Title: Turning Over An Old Leaf: Contemporary Palm Leaf Work in South and Southeast Asia
Dates: October 25, 2019 – January 19, 2020
Location: San Francisco Center for the Book, 375 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco, CA
Website: www.sfcb.org
For centuries, incising text and images by hand on stacks of dried palm leaves was a dominant way of making books in many parts of South and Southeast Asia. This exhibition looks at new directions in palm leaf work now that printed editions on paper have superseded most of the historical functions of palm leaf manuscripts. Contemporary examples of artworks, manuscripts, and book-like structures from India, Bali, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), and Thailand will explore current practices of palm leaf work, alongside samples of manuscripts from the historical traditions. The works in the exhibition draw upon multiple research trips by Mary Austin and Betsy Davids.
Related events:
Title: Studio In a Suitcase: Conservation With Limited Resources
Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2019, 6-8 pm
Program description: Karen Zukor of Zukor Art Conservation specializes in the repair and preservation of art and artifacts on paper - prints, drawings, watercolors, pastels, documents, maps, manuscripts, and rare books. This presentation will focus on the paper conservation and preservation work Karen has undertaken in Haiti and India, as well as some of the challenges of working outside of one’s own studio.
Bio: Karen Zukor has been a professional paper conservator for 40 years and is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation. She has been responsible for many collections - including fine art, archival material, maps, documents, and rare books - held both in private hands and at institutions. In addition, she has trained both pre- and post-program interns for over 25 years, and lectures widely to the general public.
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Title: Palm Leaf Stories
Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2020, 6-8 pm
Location: San Francisco Center for the Book, 375 Rhode Island Street, SF. CA. 94103
An evening of storytelling by co-curators Mary Austin and Betsy Davids, drawing upon the time-honored stories told through images in this exhibition's palm leaf work, as well as stories from their travels in search of this work through India, Bali, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), and Thailand.
