Exhibit of folk art, textiles marks SOVA 10th anniversary

UNT Distinguished Alumna Jean Andrews is a well-known Texas artist, writer and collector who has amassed more than 1,600 pieces of folk art, textiles and items of ethnic dress during almost 60 years of travel around the world.

To publicly mark its 10th anniversary, the UNT School of Visual Arts has organized an exhibition of highlights from this unique collection. Postcards From Afar — Highlights From the Collection of Jean Andrews opens Sept. 12 in the UNT Art Gallery, located in the Art Building. An opening reception with Andrews begins at 6 p.m. in the Art Gallery Foyer.

The exhibition shares the vision of an important Texas arts patron and collector, and a woman who has dedicated her life to the preservation of international folk art.

"It is my hope that the people of our land will gain an awareness of and interest in the art created by the peoples of the world through these works I have collected on my travels to their lands," Andrews says.

Postcards From Afar is the first comprehensive exhibition of works from Andrews' collection. It includes a great variety of woven and embellished textiles, surface designed fabrics, clothing, jewelry, body adornments and sacred, spiritual objects. Global in scope, the exhibition features objects that originate in countries such as Afghanistan, China, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tibet and Yemen.

"A close examination of this provocative collection stimulates us to consider the significance of non-Western cultures," says Myra Walker, organizer of the exhibition and director of the Texas Fashion Collection.

A multimedia kiosk that allows visitors to read and hear excerpts from Andrews' travel journals and research notes will also be available in the gallery.

Although Andrews has traveled extensively since 1944, her travels over the last 14 years have concentrated on retracing ancient silk and spice trading routes, looking for vanishing examples of folk art.

Not content to purchase from tourist-oriented shops, Andrews conducted thorough preparatory research before each trip. Armed with notes and published examples, she would seek out specific, often rare, objects to add to her collection. In addition, she methodically documented information about creative techniques and the cultural symbolism of the object.

This passionate dedication has resulted in a unique, informed and valuable collection, Walker says.

A writer and scholar as well as a practicing artist, Andrews received a bachelor's degree in home economics at the University of Texas at Austin in 1944, a master's degree in education from Texas A&M University at Kingsville in 1966 and a doctoral degree in art from UNT in 1976 and was named a UNT distinguished alumnus in 1991.

Between 1967 and 1980 she taught art at secondary schools in Corpus Christi and Denton. Since 1990 she has been a member of the UT-Austin Herbarium research staff. In 2001 Andrews was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Texas. She lives and works in Austin.

Postcards From Afar appears at the UNT Art Gallery in part through sponsorship of the Texas Commission on the Arts.

The gallery is open Monday and Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

BY KELLEY REESE kreese@unt.edu

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• Food and fun: Howdy Week welcomes students back to campus Aug. 25-31
• Talent Search funded for five more years
• Incoming UNT chancellor calls for ideas from faculty, staff to build UNT partnerships
• Stressful life events linked to injuries in football players, according to UNT study
• Faculty members honored at annual convocation ceremony
• National science grant puts students on fast track

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