Co-sponsored
by Harvard University Art Museums
presents
Creating
Sacred Space: Architecture, Dance and Sculpture
Design Principles in the Classical Arts
of India
July - Aug - Sep, 2003
Evening Workshops ~ Open to Everyone
Workshop I: Vaastu Shastra -
Harmonious Living by Dr. Sashikala Ananth
Tuesday July 22,
Wednesday July 23 & Thursday July 24 Time 6:30-9:00 pm
Venue:
Arthur M.Sackler Museum,
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
Dr.
Sashikala Ananth is India's most renowned teacher of Vaastu Shastra, an
architect, Temple Designer and Vastu Practitioner. She will introduce Vaastu
Shastra - the classical Indian science of design. The central goal of
architecture is to create buildings that provide space for inner and outer
experience for harmonious coexistence with nature. This three-lecture workshop
incorporates some of the principles of this ancient knowledge of design to
create sacred spaces into modern dwellings. Dr. Ananth is the author of
several books on Vaastu, and Yoga, and producer of a film, "The Living
Tradition - A Shilpi Speaks".
Workshop II: Classical Indian Dance:
Invoking Sacred Space by Leela Samson
Saturday.
August 9. 10am - 12:30pm & Performance
on Sunday . August 10. 3:00 pm
Venue: National Heritage Museum,
33 Marett Road(Rt. 2A), Lexington, MA 02421
Dance is
architecture in complete abstraction. It is created with no physical materials
yet is a living example of creating sacred space where the aesthetic can be
experienced. Dance is living sculpture and the dancer is creator of sacred
space in both temporal and spatial contexts. The Saturday morning lecture on
these concepts will be given by renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, Padmashri Leela
Samson. Ms. Leela Samson is one of India's most dynamic and technically brilliant
exponents of the Bharatanatyam style of Indian classical dance. Leela is an
outstanding representative of Kalakshetra, the famed institute for the
classical arts founded by the late Rukmini Devi Arundale in Chennai. On Sunday
she gives a Bharatanatyam Dance
Performance.
Workshop III: Khajuraho:
Sacred Sculpture by Dr.
Devangana Desai
Thursday. Sep 18, Friday Sep 19
& Saturday Sep 20 Time
6:30-9:00 pm
Venue: Arthur M.Sackler Museum, Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA 02138
In this workshop Dr. Desai, an art historian and leading
expert on the Khajuraho temples, will focus on the tradition of how sacred
spaces are concretized in temple buildings. In her three lectures - "Art
and Architecture of Indian Temples", "Temples and Sculpture of
Khajuraho" and "Beyond the Erotic at Khajuraho" - Dr. Devangana
Desai will highlight how buildings can be representations of the inner and
outer cosmology. Dr. Desai has written numerous books on Temple Art, Mother
Goddess, Ramayana Scenes in Sculpture and Buddhist Bronzes.
The fees for each workshop is $40. Discount for
students.
To register please visit: http://www.merufoundation.org/
Meru Education
Foundation is a non-profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible.
Dr.
Vanita Shastri (781) 862-9648 vanita@merufoundation.org