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November 1 to 17 Material Culture Presents: The Afghan Peace Rug Project Reception: Friday Nov. 1 from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. For the past 30 years, Afghan war rugs have been highly valued and internationally collected as pieces of modern folk art. These rugs, woven by Afghan village artisans since 1979 following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, depict images of the wars and conflict that have been a trademark of this country for the past three decades. In an effort to both revitalize the Afghan economy and reshape its image from one of war to one of peace, Material Culture has partnered with a group of village rug producers in Afghanistan to launch the Peace Rug Project. Working with the same village artisans who have been weaving images of tanks, guns and hand grenades for years, the Peace Rug Project has challenged these artisans to leave behind this imagery and weave instead images of peace. Small, folk-art sized wool carpets using natural dyes and depicting images of flowers, birds, animals, village life, and all manner of personal expression, have begun to emerge from Afghan villages and Material Culture is proud to bring them to the international market. This series of [...]

Saturday November 2, 2 p.m. Mexican Folk Devotional Retablos Presented by Joseph F. Chorpenning, Editorial Director at Saint Joseph’s University Press. This illustrated lecture will focus particularly on the Mexican retablos being offered for sale at the November 3rd auction. Free, Open to the Public

Material Culture presents: Friends An Exhibition Featuring Works by Jim Bloom, Vladan Gradistanac, Mr. Imagination, Maryann Matlock Hinkle, and Prince Twins Seven Seven July 1-Aug 30, 2013 Jim Bloom (1968- ) Jim was recently the subject of an essay titled “Stories of Wit and Irony” by Ron Schira in Raw Vision Magazine (Spring/Summer 2012 RV 75, p. 44-47). Jim was born in Allentown but has spent most of his adult life in Philadelphia. From childhood on, Bloom has been making visual art that is directly related to his own experiences, as well as his interests in film, story-telling, and the visual languages of his culture. Using collage drawing and painting, Bloom conjures an immediacy of action, story and relationship. We are excited to have recently acquired over one-thousand works by Jim Bloom. Strangers are Strange, an exhibition of works by Jim Bloom will run September 21- October 27, 2013. An exhibition catalogue will be available for sale. Vladan Gradistanac (1970- ) Vladan holds a BFA from the University of Fine Arts in Belgrade, Serbia where he taught art history and painting. A painter and photographer, his work has been exhibited in both the United States and Europe. While living [...]