Meeting Announcement:
Hidden in Plain Sight: Patterns of Intentional
Variation in Traditional Oriental Rugs
with
Shiv Sikri
at
The
Burke Room, The Burke Museum
University of Washington Campus
Friday, June 27th, 2003, 7:00 PM
Part of the charm of traditional
oriental rugs is the variation in color (“abrash”) and design found within each
piece. Many of these variations appear
to be arbitrary and “accidental”.
However, by examining a large number of examples and concentrating on
specific types, one begins to notice that some patterns of variation that are
so pervasive that they suggest certain heretofore hidden compositional rules
are at work. This slide lecture will
concentrate on bringing to light one of the most prominent of these hidden
design patterns – the “internal elem” – which is a representation of a
“compartment” in the lower quarter of a weaving and which often incorporates a
discontinuous element. The presentation
will show the distinctive markings that indicate this subtle design element,
and will show that all types of traditional rugs – tribal, workshop and
classical, include these not-so-random variations. This presentation will leave you with a new way to perceive and
appreciate any traditional rug.
Shiv Sikri is a rug
collector and dealer, and a lecturer in Mathematics at Hunter College, New York
and also a Doctoral candidate in Mathematics with a specialization in Number
Theory. As a rug collector, his specialization is Baluchis.
Meeting Schedule:
7:00 Mix and
mingle. Announcements.
7:15 Shiv Sikri –
“Hidden in Plain Sight: Patterns of Intential Variation in Traditional Oriental
Rugs”
8:15 Show and tell – if
you wish, please bring an interesting textile you’d like to share with the
group. A traditional pile rug would be
particularly appropriate.
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.
