With Afghanistan being one of the world's hot spots right now, a great deal of Afghan art is making its way to America.
Rug-making is more than an art form there; it's almost like a newspaper or a history book.
The people memorialize events by weaving images and stories into rugs. You can see a fascinating collection of them right now at the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
The rugs on display were collected by the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto, many acquired from soldiers who for one reason or another didn't want to own them anymore.
The rugs bear the color and fine craftsmanship you expect in oriental rugs. But they also bear stark images of the war Afghans experience as part of everyday life. So you'll see caricatures of political leaders presented as the common people see them, sometimes as strong heads of state, others as puppets of invading Russians. Many show rifles, or bombs, or war planes.
The rugs are an artistic reminder of the violence which is part of the Afghan landscape. "Battleground: War Rugs from Afghanistan" is at the University Museum through July 31st. It's free with your regular admission. After that, it moves on. So far, this is the only American exhibition scheduled.
For more information, you may phone the museum at 215-898-4000, or go online to http://www.penn.museum. Group tours are available.
