New OUMA exhibit showcases the 14th Dalai Lama

Rima Fujita, H. H. the 14th Dalai Lama – Spreading Love, mixed media on paper, 20″ x 18″ Courtesy of the artist

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA) welcomed a new exhibit in a soft opening called Extraordinary Life  of His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey by Rima Fujita on Feb. 13. 

The exhibit had a larger opening on Feb. 20. with the artist herself, Rima Fujita. Fujita is a  Japanese-American Buddhist who connected directly with the Dalai Lama and created 14  paintings that illustrate his life. The art will be on display until June 7.

Prior to the opening, there was a “lunch and learn” event with Carol McGranahan, a professor of anthropology and a Tibetan scholar from the University of Colorado at Boulder and discussed the world of Tibet and the 14^th Dalai Lama in support of the exhibition.  

“We decided, given the incredibly difficult state of the world, that we should turn the exhibit into  a sacred space and a shrine if we could and do so respectfully,” museum director Elizabeth  Peterson Jennings said. Jennings said that there will be monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery to bless the space. The  exhibit will also feature a singing bowl, items for mediation, and cushions. 

Immersive experiences are not new to the museum.

Jennings noted a previous exhibit that focused on deaf culture and music where guests experienced sound through vibration. “It is something I am trying to double down on and make the museum a space that people can use for personal reflection and as a place to feed their happiness, joy, and sense of well-being,”  Jennings said.  

Jasmine Evans, a freshman art history major with a museum studies minor who works, is a gallery assistant and exhibition coordinator at OUMA. She said,  “Everyone should attend this experience because it is enlightening, and especially in this day and time, all cultures deserve to be appreciated and shown.”

While Evans said her role in the installation process was primarily preparing the gallery for the  exhibit, she highlighted the efforts of Jennings, who held Zoom calls with the artist to ensure all  of the pieces of art were displayed as intended and that all cultural elements were presented  respectfully and following the specific cultural guidelines.  

Jennings shared that this immersive experience is something that might be appealing to students,  as it is a chance to step away from busy routines and focus on self-care. By incorporating art with mediation and personal reflection, the museum exhibit aims to provide a peaceful space for the campus community.