Wander Words

Tuesday, 20 May 2008 - Part 3
Washington, D.C.

At 9:20 we were brought into the Large Auditorium at the National Gallery of Art to be introduced to those responsible for the Hidden Treasures of Afghanistan becoming present and available to be viewed by the world. It was a fabulous presentation. The following spoke and commented on these phenomenal discoveries: Earl A. Powell III, Director, National Gallery of Art; The Honorable Abdul Karim Khuram, Minister for Information and Culture, Afghanistan; His Excellency Said T. Jawad, Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States; terry D. Garcia, Executive Vice President, National Geographic Mission Programs; The Honorable Bruce Cole, Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities; Elliot F. Gerson, Board Member, National Construction and Logistics; and Fredrik T. Hiebert, Curator and National Geographic Archaeology Fellow.

Terry Garcia, executive vice president for Mission Programs, National Geographic:
“We are delighted to partner with the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of Afghanistan in bringing these rare and precious items to the United States. Our goal is to introduce this unique collection of objects to a broad audience and raise awareness and understanding about the little-known ancient cultures of modern-day Afghanistan. We also want to tell the heroic story of the Afghans who risked their own safety to hide and protect these treasures.”

His Excellency Said Tayeb Jawad, Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States:
“Afghanistan has always been the heart of Asia. Afghanistan’s centrality in the Silk Road created a rich mosaic of cultures and civilizations. Although this mosaic was shattered by war and terror, both the spirit of the Afghan people and our cultural heritage survived. These priceless artifacts are a testament to the Afghan people and to the heroism of the brave and selfless Afghans who preserved and protected them. This exhibition is a celebration of Afghanistan as much as it is an expression of our appreciation for the global partnership between our ancient nation, the international community, and our friends in the United States.”

Earl A. Powell III, director, National Gallery of Art:
“The National Gallery of Art has a long tradition of bringing works of exceptional quality and merit from other cultures and periods to the United States. We are very pleased to be working closely with National Geographic and the National Museum of Afghanistan, Kabul, to introduce the American public to these archaeological treasures, their history, and their legacy.”

Bruce Cole, chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities:
“The artifacts featured in this collection are more than dazzling exhibition pieces; they serve as primary documents recording the vitality of Afghanistan’s rich cultural heritage. The National Endowment for the Humanities is proud to have supported the preservation, cataloging, and exhibition of these treasures as part of our broader ‘Rediscovering Afghanistan’ initiative, and we are delighted to play a part in bringing this collection to citizens across our nation.”

Hamed Wardak, president, NCL:
“National Construction & Logistics is honored to sponsor this historic exhibition of Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul. The emergence of these objects after 25 years of struggle is emblematic of the beauty of Afghanistan and the resilient spirit of its people. This exhibition brings the rich and diverse culture of Afghanistan to the Washington area, and we are proud to help make that possible.”

Fredrik Hiebert, exhibition curator and National Geographic Archaeology Fellow:
“This exhibition is the culmination of many years of work by the Afghans. Without their courage and commitment, these objects would not exist today. Having worked closely with Afghan officials since 2003 on the preservation and inventory of the objects, I am honored to be part of the effort to share these treasures with audiences in the United States and ultimately to enhance the understanding of Afghanistan’s rich cultural heritage.”

Audio Download of the Program of Remaks will be available as an MP3 file on the National Gallery of Art’s press Web site nga.gov/press/ by late afternoon, May 20.

The Honorable Abdul Karim Khuram, Minister for Information and Culture, Afghanistan

Said T. Jawad; Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States

leafworks wrote this on May 22nd, 2008 and filed it under Museum Exhibitions, Travel Report, Wandering, events |