'Beaded Prayers' exhibition upcoming at UNL's Hillestad Gallery

Unique artworks created by more than 4,000 individuals and collected by Virginia-based artist Sonya Clark will be featured in a new exhibition titled "Beaded Prayers" at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The exhibition will run from Sept. 15 through Oct. 10 in the Hillestad Textiles Gallery, in the Home Economics building on UNL's East Campus, just north of 35th and Holdrege Streets.

For nearly a decade, Clark has worked with groups creating one-of-a-kind amulets, which are included in "Beaded Prayers." On her Web site (www.beadedprayersproject.com) she describes how she developed the idea of sealing peoples' writings inside beaded packets.

"Historically, African amulets are made from leather or cloth casings filled with sacred writings and other tokens of power," she said. "Closing the amulets makes their contents inaccessible�it is the presence of the word, not the ability to read it that yields their power. The casing acts as a veil elevating the contents to an intangible and metaphysical realm."

Many cultures have a practice of creating physical manifestation of prayers and amulets. Clark cites the "doaa nameh in Iran, scapular for Catholics, and mezuzahs in the Jewish tradition."

Clark will give a free public lecture Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. in the Home Economics Building. Following the lecture, she will hold a workshop for students and community members who will create their own beaded prayers.

The Hillestad Textiles Gallery is part of UNL's Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design. It is free and open to the public Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Parking permits are available from the department office for visitors to use in designated visitor parking areas.