Nepalese culture comes to IU

Erika Brown, an IU senior and anthropology major, opened her exhibit “Blended Harmonies: Music and Religion in Nepal” at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures on Friday.

“I took interest to museum studies and was intrigued by the curating process,” Brown said.

Her exhibit is the result of a semester-long project for a museum practicum course in the IU anthropology department.
 
“It offers students a chance to work in museums,” said Geoff Conrad, director of the Mathers Museum.

Undergraduate and graduate students may enroll in the class during both semester and summer sessions, Conrad said. The Virgil T. DeVault Gallery is reserved specifically for student exhibits.

Conrad said the class attracts many anthropology majors as well as students studying history, education, art history, folklore and others. Not all members of the class create their own exhibit.

“Some do exhibits, some do research,” he said.

Brown first volunteered at the museum and worked on another exhibit. Her contributions prompted exhibit staff to suggest she create an exhibit of her own.

“We don’t tell them what to do,” Conrad said. “It’s really their project. We said, ‘Find something that interests you.’”

Brown said she explored the museum’s collection and was intrigued by several instruments. She chose her topic when she realized they were all from the same part of the world.

“I didn’t know anything about Nepal before I started this project,” Brown said.

As a curator, Brown researched, designed, wrote and installed all aspects of the exhibit.

“The exhibit is about the mixture of religions in Nepal and how that is played out in music and the festival culture,” she said.

Because Nepal is known as the birthplace of Buddha, the country is historically associated with Buddhism. However, many Nepalese practice Hinduism. As time passed, traditions of the two religions have blended to create a unique culture of mixed religions called syncretism.

This culture is showcased with musical instruments, photographs and other artifacts from Nepal, many of which were given to the museum by different donors in the 1970s.

“It’s a very strong collection we have for both that part of the world and for musical instruments,” Conrad said.

Brown’s exhibit will be on display in the Mathers Museum until a new student exhibit is installed in November.

“It’s a really rare opportunity to get to make use of a museum’s entire collection,” she said. “I’m really thrilled that IU offers this.”