Bob Arnett’s photos bring India to Kennesaw State University
(Left) Award-winning author and photographer Robert Arnett at the opening reception for his photo exhibit at Kennesaw State University. (Photo: Anna Barnes, KSU Division of Global Affairs)
Thanks to a generous donation from the Sheth Foundation, a photo exhibit of award-winning author and photographer Robert Arnett's work is on display through March 7, 2018 in the Social Sciences Atrium at Kennesaw State University (KSU). The exhibit is part of the KSU Division of Global Affairs Annual Country Study Program: Year of India. The program dedicates a year to academic and cultural events exploring India's rich political, economic, and artistic history, thus offering Kennesaw State students and members of the Atlanta community a variety of ways to engage with Indian culture.
The exhibit itself features more than 30 photos from Arnett's award-winning book, India Unveiled: Spirit, Tradition, People which includes 307 photos capturing the vast and diverse land of India. This book won 4 national book awards including Independent Publisher Best Travel Book of the Year. Arnett also authored the children's book Finders Keepers?: a True Story in India, which has won 5 awards.
Arnett's interest in photography dates back to his early days of selling fine art with his brother. The two sold a variety of art pieces, but the Indian art particularly interested Arnett. He looked into deciphering the meaning of the art which led him to his own discovery of Eastern religions and the secrets behind one of the oldest surviving civilizations in the world—India.
In 1967 at the age of 27, Arnett traveled to Detroit on business. One of his colleagues invited him to a yoga exhibit at the Detroit Art Institute. At the time, Arnett says he didn't know what yoga really meant. He explained that most people believe yoga is a physical exercise, but he found that was only a minute part of the meaning of yoga. Learning that yoga meant union of soul and spirit led to his interest in meditation. He then wanted to see the country and people who developed what he calls a nonmaterial approach to life.
When Arnett traveled to India for the first time, he did not intend to write a book. Captivated by the people, landscape, religion, and culture, Arnett decided to share the country he fell in love with through his eyes. Arnett enjoyed most the overall peacefulness and respect he found in Indian culture. He says that Indians are the most hospitable, honest, and family-oriented people in the world.
"Indian hospitality made Southern hospitality pale by example and seem like nothing," he said.
(Right) Photographer Robert Arnett talks to two KSU students about his photo. (Photo: Lauren Kress, KSU Creative Services)
That overall peacefulness and respect is exemplified in his photography. His photos show religious symbols and cultural activities in a visual journey through the country. He encourages his audience to delve into the meaning of the symbols found in his work. If you visit their higher meaning, he says, you will find that sacred and religious symbols of the world are universal, and he hopes that his audience will understand that no one culture has a monopoly on truth.
"I would hope that they would take away a greater degree of understanding for other cultures and, particularly, tolerance for things different than their own," Arnett said.
At the grand opening on January 23, exhibit visitors enjoyed traditional Indian food catered by Moon Indian Cuisine. Arnett led a group through the exhibit examining the symbols, meaning, and interpretation of each photo. Food and travel writer and founder of the nonprofit organization Go Eat Give, Sucheta Rawal, and cyber security professional Dipak Rath attended the opening. Natives of India, they both wanted to see how a person who didn’t come from India viewed the country.
(Left) (Photo: Anna Barnes, KSU Division of Global Affairs)
“I really like the way he explained the diversity in India and the commonality of different religions giving the same messaging,” said Rawal.
Rawal and Rath hope that message will resonate with KSU students and help develop understanding and perceptions of India and Eastern religion.
Arnett's passion for a country that rejects materialism and focuses on uniting mind and spirit comes to life in this collection of photos that are thought provoking, inspiring, and telling of the peaceful and spiritual nature of India.
Take the time to experience this wonderful gift to KSU that connects the community to the captivating world of India.
The exhibit is free to all and will be open daily through March 7.
|
|
(Photo: Anna Barnes, KSU Division of Global Affairs)
Website Bonus Feature
Video:
Oct 2017
http://dga.kennesaw.edu/yearof/india/
Links:
Robert Arnett’s website
http://www.atmanpress.com/author.html
Preview of the photo exhibit
http://www.atmanpress.com/india-unveiled/photo_exhibit/
Year of India Introductory Essay
Dan Paracka, Professor of Education, Interdisciplinary Studies Department
http://dga.kennesaw.edu/yearof/india/essay.php
Year of India Schedule
http://dga.kennesaw.edu/yearof/india/schedule.php
|
|
Robert Arnett's book, India Unveiled.
|
|
Back cover of Robert Arnett's children's book, Finders Keepers?: a True Story in India.
[The article above contains additional material not in the print and digital issues.]
| Remember, we have new Website Bonus Features that are not in the print magazine. Every time you see the ”computer” symbol in the print magazine, you can go to our website to see additional print or audiovisual material! |
|
Submitting your report for consideration in Around Town Please send post event reports for consideration in the Around Town section to AroundTown@khabar.com. Publication of reports is based on several criteria including the volume of reports submitted for a given issue. You may request Guidelines for the reports prior to submitting them. Deadline: 16th of each month—for consideration in the following month. However, chances of inclusion are better if reports are received well in advance of the deadline – where possible. |
|
Submitting your news item for consideration in Newsmakers Please send news items for consideration in the Newsmakers section to CommunityNewsmakers@khabar.com. Publication of news is based on several criteria including the volume of reports submitted for a given issue. We are focusing on local community members with some achievement or award that will be interesting and/or inspiring to our readers. |
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
