About this event

Curator Rebecca Hall spoke about the exhibition Ceremonies and Celebrations: Textile Treasures from the USC Pacific Asia Museum Collection. This talk focused on Buddhist textiles in mainland Southeast Asia, with specific attention paid to the countries of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. The main focus was Buddhist banners, their form, and meaning, but it also included other kinds of textiles made and donated at monasteries. In this region, textiles were often made by women for the purpose of donation to the local monastery. The donations brought the women merit, which was important for Buddhist practice. The textiles were then often displayed in monastery buildings or on their grounds. These displays gave the women a chance to show off their weaving skills and have their work appreciated by others. The motifs and scenes woven into the textiles were related to Buddhist beliefs and popular stories, helping to provide insight into the beliefs of laity across the region.

The event was in collaboration with Textile Museum Associates of Southern California, Inc.

It was free with museum admission. Museum admission was:

$10 for General Admission
$7 for Students with a valid ID and Seniors (65+)
Free for Children Ages 17 and Under
Free for all Museum Members, USC faculty, staff, and students with current ID.