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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PEABODY PLACE MUSEUM UNVEILS NEW INTERPRETIVE JADE EXHIBIT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Oct. 5, 2004) - Peabody Place Museum is adding an interpretive jade exhibit to its permanent collection of Chinese art and Judaica. Consisting of five permanent "information stations," the exhibit will help visitors gain a greater understanding and appreciation of jade's material and symbolic significance in Chinese culture.

"This new addition to the Museum represents an exploration of Chinese art and culture through symbolism, science and history," said Nancy Knight, director of the Peabody Place Museum. "Peabody Place Museum supports the artistic and cultural growth of the Memphis community through the museum's collections, exhibitions and educational programs."

The interpretive five-stations display include details of the mineral makeup of jade and its cultural significance, a comparative color chart and a three-dimensional replica of the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Additional stops throughout the exhibit include a map of Asia, illustrating different countries where jade has been mined, information on the artisan class and details on jade sculpting techniques widely used between 1644 and 1911.

In the creation of the educational exhibition, Peabody Place Museum enlisted the help of 28-year veteran and former curator of exhibits for the Pink Palace Museum, Tom Miller. With the aid of Peabody Place Museum representatives, Nancy Knight, director; Marianne Pak, education coordinator; and Belinda Fish, instructor, Miller engineered an exhibit inspired by visitors' inquiries about the Museum's current jade collections.

A substantial portion of the Museum's collections consist of decorative pieces made of jade and other semi-precious and hard stones, including lapis, agate, rhodonite, malachite and quartz.

About Peabody Place Museum

Opened in 1998, the Museum is home to one of the largest collections of 19th century Chinese art. The permanent exhibit at the Museum includes objects created for Chinese nobility during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The collection includes intricately carved jade sculptures, crafted enamelware pieces and rare objects carved in ivory. The Museum also has smaller collections of fossils and minerals, contemporary European art glass, Russian lacquer boxes, Judaica art and more.

Peabody Place Museum is open from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from noon until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For information on special group rates, guided tours, educational programs, teachers' packets and special event room rental, contact the Museum at (901) 523-ARTS.