Multimedia Reporting (Kuhr-Musser)

KU students might notice a change of scenery on campus. A miniature pine forest has taken root in front of Spencer Museum of Art. These pine trees are part of the art museum’s new exhibition, “Flowers, Dragons, & Pine Trees”.

While the pine trees are newly planted, the exhibition is nothing less than years of history and hard work. In 1917 Sallie Casey Thayer donated seventy-five hundred objects of Western and Asian Art. This gift not only founded the art museum, but gave guest-curator Mary Dusenbury something worth studying.

In 1990 then-director Andrea Norris asked Dusenbury to research one or two of the objects hidden away in boxes. “I immediately asked for lots of filing cabinets” said Dusenbury. After 15 years, Dusenbury’s filing cabinets full of research has been turned into Spencer Museum of Art’s new Asian textile collection.

“Flowers, Dragons, & Pine Trees” opens on Saturday and will take over the museum until May 28. Close to 300 pieces were available for the exhibit. Bill Woodard, director of communication for Spencer Museum of Art said the exhibition focuses on 90 textiles from India, Iran, China and Japan. Throughout the exhibit, each country has its own uniquely painted room to help visitors attribute the fabrics to their country of origin.

These textiles have caused more than a paint job to the art museum. Dating from the fifteenth to late twentieth centuries, the textiles require lots of care. With the help of Richard Klocke, a conservator from Los Angeles, each piece of fabric has been delicately displayed.

Student’s helpful hands followed Klocke’s carefully constructed individual maps of each piece of fabric. Every mounted textile has its own personal photocopy. The photographs were then mapped out, showing little red dots for where the pins should go. Every piece of fabric has its own personal map along with a count of how many pins are mounting the delicate textiles without applying unwarranted stress on the cloth.

Student involvement strings even further. As visitors enter the art museum, they will be welcomed with banners of indigo in the Central Court. KU students designed these banners specifically for “Flowers, Dragons, & Pine Trees” exhibit. Dusenbury was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. “I was expecting four or five students to design something during winter break,” said Dusenbury. Instead over 15 students helped transform the museum’s Central Court into their own dedication to Asian Textiles.

The museum’s Asian textiles theme will continue throughout the spring semester. Other student work includes written verse. Poetry inspired by the textile collection will be displayed in the entry hall. Other programs will also be available as the spring semester continues. Spencer Musuem of Art Auditorium will showcase films based on the countries represented in the exhibition. Children programs and family activities including making Chinese lanterns are also part of the museum’s transformation.

For more information on Spencer Museum of Art’s Asian textiles thematic programs, go to programs and events.