Meeting Announcement:

 

Naga Textiles

 

with

 

Robb Shep

 

at

 

The Burke Room, The Burke Museum

University of Washington Campus

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004, 7:00 PM

 

The Nagas live in the Northeastern part of India and as much as has been written about them, they still remain a mystery.  Where did they come from?  How many tribes are there?  How many languages do they speak? What do they share culturally?  The answers to these and other questions depend upon whom you read and when they wrote.  It is difficult to study the Naga people because the Indian government severely restricts access to Nagaland.  We do know that they are a mongoloid people, they were headhunters, they have been exploited by colonial powers (both British and Indian), their culture was almost lost due to the Baptist missionaries, and that they have regained some measure of this culture and their self-respect, in part through their textiles. 

 

STARS member Robb Shep has been intently collecting Naga textiles for several years.  He will be sharing that collection with us, and helping us see the consistent themes that have persisted as the tradition has changed over time.  The core of this collection of some 30 Naga blankets or shawls was collected by an Indian teacher who lived in Nagaland during the late 1960s to mid 1990s.  As such it represents textile development at this specific period.  Other items in the collection go back to the early 20th century and there are also a few more current items.

 

Robb has generously agreed to bring the pieces themselves to illustrate his talk.  This will give us a terrific opportunity to see the actual items, which allows a greater understanding than slides alone.  He also requests that anyone with Naga material of their own bring it to share.  It will further enrich the evening!

 

 

Meeting Schedule:

 

7:00            Mix and mingle.  Announcements.

7:15            Robb Shep – “Naga Textiles”

8:15            Show and tell – if you wish, please bring an interesting Naga textile or object that you’d like to share with the group. 

 

Please note:  This meeting is free to all members, $5.00 at the door for guests.  As always, all are welcome. 

 

 

Meeting Location:

 

The Burke Museum is located at the Northwest corner of the University of Washington campus, near the corner of 17th Avenue NE and NE 45th Street.  The Burke Room is on the left side of the lobby as you enter off of 17th.  Parking is available in the lot just South of the Burke Museum, or on the street in the University District.

 

 

 

 

                               

    Naga in traditional dress                            Angami Naga textile