We are excited to announce that two separate art exhibits curated by the Bothwell Arts Center will open Wednesday, March 6 at the Bankhead Theater Gallery. “Wearable Art” will feature multimedia creations from coats and shirts to hats and handbags by 20 artisans. The pieces will be on display until April 27 when they will be modeled at a runway reception. “Shangri-La” is a smaller exhibit of 15 Thangka, exquisite hand-painted works from Tibet, that will be located within the Founder’s Room of the Bankhead Theater lobby.
Keep reading to learn more about these exhibits.
Check Out The “Wearable Art” Exhibit
More than 35 wearable works of art will fill the Gallery at the Bankhead Theater starting this Wednesday. In addition to the aforementioned coats, shirts, hats, and handbags, attendees can also browse jackets, scarves, purses, jewelry, and more. This free exhibit is open to the public and will run through April 27.
In addition to regular exhibit hours, there will be two special events to view the art. A free Artists’ Reception will be held on Saturday, March 23 from 1 to 3 p.m., providing an opportunity to admire the works and meet some of the artists. There will be wine, light refreshments, and the lively music of Tropical Take Out, a local ukulele band with a fun, upbeat take on classic rock, island, and contemporary music.
The “Wearable Art:” exhibit will close on Saturday, April 27 with a “Walk of the Wearables” runway reception from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Presented in conjunction with the Bankhead’s “Art & Wine Intertwined,” all the art pieces will be modeled on a runway in the Bankhead lobby. The free events also include music and refreshments. Keep in mind that many of the unique works on display are available for sale and can be picked up after the show closes.
The Bankhead Gallery, located in the lobby of the theater at 2400 First Street in Livermore, is open Monday through Wednesday, as well as Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment.
Make Plans To See The “Shangri-La” Exhibit
A spectacular display of Asian art will be exhibited within the Gallery at the Bankhead Theater for the next two months. Mounted in the Founder’s Room off the lobby, “Shangri-La” will include 15 handpainted Thangka from Tibet. Curated by the Bothwell Arts Center and coordinated by Laihao Jiang, the exhibit is a unique showcase of the exquisitely detailed work of artisans from Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. The exhibit opens March 6 in conjunction with the aforementioned “Wearable Art” exhibit in the Gallery.
According to local artist Laihao Jiang, Thangka is representative of the spiritual traditions of generations after generations of the people of Tibet. The wisdom and teachings of the Buddha, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, have deeply influenced the evolution of Asian civilizations over the past 2,500 years. Buddhism has played an important role in cultivating values and beliefs, fields of language and literature, development of art, and various aspects of everyday life.
Preservation of the traditional Tibetan art of painting Thangkas can be traced back to as early as the Songtsen Gampo period. All Thangka have a Buddhism theme with content that includes such subjects as images of deities and Buddhas, historical events, and depictions of a mandala (imaginary places used during meditation).
Typically, cotton canvases are painted with rare minerals such as gold, silver, pearl, agate, turquoise, malachite, cinnabar, and previous plant extracts such as saffron, rhubarb, and indigo. The artists must fulfill the spiritual practice requirement and follow sacred rules, based on the Sutra of Statue Making in Buddhism.
Said Jiang, “These ritualistic functions and methods of Thangka painting help bring the spiritual realm and significance to the material world, just like rain after a long drought.”
The collection on display at the Bankhead Theater comes from Shangri-La, a place that was sought after for close to a century. Located in Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, Jiang says it is the harmonious paradise as described in fiction and carries on the authentic lineage of Thangka painting.
“We were honored Tenzin Lama from the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery was a consultant on the exhibit,” added Jiang. “We hope these Thangkas will help visitors experience the energy accumulated through thousands of years from this pure land.”
Each piece in the collection is priced and represents a unique chance to purchase a hand-painted Thangka.
Contact the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center for more information.
