“INFINITE COMPASSION: AVALOKITESHVARA IN ASIAN ART” IS A UNIQUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN BY THE STATEN ISLAND MUSEUM AND THE JACQUES MARCHAIS MUSEUM OF TIBETAN ART

BY JENNIFER VIKSE • OPENING PHOTO BY WILLIE CHU

The Staten Island Museum recently opened its first new exhibition at the Snug Harbor location since the facility opened a year ago. “Infinite Compassion: Avalokiteshvara in Asian Art” introduces visitors to Buddhist art, culture, and beliefs that span Asia. (After the Buddha, Avalokiteshvara is the most ubiquitous deity in Mahayana Buddhism.)

Opened on October 22, and in collaboration with the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, the year-long exhibit is curated by scholar Patricia Karetzky, (O. Munsterberg Chair of Asian Art at Bard College). Additional works will be on loan from the Rubin Museum of Art; the Godwin-Ternbach Museum, Queens College, and private collectors.

“A Bodhisattva is an individual who, upon achieving enlightenment, renounces his/her own Nirvana (extinction) in order to help others achieve enlightenment,” a Museum press release explained. “The exhibit interprets this aspect of Buddhist art with 46 sculptures, ritual objects, paintings, and photographs from India, Tibet, China, Nepal and Japan, as well as contemporary Asian art.”

“This long-awaited collaboration with the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art will allow visitors to enjoy two unique New York institutions and see collection treasures in a new light,” noted Diane Matyas, vice president of exhibitions and programs at the Staten Island Museum. “Also, the notion of compassion is bigger than any one exhibition, activity, or tradition. This Island, our families, neighbors, and our environment…all need to give and receive more compassion.”

In addition to the exhibit itself, the Museum will hold complementary programming, including meditation instruction, community and family days, bus tours between the Staten Island Museum and the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, and guest speaker events.

“This exhibition brings together ancient artifacts and contemporary artwork that illuminate the many forms of Avalokiteshvara,” said Meg Ventrudo, executive director of the Jacques Marchais Museum. “We hope it will inspire greater interest in Asian art and Buddhism.”

To apply the tenets of “Infinite Compassion,” the Museum is also partnering with performance artist Ori Alon and his Center for Supportive Bureaucracy to administer “Forgiver’s Licenses” and “Compassion Punch Cards,” along with custom designed “licenses, certificates, and citations” which cut to the heart of growing kindness, love, acceptance, creativity, and compassion “through a parody of bureaucracy,” Alon explained. These symbolic documents identify and encourage individuals to perform compassionate acts, and will be part of community events through the year.

The Staten Island Museum
1000 Richmond Terrace, Building A
718.727.1135 / statenislandmuseum.org