The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) will celebrate the art and culture of India on Saturday, Nov. 12 and Sunday, Nov. 13 with programs featuring stories, films, and performances.

Currently the museum features two exhibitions of art from India: Exposing the Source: the Paintings of Nalini Malani and Taj Mahal, the Building of a Legend. The former celebrates two decades of Malani’s projects as a painter. Drawn primarily from the museum’s Herwitz Collection, the paintings examine India’s vital urban culture, women’s inner lives, and Hindu and Greek mythology. Malani's work has been shown at exhibitions around the world, including the 2005 Venice Biennale. The latter features paintings, watercolors, and photographs that explore the architecture and mystique of this remarkable site. Additionally, a 19 foot high, pink plastic-wrapped contemporary sculpture in the form of the Taj Mahal will be on display in the Atrium. On Sunday, Nov. 13th, contemporary artist Rina Banerjee will give a gallery talk about the piece, which is entitled Take me, Take me, Take me...to the Palace of Love.

Please note: On Sunday, Nov. 20th, PEM will host a lecture and discussion with award-winning director Mira Nair, whose films will be shown during the Atrium Alive: India weekend.

Schedule of Events

Atrium Alive: India
Saturday, November 12
Included with museum admission

Docent Tour: Exposing the Source: The Paintings of Nalini Malani
11 a.m.
Reservations by November 10
Exposing the Source: The Paintings of Nalini Malani is a new exhibition that
features powerful images of the inner lives of women and of India’s vital
culture.

The Story of Divali
11:15–11:25 a.m.
Surabhi Shah tells the enchanting tale of Divali—the Hindu festival of lights
and a highlight of India’s holiday calendar.

Stories of King Akbar and Birbal
Noon–12:30 p.m.
Reservations by November 10
Hear the delightful tales of the Mughal King Akbar and his famous advisor,
Birbal, one of the best- loved figures in folk stories of India.

Mira Nair Film Series
Jama Masjid Street Journal
1979, 20 minutes
12:30 p.m.
Reservations by November 10
See a personal record of street life in the Muslim community surrounding
the Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque, in Old Delhi. Made possible by New
Trade Winds/ECHO.

Bharatanatyam Dance Workshop
1–1:30 p.m. and 3–3:30 p.m.
Sudarshan Belsare and Saumya Ramanathan lead an introductory workshop
in bharatanatyam, a two-thousand-year-old classical dance from South
India.

Docent Tour: Taj Mahal, the Building of a Legend
1:30 p.m.
Reservations by November 10
Discover more about this remarkable site and the love story that inspired it,
in the exhibition Taj Mahal, the Building of a Legend.

Mira Nair Film Series
Salaam Bombay!
1988, 116 minutes
3 p.m.
Reservations by November 10
Mira Nair’s portrayal of the mercenary world around an 11-year-old boy and other fragile, homeless children in the slums of Mumbai earned her the
Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 1988. Made possible by New Trade Winds/ECHO.

Art Activity: Taj Mahal Inlay-Inspired Collage
2 p.m.
Create a collage inspired by the beautiful floral inlays that adorn the Taj
Mahal’s white marble surfaces.

Stories of Extraordinary Women of India
2–2:45 p.m.
Reservations by November 10
For adults, families, and children ages 6 and above
Learn about Parvati’s patience, Princess Mallikumari’s poise, and Nur Jahan’s know- how in Surabhi Shah’s storytelling concert.

Atrium Alive: India
Sunday, November 13
Included with museum admission


Docent Tour: Taj Mahal, the Building of a Legend
Noon
Reservations by November 10
Discover more about this remarkable site and the love story that inspired it,
in the exhibition Taj Mahal, the Building of a Legend.

Artist Presentation: Rina Banerjee
Take Me, Take Me, Take Me . . . to the Palace of Love
1 p.m.
Reservations by November 11
Rina Banerjee discusses her diaphanous sculpture, Take Me, Take Me, Take
Me . . . to the Palace of Love, made of steel and pink plastic wrap. Take
Me, Take Me will be on display in the Atrium until February 15, 2006. Made
possible in part by a grant from the Lee and Juliet Folger Fund.

Stories of Divali, Dashera, Navratri, and Bhaibeej
1:30–2 p.m.
Reservations by November 10
Explore the Hindu festivals of autumn and the height of celebration. Surabhi
Shah engages audiences of all ages with tales of Indian customs.

Art Activity: Taj Mahal Inlay-Inspired Collage
2 p.m.
Create a collage inspired by the beautiful floral inlays that adorn the Taj
Mahal’s white marble surfaces.

Docent Tour: Exposing the Source: The Paintings of Nalini Malani
2:15 p.m.
Reservations by November 10
Exposing the Source: The Paintings of Nalini Malani is a new exhibition that
features powerful images of the inner lives of women and of India’s vital
culture.

Drop-In Art Activities: Divali Decorations
2–4 p.m.
Make and decorate clay lamps that illuminate the Hindu holiday of Divali and
symbolize the move from darkness into light. Also create beautiful floor
decorations.

South Indian Dance: Rudra
3 p.m.
Reservations by November 11
Contemporary dance artists Hari Krishnan and Sudarshan Belsare present
bharatanatyam, a South Indian classical art form that combines dance,
theater, music, and stories.

Stories of King Akbar and Birbal
3:30-4 p.m.
Reservations by November 10
Hear the delightful tales of the Mughal King Akbar and his famous advisor,
Birbal, one of the best-loved figures in folk stories of India.

Mira Nair Film Series
So Far from India
1982, 50 minutes
4 p.m.
Reservations by November 10
Discover the complex rhythm of middle- class family life in a small town in
India. Nair’s portrait of a family split between two worlds makes a universal
statement about uprooting, starting a new life, and the pain felt by those
left behind. Made possible by New Trade Winds/ECHO.

About the Peabody Essex Museum

The recently transformed Peabody Essex Museum presents art and culture from New England and around the world. The museum's collections are among the finest of their kind, showcasing an unrivaled spectrum of American art and architecture and outstanding Asian, Asian Export, Native American, African, Oceanic, Maritime, and Photography collections. In addition to its vast collections, the museum offers changing exhibitions and a hands-on education center. The museum campus features numerous parks, period gardens, and 24 historic properties, including Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year old house that is the only example of Chinese domestic architecture in the United States. The Peabody Essex Museum is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. General museum admission: Adults $13; seniors $11; students $9 Additional admission to Yin Yu Tang: $4 Members, youth 16 and under, and residents of Salem enjoy free general admission and free admission to Yin Yu Tang. Call 866-745-1876.

Website: http://www.pem.org

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