"Turquoise Mountain: Artists Transforming Afghanistan" exhibit (Photos: Neil Greentree)
If you are not a Smithsonian Associates member, join at the $175 Resident Advocate level and receive two complimentary tickets for this event or a Mingle of your choice.
If you are a current Smithsonian Associates member at the Resident Promoter level or under, upgrade* to the $175 Resident Advocate level and receive two complimentary tickets for this event or a Mingle of your choice.
The Freer/Sackler Gallery’s exhibition Turquoise Mountain: Artists Transforming Afghanistan chronicles the rescue and renaissance of a nation’s culture and heritage. Spend a fascinating evening immersed in this story as you wander through a setting filled with intricate wood arcades, screens, and a pavilion, all carved by hand from Himalayan cedar.
From its position on the ancient Silk Road, Afghanistan absorbed traditions from India, Persia, and Central Asia and blended them into a distinct artistic culture. Decades of civil unrest that began in the 1970s nearly destroyed this vital heritage, and the old city of Kabul, once a bustling center of craft and commerce, fell into ruin.
The British nongovernmental organization Turquoise Mountain, founded in 2006, has transformed the Murad Khani district of Old Kabul from slum conditions into a vibrant cultural and economic center, and it is now the site of Afghanistan’s premier institution for vocational training in the arts. Dedicated to teaching a new generation of Afghan artisans in woodwork, calligraphy, ceramics, jewelry design, and other crafts, Turquoise Mountain is reviving the nation’s proud cultural legacy.
See the products of this work in a private view of the exhibition’s hand-crafted contemporary carpets, jewelry, and calligraphy, all complemented by videos and large-scale photographs of the Afghan artisans who made them. Throughout the evening, participants have the opportunity to hear from an expert, try their hand at the art forms in the exhibit, and enjoy a light reception provided by Tortoise and Hare. First drink is on us.
One drink ticket for a specialty cocktail or nonalcoholic beverage and light hors d’oeuvres is included with admission; a cash bar offers a specialty cocktail, wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages. Must be 21 years old with valid ID. Not a seated event.
*For Upgrades: Call Customer Service at 202-633-3030 during our business hours to make membership changes and redeem Mingle at the Museum tickets.
