Meeting Announcement:

Romancing the Rug

with

Kathleen Bashian

at

The Burke Museum

University of Washington Campus

Tuesday, May 3, 2005, 7:00 PM

Why are oriental rugs so popular? Why are they so desired by decorators, collectors and homeowners? How did this rarity of the Eastern court become a staple of Western furnishing? With the scholar’s eye for inquiry and the storyteller’s expressive wit, Dr. Kathleen Ryniker Bashian will present a slide-illustrated lecture, “Romancing the Rug”, a program exploring the history and mystery of Oriental rugs.

Dr. Bashian is the author of Once Upon a Carpet, a book that looks at the meaning of carpets in diplomacy, sacred rituals, privileged households, and pop culture. She writes “Carpet Tales”, a feature article of Area, the Journal of the Oriental Rug Importers Association. Dr. Bashian has taught arts and humanities courses at Marymount University and George Mason University in Virginia. She is the recipient of three grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her seminars are a featured event at the Oriental Rug show in Atlanta, customer events with Macy’s and Marshall Field’s department stores, and various academic and public venues.

Dr. Bashian makes her home in Arlington, VA, but currently resides here in Seattle while her husband receives a bone marrow transplant. We’re fortunate that she’s able to speak to our group while she’s here, and we offer our best wishes for a successful procedure and a full and speedy recovery.

Meeting Schedule:

7:00 Mix and mingle. Announcements.

7:15 Kathleen Bashian – “Romancing the Rug”

8:15 Show and tell – if you wish, please bring a favorite oriental rug or fragment 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 17^th Avenue NE and NE 45^th Street. The Burke Room is on the left side of the lobby as you enter off of 17^th. Parking is available in the lot just South of the Burke Museum, or on the street in the University District.