On Wednesday, July 13, 2007, the Peabody Essex Museum heralded the arrival of the fabulous new exhibit “Gateway Bombay” with Moongphali vendors, Chaatwalas and Dabhawalas riding around in the atrium.
Over 300 people attended the inauguration of the exhibit and were introduced to some of the finest paintings by famous Mumbai-based contemporary artists.

Gateway Bombay presents the work of 13 artists who are deeply connected to the city, which is today—60 years after India's independence—a booming commercial and financial hub and a leading center of the art world. The exhibition features major paintings, works on paper, photographs and a mixed-media installation created over the past four decades and as recently as 2006. The 29 works are drawn primarily from PEM's Chester and Davida Herwitz Collection of contemporary Indian art. The artists represented include Chirodeep Chaudhuri, Bal Chhabda, Atul Dodiya, Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar, M.F. Husain, Bhupen Khakhar, Bose Krishnamachari, Nalini Malani, Tyeb Mehta, Gieve Patel, Sudhir Patwardhan, Anil Revri, Ketaki Sheth—most of whom live and work in Bombay.

The exhibition opens July 14, 2007, and remains on view through Dec. 7, 2008, in the Herwitz Gallery.

"Each artist in Gateway Bombay deploys a carefully honed aesthetic vision to explore the city's everyday realities, its residents and the locales they shape and inhabit. Collectively, the works draw viewers beyond the surface noise of a densely peopled metropolis into a deeper encounter with one of the world's largest and most energetic cities," says Susan Bean, PEM curator of South Asian and Korean art.

“Exhibits like this is a great way  to introduce our culture to the world” said Samir and Neelima Desai who provide support for a special exhibition each year “We are delighted to support these events and look forward to having the entire community to support and participate actively in these activities”.

 â€œPEM is fortunate to have the Indian community so involved with the museum. Every time there is an Indian event the museum really comes alive” said a board member.  We would urge everyone to take part in the upcoming events


July 19. 2007

DANCE PERFORMANCE
Padmashri Geeta Chandran
Satyam Shivam Sundaram-The Search for Eternity

Acclaimed dancer Padmashri Geeta Chandran from India presents a new two-hour long production in the classical dance technique of Bharatanatyam: “Satyam Shivam Sundaram-The Search for Eternity!” at the Peabody Essex Museum. The performance reiterates Indian values of Truth, Eternity and Aesthetics.

In Satyam Shivam Sundaram-The Search for Eternity! Geeta uses dance as a means of communicating key artistic and aesthetic values in the Indian classical philosophical tradition. The dance of Krishnais presented as one pulsating with Life, the dance of Shiva as the dance of Change, and the dance of Devi as the dance of Action.

Geeta Chandran was recently conferred The Padmashri: one of the highest and prestigious awards from the President of India for her groundbreaking work in the world of dance, music, education, dance-activism and addressing women’s social concerns through dance. She has also authored a book So Many Journeys, an intensely personal collection of her writings narrating her engagement with Bharatanatyam.

July 21, 2007

BOLLYWOOD MUSIC
1-4 pm | Atrium

Disc jockey Komal Trivedi of WZBC radio at Boston College shares her passion for South Asian and underground music by playing selections from the greatest Bollywood films.

DANCE PERFORMANCES
2-3:30 pm | Atrium

Students from Aangikam Dance Academy in Nashua, NH perform Bollywood dances

MUMBAI STREET VENDORS
1- 4 pm | Atrium
Meet vendors that can be found on almost any street in Mumbai as they share their wares in the museum's atrium throughout the afternoon.

DOCENT TOURS
1 and 3 pm | Gateway Bombay Gallery

DROP-IN ART ACTIVITIES
1-3 pm | Art Studios

Make a cityscape of Bombay, also known as the Queen’s Necklace.

FILM
One City, Two Worlds
2001, 24 min., directed by Zafar Hai
Noon and 4 pm | Morse Auditorium

Witness the eloquent juxtaposition of parallel worlds in Bombay-one where vendors in bustling street markets meet daily challenge of survival, and one where privileged upper-class Bombayites navigate their posh, technologically modern world.

FILM
Merchants of Bombay
2004, 24 min., directed by Zafar Hai
2 pm | Morse Auditorium

This documentary touches on the lives and times of four men whose spectacular business careers spanned the 19th century and transformed Bombay: Jamsetjee Jejeeboy, David Sassoon, Premchand Roychand and Jamsetji Tata. Made possible by the Lowell Institute.

FILM
Dabbawallas
2004, 60 min., directed by Paul S. Goodman
3 pm | Morse Auditorium

Every day in Bombay, 4,000 Dabbawallas, or box people, deliver 100,000 lunches from people's homes to their place of work amd then back again. This 100-year-old system operates without technology or modern management practices, yet is nearly 100 percent reliable. Discover the secrets of its success as the semi-literate workers go about their jobs on the streets of Mumbai.

Reservations suggested for films, call (978)745-9500, ext. 3011.

*Special Presentation: Dabbawallas Screening and Discussion with Filmmaker Paul Goodman on Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 7 pm.

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