Gujarati Textiles - an exhibition at the SADACC Trust

Held at the Old Skating Rink Gallery, Bethel Street, Norwich Open 9:30 - 5:00pm Mon to Sat, Closed Sunday Copyright © 2014 The SADACC Trust, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: The SADACC Trust The Old Skating Rink, 34-36 Bethel Street Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1NR United Kingdom

The Future of South Asian Collections: UK and South Asia Perspectives, 30th April - 2 May 2014

A date for your diaries, and a call for papers...

The Sainsbury Institute for Art is organising a conference to be held at the University of East Anglia, in Norwich, 30th April - 2 May 2014, entitled:

'The Future of South Asian Collections: UK and South Asia Perspectives'

Conference organisers, Emily Crane (UEA) & Diana Grattan (SADACC), write:

There are numerous and varied South Asian collections held both in the UK and in South Asia.  They range from public or government institutions to privately held collections; some are world renown and firmly established, whilst some are newly formed or a small part of bigger institutions.  Moreover, there are some collections that are well-funded but, certainly within the UK, ever-increasing financial restraints have become a major issue.

Over the last decade there have been shifts in museum practices and thinking about these particular types of collections.  Issues of conservation, documentation, storage and research remain pragmatic concerns for many. Recent collecting practices have tended to be either non-existent, predicated on existing material, in response to particular audiences or linked to specific exhibitions.  Museums have attempted to deliver programs in response to different audiences, with changing expectations and levels of participation.  Does the breadth and complexity of these issues perhaps require the need for an increasingly collective and comprehensive approach?

The conference celebrates the affiliation of the South Asian DecorativeArts and Crafts Collection (SADACC) with the Sainsbury Institute for Art (SIfA) at the University of East Anglia. The notions of 'craft' and 'world art' are explored across the SIFA institutions.  Craft has been considered as the interrelation of form, function, material, process and meaning, mediated through social, economic and cultural influences. Craft is also inextricably linked to concepts of skill and craftsmanship. This understanding of ‘craft' has certainly informed the selection and collection of objects that now form the South Asian Decorative Arts and Craft Collection.  Is it, therefore, a useful device to interpret and consider objects found in South Asia Collections? Furthermore, how do notions of 'craft' relate to debates surrounding 'world art'?

This conference aims to promote collaboration and exchanges between professionals working with collections of South Asian arts and crafts, nationally and internationally.  By sharing knowledge and experiences, it is envisaged that the conference will build and strengthen networks, and foster new partnerships.

Call for papers

Emily and Diana welcome proposals for a range of possible contributions. These may be 30 minute plenary papers or an idea for running a 50 minute discussion group. These discussion groups may be organised around a particular theme, include shorter presentations by organisers, or address a particular issue or question that fits with the theme of the conference. Furthermore, if you have ideas for shorter contributions but do not wish to run a discussion session, we will try to fit these into groups based loosely around the questions outlined on the website, led by members of the host institutions.

Please send any proposals or queries to sifaconference.sasia@gmail.com by 28 February 2014.

Please see the conference webpage for further information.

https://www.uea.ac.uk/art-history/news-and-events/south-asian-collections-conference

Next SAALG Conference Friday 5th and Saturday 6th July 2013 - Norwich

SAALG's 89th conference will take place in Norwich on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th July so please add the dates to your diaries. We will be focusing on South Asian Arts and Crafts over the two days - the main talks on Friday will be held at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia on Friday, followed by a visit to the SADACC Trust (South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection) and a conference dinner in Norwich. On Saturday we will have the opportunity to view the galleries at the Sainsbury Centre.

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia, Norwich.
Image copyright of University of East Anglia.

The SADACC Trust, Norwich

Participants will be welcome to take part in one or both days and full details of the talks, schedule for the two days and accommodation options will be sent out in the near future.

If you have any questions in the meantime please don't hesitate to get in touch with the SAALG Chair, Helen Porter hp@royalasiaticsociety.org Tel: 0207 391 9424.

New affiliation between the SADACC Trust and SIfA

I have been asked by Diana Grattan, Collection Curator at the SADACC Trust, and known to many SAALG members, to let you know about an exciting new affiliation between the South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection Trust (SADACC) and the Sainsbury Institute for Art (SIfA) at the University of East Anglia.

The South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection Trust was established in July 2010 as a charity (RCN 1137415) and in December 2012 it became affiliated to the University of East Anglia through the Sainsbury Institute for Art (SIfA).  Under this agreement SIfA and the SADACC Trust are working together to establish a South Asian Study Centre and Museum.  This involves SIfA using the collection and library as an educational resource in its teaching programmes and assisting in the development of the Museum.  The SADACC Trust, in turn, will help fund SIfA postgraduate work and continue to fund the development of the museum and work of the Trust.

For more information, please contact Diana Grattan at the Trust, http://www.southasiandecorativeartsandcrafts.co.uk/

Puppets from the East

Image copyright:  SADACC Trust

'Puppets from the East' is the title of a new exhibition of wayang-golek puppets from Indonesia now showing at the SADACC Trust in Norwich.

Admission is free, and the opening hours are:

• 9.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday
• 9.30am to 5.30pm on Saturdays

It is closed on Bank Holidays and Sundays.

The SADACC Trust is located in the Old Skating Rink Gallery at:
    34-36 Bethel Street
    Norwich
    Norfolk
    NR2 1NR
    United Kingdom

Telephone: 01603 663890

E-mail: info@sadacc.co.uk

By road: Follow brown signs for 'The Forum'. We are 50m from the Forum Car Park entrance. Parking is available whilst visiting the gallery.

Current exhibitions at the SADACC Trust

All three exhibitions run until 31st December 2012 at the Old Skating Rink Gallery, the SADACC Trust, Bethel Street, Norwich.

