Bard Graduate Center in New York City expands its Focus Projects series with two exhibitions opening on March 24, 2017. Design by the Book: Chinese Ritual Objects and the Sanli tu explores the medieval Chinese book, Sanli tu (Illustrations to the Ritual Classics), and its impact on Chinese material culture. New York Crystal Palace 1853 sheds light on a near-forgotten aspect of New York City’s cultural history—the history and material culture of the first world’s fair held in the United States.
In addition to the Sanli tu‘s contents, Design by the Book also features a number of artifacts, juxtaposed against the pertinent entries in the book, many of which have never been on public view. The objects displayed in the Gallery and the digital components of New York Crystal Palace 1853 emphasize the experience of those who visited the site (now Bryant Park) in 1853.
Focus Projects are developed and curated by faculty and visiting fellows, with Bard graduate students as critical collaborators in all facets of the exhibitions. Each exhibition runs through July 30, 2017. See the Bard Graduate Center Gallery Spring 2017 Exhibitions guide for more information.