IU Art Museum features 2 photographers' visions

Scenes from all parts of the world are the focus of two photography exhibits currently being displayed at the IU Art Museum.\n"Nara: Japan's Ancient Capital," featuring photographs by late Japanese photographer Taikichi Irie, and "One Man's Vision," an exhibition of photos by former IU Art Museum director Thomas T. Solley, open Saturday in Bloomington.\nThe Taikichi Irie exhibit, which will showcase 25 photographs of the former capital and major center for Buddhism in Japan, was a gift to IU from the collection of approximately 8,000 Irie photographs at Nara City's Photo Museum. Bloomington is the first non-sister city of Nara to receive such a gift.\nThe exhibition, which runs through Dec. 21, features photos of landscapes and famous temples of Nara throughout the seasons. \n"Some are paired with seasonal poems," said exhibit curator Judy Stubbs. "All of [the photographs] are very beautiful."\nStubbs is excited that the museum is displaying the photographs. \n"It is an opportunity to not only enjoy beautiful photographs," she said, "but it's also an opportunity to see Asian art."\nThe museum is hosting numerous special events related to the exhibit. An opening concert and welcoming remarks will take place at 5:30 p.m. today in the School of Fine Arts room 015. The concert will feature Tomoko Sugawara on kugo, a type of Asian harp dating back to the second century. Following the concert, there will be an opening reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Art Museum's Solley Atrium.\nA talk is also scheduled for Nov. 5 in the gallery, featuring Anne Prescot on koto, a 13-stringed Japanese zither, performing "The Four Seasons of Nara."\nOther events include public school teacher training on Oct. 11 and Family Day on Oct.18. \nAlso opening Saturday is a collection of photographs from the travels of Thomas Solley, the museum's second director. Solley was responsible for numerous improvements to the museum, including moving the museum from the Fine Arts building to its current location and choosing I.M. Pei as the architect. \n"He doubled the size of the collection," said museum director Heidi Gealt, "Expanding it to include many of today's important holdings and numerous research collections."\nSolley had an affection for traveling, taking his camera everywhere he went. The exhibit reflects his love for variety and his eye for composition.\nPhotographs include a shot of the Taj Mahal and a photo of the interior of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which Gealt notes as one of the highlights of the exhibit.\nGealt believes "One Man's Vision" is an important exhibition to view. Because of the exhibit's cultural value, "it's important for students to have that exposure," Gealt said.\nThe IU Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.\n-- Contact staff writer Jenny Kobiela at jkobiela@indiana.edu.