'Alice's House' opens at UNL's Lentz Center Sept. 9

Lincoln, Neb., August 16th, 2006 —

"Alice's House: Chinese and Japanese Art from the Collection of Alice V. Abel" will open Sept. 9 and will run through Dec. 22 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Lentz Center for Asian Culture.

An opening party will celebrate Abel's collection and the Lentz Center's 20th anniversary. The party will take place in the center from 1:30-4 p.m. Sept. 10. Brief remarks will be made at 2:30. The public is invited.

A well-known Lincoln resident and distinguished graduate of the University of Nebraska (class of 1946), Abel was a philanthropist with many contributions and honors, including being a board member of the University of Nebraska Foundation and chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Nebraska Wesleyan University. Among her gifts to the city are Hazel Abel Park and the Alice Abel Arboretum at Nebraska Wesleyan. She died in March 2005.

Abel was also an enthusiastic collector of Asian art and decorated her entire West Coast home with Chinese and Japanese art.

"We at the Lentz Center are very fortunate to have been loaned 22 items from her collection," said Barbara Banks, curator/director of the Lentz Center. "The Lentz Center will celebrate its 20th anniversary in September and we have purposely chosen this time to show Alice Abel's collection. Her collection demonstrates her devotion to Asian art. In the tradition of Don and Velma Lentz, she has been willing to share her collection with the public."

The Lentzes were both musicians and began their collecting with musical instruments. Abel lent a 17th-18th century Japanese koto, a stringed instrument, to the center to enhance its substantial collection of musical instruments. Velma Lentz was able to see and admire the koto before she died last spring.

"There is great variety in the items that we have on loan from Ms. Abel," Banks said. "One of the most striking is a 10-foot by 6-foot cut silk velvet wall hanging with a chrysanthemum pattern. An 18th-century ewer made of cloisonne is a fine piece with the five clawed dragon handle, a symbol of the emperor. A bit of Ms. Abel's living room will be recreated in the show with a large wooden screen with carvings in ivory and hardstones. On either side will be Japanese champleve enamel torcheres. There will be other interesting objects as well. We hope that as many people as possible will come and enjoy the unique collection."

The Lentz Center for Asian Culture recognizes the rich and varied cultures of the many diverse peoples of Asia. The center's unique collection provides a singular opportunity for enhancing instructional programs on the UNL campus as well as enriching the cultural environment of the citizens 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. Through exhibitions of Asian art and artifacts and other cultural activities, it is hoped that a greater awareness will prevail in our community. As multicultural experiences are becoming more valuable in our rapidly changing world, the Lentz Center for Asian Culture offers a unique opportunity to develop greater understanding.

The Lentz Center is located 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. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sundays. It is closed Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, visit its Web site at www.unl.edu/lentz.

The link below is to an item in "Alice's House." It is a statute of Marici, the goddess of the dawn or sun's ray, Japan, 19th century, guilded camphor wood and red lacquer, on loan from the Collection of Alice V. Abel.

CONTACT: Barbara Banks, Curator/Director, Lentz Center, (402) 472-5841 (ftp://ucommxsrv1.unl.edu/downloadables/photo/20060816marici.jpg).