Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

2001 September 8 - 2002 March 31

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened in September 8, 2001 and closed March 31, 2002. Located in Section 1A, Floor 1 in Gallery 77 at the American Museum of Natural History. "Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion" was an exhibition that revealed the household and community rituals and festivals that are the mainstay of Hindu life.

Summary

"Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion" was an exhibition that revealed the household and community rituals and festivals that are the mainstay of Hindu life. The exhibition featured more than 75 color photographs taken in India by cultural anthropologist Stephen P. Huyler, a wide range of South Asian devotional objects from the Museum's collection, and video portraits produced by the Museum's Department of Exhibition. Among the highlights on view were 10 re-created shrines that illustrated the many different ways in which Hindus practice their religion. More that 60 artifacts including figurines, oil vessels, lamps and wall hangings were on display. There were nine sections in the exhibition: Introduction; Morning Prayers; Household Worship; Community Worship; Temple Worship; Deities on Parade; Ephemeral Shrines and Images; Healing, Sacred Vows, and Divine Possessions; and Worship in Life's Twilight. Lauren Kendall, Curator of the Asian Ethnographic Collection in the Museum's Division of Anthropology, was the curator of the exhibit. Stephen P. Huyler was the guest curator. Ingrid van Shipley, an Indian New Yorker, decorated the walls of shrines on view using traditional forms and motifs. The exhibit was on view in Gallery 77 of the American Museum of Natural History from September 8, 2001 through March 31, 2002. Accompanying the exhibit, was "Portraits of Worship: Personal Shrines of Hindus, Sikh and Jains," an exhibition of 15 color photographs by photojournalist Steve McCurry.

Individuals and institutions involved in the creation of the exhibition: Stephen P. Huyler; Laurel Kendall; Ingrid van Shipley; AMNH Department of Anthropology; Portraits of Worship: Personal Shrines of Hindus, Sikh, and Jains (Exhibition)

Sources

American Museum of Natural History Press Release, September 2001. Departmental Records, 101; American Museum of Natural History Library Archives.

American Museum of Natural History Library Archives. American Museum of Natural History Press Release Fact Sheet, August 2001. Departmental Records, 101; American Museum of Natural History Library Archives.

American Museum of Natural History Press Release, January 2002. Departmental Records, 101; American Museum of Natural History Library Archives.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Gallery 77.
Location of exhibition.

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