INDIANAPOLIS.- Indianapolis Museum of Art is proud to announce the Nov. 5 reopening of its Asian galleries, featuring one of the most significant collections of Asian art in the United States.

“The additional space now devoted to the art of Asia allows us to offer our visitors a unique experience blending new technology and innovative installations to showcase our superb collection,” said Maxwell Anderson, director and CEO of IMA.

IMA has dedicated a total of 21,000 square feet to the newly expanded Asian galleries, more than double the size of the galleries devoted to Asian art before the expansion. The additional space means IMA can better display hundreds of items, including pieces never shown before at IMA.

Among the highlights in IMA’s collection are Chinese paintings from the Ming and Qing dynasties by major artists in Chinese art history; a recently acquired Chinese stone bodhisattva; an important collection of paintings from Japan's Edo period (1600–1868); contemporary Japanese ceramics by Japan’s leading ceramic artists; two Central Asian ikat textiles; and rugs from IMA’s leading collection of Baluchi rugs.

“Because we know our audience is quite diverse,” said Jim Robinson, curator of Asian art, “the new installations are designed to appeal to visitors of all ages as well as to those with varying degrees of experience with art and familiarity with Asia.”

The galleries will showcase the impressive depth of the Museum’s collection of Asian art. IMA’s encyclopedic collection of Chinese art features ancient bronze ritual vessels, jades, ceramics, textiles and paintings. The Museum’s Japanese art collection includes paintings, ceramics, lacquer ware, woodblock prints and sculpture. Other Asian cultures, such as those of Southeast Asia, West Asia, India, Korea and Tibet, are represented by bronzes, ceramics, sculptures and textiles. Most objects in IMA’s Asian art collection cover the time period between 2000 BCE to the present. The oldest piece, a Neolithic bowl, dates to around 4500 BCE.

IMA will rotate paintings and other objects in the galleries regularly, so visitors can experience and appreciate the depth of the collection over the course of several years. Paintings are installed for six months at a time, and thematic installations will change frequently.

The new galleries offer visitors a variety of ways to experience Asian art in addition to the traditional chronological and geographical arrangement. Some objects are grouped together based on subject matter or the materials used or to illustrate various themes.

“Although most art museums arrange displays chronologically, IMA’s new Asian galleries will mix historical and thematic arrangements, hopefully leading to new insights and a deeper appreciation of our collection, and of Asian art and culture as a whole,” explained John Teramoto, associate curator of Asian Art.

The north side of the galleries in the Wood Pavilion is devoted to Asian sculpture – primarily religious objects such as Buddhist and Hindu figures – from throughout the continent and spanning many centuries. In the central part of the gallery thematic installations are presented – groupings of objects illustrating such themes as the continuity of shape and decoration and the impact of technology.

The Krannert Pavilion has a “visible storage” room on the south side of the galleries. Many items previously secluded in the Museum’s basement storage vaults will be installed in glass-fronted cabinets. Tall cabinets will hold ceramics, sculpture, bronzes and other objects; banks of drawers will hold smaller items such as dishes, mirrors, netsuke and snuff bottles. Also in the Krannert pavilion are objects illustrating the tomb arts of China – called mingqi (ming chee) – primarily figures, models of utilitarian objects and vessels from about 2500 BCE to 1500.

Several interactive components are part of the new installation. Visitors also can discover the geographic origins of works in the Asian collection by using G.O. (Global Origins). This original interactive software interface developed by IMA uses satellite mapping imagery. Visitors can use a variety of portable activity boards that encourage closer viewing of objects.

A preview reception for IMA donors will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 1. IMA members can participate in a special preview day on Saturday, Nov. 4. During the IMA’s public opening of the Asian galleries on Sunday Nov. 5, IMA will offer free admission to the Museum along with tea demonstrations and tastings, films about tea, and other activities.

Holders of International Festival ticket stubs will be admitted free to IMA and the member preview of the Asian Galleries on Saturday, Nov. 4. Holders of IMA ticket stubs from Nov. 4 or Nov. 5 will receive $1 off the adult admission price at the International Festival. A free shuttle bus will run between the IMA and the State Fairgrounds (location of the International Festival) from noon to 5 p.m. both days.

The European and Clowes Galleries will open Dec. 3, 2006, which will complete IMA’s three-year, $74 million expansion and renovation project.