Magic Carpets Have Soared Into Salem`s Mission Mill

Eastern carpets have long captivated Western imagination, see them on display through April 14th.

Exhibit photo: Mission Mill

(SALEM) - Whether they are flying through the Disney-interpreted stories of Aladdin or embellishing the exotic salons of the rich and fashionable, carpets have become icons of mysterious Eastern cultures as well as an accepted and often overlooked part of our own.

From this unique position, traditional carpets from the Silk Road are prime material for cross-cultural discussion and exploration. That is the premise behind the LANGUAGE OF THE CARPETS & THE MAGIC CARPET PROJECT exhibit at the Mission Mill Museum from February 2nd through April 14th.

In cooperation with the Magic Carpet Cultural Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the fostering of cross-cultural understanding through arts and education, antique, tribal, and village carpets and textiles created by nomadic weavers from Anatolia to Azerbaijan will be on display through mid-April. These pieces offer an exciting look into the everyday life of people half-way around the world.

The exhibit also includes rugs from the Magic Carpet Project educational outreach program. In this program, students from around the country learn about the symbolic language of carpets and are encouraged to design their own reflecting their hopes and dreams for themselves and the world. The wishes expressed in these designs are diverse.

“I wish that the world would not have any more bombs and wars,” says nine year old designer Katy from Marcola, Oregon. Five-year old Tajna from Washington DC states, “I wish that everyone in the world could have chocolate chip cookies.” The pieces included in the exhibit were woven in Turkey from the original designs and wishes of school children involved in the project.

Carpets and rugs are an unassuming part of our own cultural experience. With daily encounters, this art form is easily overlooked, hiding underfoot and tucked under couches, tables and chairs. Explore the tradition of Western-made carpets at the museum as well.

Stroll through the 1840's vintage historic homes and look for the rag rugs that early settlers resourcefully made by hand out of recycled scraps of material. Enroll in a rug braiding class and learn the techniques of this resourceful medium. Meet with weavers from the Salem Fiberarts Guild who design and weave rugs and floor coverings, out of everything from wool to old blue jeans.

For more information about the exhibit and events at Mission Mill Museum, visit the Mission Mill website, or call 503-585-7012, or visit the Magic Carpet Cultural Center website.