Embodying Compassion in Buddhist Art: Image, Pilgrimage, Practice

This coming spring, the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College will host an exhibition centered on the topic of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Professor Lucic and I spent the summer working on planning and research for this exhibition, a multifaceted job.

Research was an important part of my work as a Ford Scholar, particularly finding and organizing research on the various works of art. The bibliography of the exhibition’s catalog was a huge undertaking. The process of creating and editing a bibliography of this size is extremely time consuming, but also very important, as the sources that we cite will be useful for people trying to find further information on these works. This exhibition features an incredible collection of works from all over the world, and will therefore be very important for scholars or students trying to gain a further understanding of imagery of Avalokiteshvara.

One large part of my work was correspondence with various organizations regarding rights for reproductions of images of the works that we would be using in the catalog. The complexity of the bureaucratic aspects of organizing an exhibition was a surprise to me as a student of Art History. Negotiations regarding the conservation of works of art, the cost of transportation or care, the reproduction of images and the credit given to organizations took up a lot of my time. This was extremely interesting, particularly because it was a first glimpse in to the reality of working in the art world.

I also had the chance to collaborate with Professor Lucic on the creation of a website and smartphone application related to the exhibition, which will be released with the catalog and exhibition. Work on the website, smartphone application, catalog, and exhibition is ongoing, as Professor Lucic works with a class of Vassar students in her seminar, Embodying Compassion in Buddhist Art: A Curatorial Training.