Ancient Threads to showcase 'Silk Road' at UNL Lentz Center

"Ancient Threads, Newly Woven: Recent Art from China's Silk Road," is the summer exhibition now through Aug. 6 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Lentz Center for Asian Culture, 1155 Q St.

The Lentz Center is in the lower level of the Hewit Place building, 1155 Q St., across from the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 1:30-4 p.m. Sundays. It is closed Mondays. For more information, visit the Web site at www.unl.edu/lentz.

The exhibition presents the work of contemporary artists on the Chinese Silk Road. The show opens with paintings from Xian (pronounced she-an), the ancient capital of China, and traces the artistic output of artists living in five main cities: Xian, Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Urumqi, and Kashgar. As the exhibit shows the westward movement of contemporary art and the changes that it undergoes, the ethnic diversity and varying art styles become obvious. Variety of subject matter abounds but two groups of paintings are especially dominant-the work life of the silk road (moving of animals) in various scenic backdrops and large and interesting portraits of people from the different cities along the road.

This Lentz Center exhibition is very large with about 80 paintings, overflowing to its upstairs neighbors, the Great Plains Art Museum's southwest gallery.

This exhibition is produced by Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C. Lilibet Hagel is a board member of Meridian and has successfully raised all the money needed to bring the show to Lincoln. Mrs. Hagel is the Honorary Chair of this venue.

On the overland Silk Route there are a northern and a southern part. This show follows the northern route at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. The formidable nature of the Taklamakan Desert is indicated by the meaning of its name: "Go in and you won't come out." These routes are now called the Silk Roads, but this name originated in the 19th century. The first items traded on these routes were horses desired by the Chinese emperor in the second century B.C. The Romans admired the Chinese silk flags raised by the Parthians and from this, their interest in silk developed. Many other goods were bartered on these trade routes. The paintings show the variety that such routes presented.

The Lentz Center recognizes the rich and varied cultures of the many diverse peoples of Asia. As an entity within UNL, the center's unique collection provides a singular opportunity for enhancing instructional programs on the campus as well as enriching the cultural environment of the citizens of the state of Nebraska. It is dedicated to the enrichment of knowledge and understanding of Asia, and is the only institution in Nebraska devoted solely to Asian art.

Contact: Barbara Banks, Director/Curator, Lentz Center for Asian Culture, (402) 472-5841