    The SADACC Trust
    The Old Skating Rink Gallery
    34-36 Bethel Street
    Norwich
    Norfolk
    NR2 1NR
    United Kingdom

Telephone: 01603 663890

E-mail: info@sadacc.co.uk

By road: Follow brown signs for 'The Forum'. We are 50m from the Forum Car Park entrance. Parking is available whilst visiting the gallery.

Admission is free.

Opening hours:

• 9.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday
• 9.30am to 5.30pm on Saturdays.

We are closed on Bank Holidays and Sundays.

Indian Emboidery exhibition and talk by Rosemary Crill

Copyright: SADACC Trust

The South Asian Decorative Arts & Crafts Collection Trust in association with the Sainsbury Institute for Art (University of East Anglia) will be hosting a talk by Rosemary Crill, Senior Curator for South Asia, at the Victoria and Albert Museum, on Tuesday 13th November 2012.

The talk 'From Mountain, Desert and Palace: a journey through Indian embroidery' will be held at the Old Skating Rink Gallery in Norwich and accompanied by an exhibition of embroideries from the Indian subcontinent. 

Location: Country and Eastern, The Old Skating Rink Gallery, 34-36 Bethel Street, Norwich, NR2 1NR
Time: 6 pm

As places are limited it is essential to reserve a place by Tuesday 6th November by emailing: info@sadacc.co.uk or phoning 01603 663890.

Inaugural meeting of South Asian Arts Group

Anonymous watercolour and ink painting in Mithila style
 (Bihar) depicting Radha and Krishna,  from Crafts Museum, New Delhi;
2007, private collection.  http://sifa.uea.ac.uk/home

A date for your diaries...the inaugural meeting of the South Asian Arts Group (SAAG) will be hosted in Norwich by the Sainsbury Institute for Art (SIfA) on Tuesday November 13th 2012.  

The South Asian Arts Group (SAAG) is an informal network of academics, curators, artists and arts professionals, who share an interest in the arts and visual/material cultures of South Asia and the diaspora. SAAG provides a space for interaction, conversation and exchange for people interested in South Asian arts in the UK. 

Through an annual gathering – held at a different location in the UK each year – participants of SAAG will foster contacts, partnerships and friendships with a view to building interactions across different disciplines and approaches to South Asian arts.

The event is being organised by Daniel Rycroft (University of East Anglia) and Sarah Turner (University of York).  It is free and places will be filled on a ‘first come, first served' basis.  To download a registration form, go to: http://sifa.uea.ac.uk/home

Out of the Ordinary: an introduction to SADACC

Rajasthani Folk Heroes, Grants and Scholarships

Julla with laquered wood. Rajasthan, Northwest India. (Ref: IN306)

A new exhibition, likely to interest readers of the SAALG blog, entitled: Rajasthani Folk Heroes & Recent Acquisitions, has just opened in Norwich at The South Asian Decorative Arts & Crafts Collection (SADACC).  

SAALG members are warmly invited to view new acquisitions in the gallery, and the Rajasthani exhibition at:

The Old Skating Rink Gallery
34-36 Bethel Street
Norwich, NR2 1NR 

01603 663890
info@sadacc.co.uk
www.sadacc.co.uk

Samples of Rajasthani art and crafts and recent acquisitions in the collection include:  

Tribal Dolls From Banswara or Dunghaphur, Rajasthan. (Ref: IN247)

 Bullock-Cart Driver - Patna School c.1820

Admission is free and the opening times are 9.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 5.30pm on Saturdays. The gallery is closed on Bank Holidays and Sundays. 

Travel Grants and Scholarships
In addition, student readers of this blog will be interested in the travel and educational scholarships and grants SADACC funds each year for postgraduate study of the decorative arts, crafts and culture of South Asia.   Preference is usually given to students from the Eastern region of the UK.   For further details,  contact  info@sadacc.co.uk, supplying information on your interests and experience.

The SADACC Trust is a registered charity (RCN: 1137415) funded primarily by Country and Eastern Ltd.

The SADACC Trust

 SAALG members are warmly invited to three exhibitions at the SADACC Trust in Norwich:

• Early Visions of India. Three pioneering British artists: aquatints by Thomas and William Daniell and James Baillie Fraser
• Arts and crafts of the Swat Valley and tribal areas of Northern Pakistan
• Beadwork from Gujarat, Western India

The South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection is located  in the The Old Skating Rink Gallery in Bethel Street, Norwich.

Copyright © 2011 South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts.

Comprising over 3000 items, it includes pictures and prints, architectural items, vernacular furniture and objects which illustrate the everyday arts and crafts from the late 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, though good examples of modern production are also included.

Geographically, the collection concentrates primarily on South Asia and to a lesser extent on neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Burma, Thailand and Indonesia.

Copyright © 2011 South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts.

The collection originated following a number of journeys through South Asia in the 1970s and additions to it have continued ever since. In the 1980s, pictures and prints started to be collected covering the period from the late 18th century through to the early 20th century, particularly where these portrayed aspects of everyday life in the region. Good examples of modern traditional miniature painting have also been collected or commissioned.

Copyright © 2011 South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts.

The SADACC Trust has been actively acquiring good examples of everyday South Asian arts and crafts and displaying these through a series of exhibitions. It also holds periodic lectures on South Asian arts, crafts and culture, and awards travel and educational scholarships to postgraduate students for the study of South Asian arts, crafts and culture. It is also building a library of resources on South Asian arts, crafts and culture.

The Trust's website includes digital images of an increasing number of items in the collection, such as the fine Company School painting, beadwork hat and Nuristani door illustrating this post and I would encourage readers to explore their website and visit the collection. I very much hope that a future SAALG conference will include a visit to this fine collection in Norwich.