Go Back“Ancient Color and Geometry: Anatolian Pile Carpets from the Christopher Alexander Collection” exhibition in M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco
10/11/1990 to 17/02/1991The exhibition of the Christopher Alexander collection of 80 Turkish carpets in the de Young Memorial Museum was held during the 6th International Conference on Oriental Carpets. Alexander designed the exhibit in all its detailing personally with one thing in mind – to create an atmosphere in which the real nature of the carpets would be visible. He stated “…The further I went, the darker the walls became, until I found myself making half the walls a deep sober red and the others grey. And I found myself using tiny spots of light on the carpets, not illuminating the whole carpet, but creating just enough light that the glowing presence of each carpet could be felt. And its life was there, before me…”.
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De Young Carpet Exhibition: Letter apologizing for the tardiness of the return of contract. Affirmation of Christopher Alexander's hope that the collection of carpets will end up in the San Francisco Museum and will offer these carpets for sale to the museum at the time of the exhibit in 1990
14/09/1988
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De Young Carpet Exhibition: Loan exhibition condition checklist - Alexander Collection
23/04/1989
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De Young Carpet Exhibition: Heartfelt thank you for the wonderful carpet exhibit and its personal impact
23/11/1990
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Ancient Color and Geometry: Anatolian Pile Carpets from the Christopher Alexander Collection: Introductory boards installed in the exhibit
10/11/1990
The exhibition 18″x72″ title board, and two 36″x48″ boards with introductory information for the exhibit; the first one “Ancient Color and Geometry: Anatolian Pile Carpets from the Christopher Alexander Collection – A Foreshadowing of the 21st-century Art” is outlining the ...
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Ancient Color and Geometry: Anatolian Pile Carpets from the Christopher Alexander Collection: Exhibit concept boards installed in the exhibit
10/11/1990
Eighteen small boards analyzing the dating of the carpets and the context in which they were made, as well as, the geometrical aspects and structure of their designs in relation to wholeness and applications to the 21st century architecture .
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De Young Carpet Exhibition: Proposed exhibition summary sheet
26/02/1987
The initial proposal for the Alexander carpet collection exhibit, with particular suggestions regarding title, dates, sponsorship, number of rugs etc.; enclosed are a possible list of rugs to be showcased, and a budget sheet for the exhibit. Also a draft ...
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De Young Carpet Exhibition: Letter of Agreement
12/10/1988
Signed agreement with Harry Parker’s and Christopher Alexander’s signatures, attached to transmittal letter; also a preceding letter of agreement with Appendices, as well as a draft of the signed agreement.
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De Young Carpet Exhibition: Statement of exhibition content
01/07/1988
Two paragraphs on the content and scope of the Anatolian pile rugs exhibit.
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De Young Museum Exhibit: Carpet exhibition photographs
01/11/1990
Four photographs of the main axis of the exhibition gallery and one of the niche, with the exhibited carpets.
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De Young Museum Exhibit: Carpet exhibition photographs
01/11/1990
Six close-up photographs of groups of exhibited carpets.
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De Young Museum Exhibit: Carpet exhibition photographs
01/11/1990
Photograph of panel “Anatolian Pile Carpets”, introducing the carpet exhibition.
References
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Geometry and Fifteen Fundamental Properties
Christopher Alexander recognized the importance of the geometry of centers and for years he was looking for the common structural features among buildings, paintings, streets, carpets, doors, windows, etc. which have "life" and "wholeness". He identified fifteen structural features which ...
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Color and Inner Light: The Eleven Color Properties
Christopher Alexander postulated that centers and the field of centers they create are the building blocks from which wholeness is made. However, he further argued that geometry alone is not sufficient, and that color is the way wholeness comes to ...
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Timurid-Carpet pattern, painting
1990
Painting on photographic paper with red and yellow gouach; 20cm x 26cm, depicts a reconstruction of a 13th century carpet. Two illuminated negatives of the painting were exhibited in the De Young Memorial Museum "Ancient Color and Geometry: Very early ...
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Yellow and Blue carpet with Griffin and Archaic Border
14th century carpet in three fragments, 171cm x262cm, West Anatolia; sold on 2018, at Sotheby’s auction .
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Early carpet with Spotted Lobes - The Old Rug
Possibly 14th century carpet, 128cm x 253cm, Konya; sold on 7-Nov-2017, at Sotheby’s auction .
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De Young Museum Exhibit: Photographs of drawings
01/11/1990
Photographs of the plan and section of the exhibition galleries.
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"Timurid Carpet Pattern" painting: Photographs
01/01/1990
Photograph of the gouache painting “Timurid Carpet Pattern” on celluloid. It was exhibited at the De Young Carpet Exhibition, and at the Locus Manifesto-exposition “Re-enchant the World: Architecture and the City facing society´s transitions”, in Science Cabinet 2.