Carpets & Textiles from Central Asia and Baluchistan

Depot Gallery II 2 Dank Street Waterloo

Our Sydney exhibition is being held in conjunction with a major textile exhibition at Sidewalk Tribal Gallery, W1 Danks Street, across the road from Depot II. Anyone interested in textiles as art should not miss the chance to see this collection.

Textile Art from the Hmong, Dao, and Co-Tu People of Vietnam

1 - 11 February, 2006

Illustrated: Uzbek embroidered gajeri. Northern Afghanistan, ca 1950 Baluch kilim-weave cradle. South western Afghanistan. C19 Baluch kilim. Early C20 Aimak blanket. Early C20

Alexandra and Leigh Copeland have been collectors of carpets and textiles from Central and South Asia since 1972. Pieces from their collection have been acquired by the Australian National Gallery, the National Gallery of Victoria and the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. Included in the exhibition are fine old Turkoman and Baluch carpets in sizes up to 5x3 metres, rare Sistan Baluch kilims, a large variety of village quilts, old Turkoman jewellery, and tribal emroideries and trappings. All are resonably priced authentic examples of tribal and village art, and were collected between 1972 and 2005. Recently Alexandra has worked with Afghan carpet weavers and has had soumak rugs woven to her own designs. These will be available in the Depot Gallery exhibition.

The exhibition is in Depot Gallery II, 2 Dank Street, Waterloo. Hours 11am-6pm Tuesday to Saturday. Alexandra and Leigh Copeland will be in attendance on all days and will give a floor talk at 6.30pm on Wednesday 1 February. Refreshments will be served. Further information available from Alexandra and Leigh Copeland. 03 5236 3328 or 0439 110 111.

Antique Baluch Calum Dhani Carpet

Uzbek carpet - jul-i-khirs. Handspun wool

Tree of Life. Designed by Alexandra Copeland

Turkoman coat panel. Silver chased with gold. Turkoman jewellery price range $200-$1200.

Pomegranates. Designed by Alexandra Copeland

Indus Valley hand-stitched quilt. Reverse

Sistan Baluch kilim

Indus Valley hand-stitched baby quilt. The Depot Gallery exhibition will feature a special display of beautiful old hand-stitched quilts.

Alexandra Copeland in her Studio, 2003

Leigh Copeland. Many years ago in Kabul

Alexandra and Leigh Copeland live on a small farm with a pottery studio and a garden 90 minutes from Melbourne. They have visited Afghanistan over 30 times, and have made numerous trips to regions of India, China, Indonesia and South-East Asia. Alexandra Copeland is an artist whose ceramics are represented in major International and Australian public collections.