Safe and Sound: Protective Devices from Around the World
The universal desire to avoid danger and remain out of harm’s way is the subject of a new exhibition at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures. Safe and Sound: Protective Devices from Around the World features a number of objects that are believed by some cultures to hold protective powers. Curator Suzanne Ingalsbe, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology, delves into the history of these devices and explores the sources of their power.
The objects in this exhibition represent a variety of countries, cultures, and beliefs. Included in the display are signs, clothing, jewelry, text, and other devices that illustrate the many varied forms protection can take. These objects, alongside an explanation of their roots, demonstrate the power that belief can give to a seemingly ordinary object.
The exhibit will be on display through August 14, 2009.
The Mathers Museum is located at 416 North Indiana Avenue in Bloomington, and is open Tuesdays through Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the Museum is free. Free visitor parking is available by the entrance on Indiana Avenue, and on surrounding streets (during weekends). Metered and IU Permit parking spaces are available at the McCalla School parking lot on the corner of Ninth Street and Indiana Avenue.
An access ramp is located at the corner on Ninth Street and Fess Avenue, at the entrance to the Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology adjoining the Mathers Museum. Reserved parking spaces are available on Ninth Street, between Fess Avenue and Indiana Avenue. If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. Please call 812-855-1696 for assistance.
For more information, or to schedule a guided group tour, please call 812-855-6873 or e-mail mathers@indiana.edu.
