the U.S. It is now in Washington from May 25 to September 7, 2008. Photography is not allowed in the exhibit, but trust me when I say, this is a must-see collection. The exhibit is a joint collaboration between the Government of Afghanistan, the National Geographic Society (NGS), and the NGA.
Photo of the program brochure.I also want to give a shout out and a congratulations to my friend, Merujo, who works for the NGS. She wrote the grant proposal that made it possible for this exhibit to come to Washington, D.C. In addition to the NGA link above, be sure to check out NGS's site or listen to this report on National Public Radio's Morning Edition. And, if you can't see this exhibit while it's in Washington, San Francisco, Houston, or New York,* go to your nearest newsstand or bookstore and buy last month's edition of National Geographic magazine (it has a picture of Stonehenge on the cover.) It includes photos of these wonderful, rare treasures.
* Schedule: National Gallery of Art, May 25–September 7, 2008; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, October 24, 2008–January 25, 2009; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 22–May 17, 2009; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, June 23–September 20, 2009.
Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 6/08
6 comments:
I can only imagine this historic collection of artifacts.
In 2006, we took a tour to Italy and met a couple from Afghanistan who left their country for the States around the time of the Soviet War. They only hope the taliban is ousted and their country return to normalcy.
Oh, and the Twins swept the Nationals in 3 games of interleague play.
Great post. Thanks for posting the schedule, I think I might be able to see it in New York, in September. In the meantime I will get the National Geographic. Exquisite, indeed.
Rob: It's an amazing collection in the sense that it's so old. Beg your boss for a business trip to NYC or San Francisco...
I'm not surprised the Nats were swepts by the Twins. Our team stinks.
Fénix: This is definitely worth a trip to NYC. It's a stunning exhibit.
SF! Yay! I will see it!
I just watched Charlie Wilson's War, so I'm in the mood to be further informed about Afghanistan. Thanks!
After watching that movie, I'm also in the mood to be further informed about Julia Roberts' actual hair color. Blonde just didn't work. Give me Pretty Woman/My Best Friend's Wedding Julia anyday!
USElaine: Given that you're just up the road from SF, you definitely must see this! I'll be interested to hear your perspective after you've seen it.
Jonah: I still need to see that movie. I think it's in my Netflix queue. As for Julia Robert's hair, I can imagine blond didn't work well for her. Loved her in The Pelican Brief and the Ocean's series!
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