Catholic university in Pennsylvania organizing Hindu exhibition
By ANIThursday, November 4, 2010
NEVADA - Hindus have applauded Misericordia University of Pennsylvania (USA), a Roman Catholic institution, for organizing a Hindu art exhibition.minent Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that religion was a most powerful and complex part of human life and thanked Misericordia for showing that religion comprised of much more than one’s personal experience or belief, and that more inclusive understanding of religion was needed.
To be held from November 12 to December 18, this exhibition is titled “The Hindu Collection” and will be shown in its MacDonald Gallery.
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed that we should seek unity that celebrated diversity and learn to live together with mutual trust despite our seriously different faiths. We should thank God for generosity in the existence of various religions. Dialogue would help us remove prejudices passed to us from previous generations.
This first public display of Hindu folk art, developed by Dr. Stevan L. Davies, is “an effort by Misericordia to bring a more worldwide vision”, and offers a variety of illustration styles, including Kalamkari, Orissa Pata, Kalighat, Madhubani, Warli and miniature paintings, according to a University announcement.
Orissa paintings arose from the practices of artists connected to the temple of Juganath, who is identified with the Hindu God Krishna. Kalighat paintings were first produced in the 1830’s at the temple of the Goddess Kali on the bank of the river Ganges in south Calcutta, announcement adds.
Founded in 1924 by Religious Sisters of Mercy and affiliated to Roman Catholic Church, Misericordia University sits on a 123-acre residential campus in Dallas (Pennsylvania).
About 71 percent of its students are women, approximately 98 percent receive financial aid, student-faculty ratio is 13-1, and it offers a Guaranteed Career Placement Program. Misericordia offers 32 majors besides master’s and doctorate degrees and hosts various special organizations like Assistive Technology Research Institute, Diversity Institute, Ethics Institute, Institute of Gerontology, Institute of Law and Religious Life, Institute of Sacred Scripture. Michael A. MacDowell is the University President while Donna Posatko is the gallery curator.
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, headquartered in Silver Spring (Maryland); an international community of Roman Catholic women religious vowed to serve people who suffer from poverty, sickness and lack of education; supports 16 universities and colleges in USA, including Misericordia. Mary Waskowiak is the President. (ANI)
