Symmetry, Asymmetry, and Symmetry-Breaking in Oriental Carpets

Saturday, February 15th 2014, 1:00pm to 2:00pm
The Center for Islamic Studies at the GTU is pleased to announce that visiting scholar, Carol Bier, will be giving the annual lecture at the Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz, California on February 15, 2014 from 1-2pm.  The lecture is titled:
 
Symmetry, Asymmetry, and Symmetry-Breaking in Oriental Carpets
Patterns in traditional, hand-woven Oriental carpets are never quite what you expect – a surprise here, a flourish there, a change of color, the flip or rotation of a design where you might not expect it. The more you look, the more variations you will find. These patterns tease the mind as they please the eye. What is it that weavers have done to make these patterns so captivating?
 
In this illustrated lecture we will explore different ways of looking at Oriental carpets to arrive at an understanding of how artisans and designers can play with symmetry, asymmetry, and symmetry-breaking to achieve a deeply satisfying aesthetic. In the case of Oriental carpets, it is an aesthetic that has crossed cultural boundaries over centuries.
 
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History is located at:
705 Front Street
Santa Cruz, CA  95060
 
The lecture is sponsored by the Santa Cruz Handweavers Guild