The Sammamish Arts Commission will present an exhibit entitled “The Art of the Sari – A Photo Journey of Indian Artists and Textiles” in the Sammamish City Hall Commons Gallery from Sept. 16-Dec. 4.

Brilliantly colored Saris will line the gallery, and an intricate form of sand painting called Rangoli will be created on the floor.

Additionally, textiles, artists and people from craft villages in Northeastern and Western India will be presented in a series of photographic images by Michael Rainwater.

The opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 6–8 p.m. in the gallery. It is free and open to the public.

The Saris in the exhibition have been provided by Sammamish residents, and the Rangoli artists also come from the diverse Sammamish arts community. Mr. Rainwater is an accomplished local photographer of over 30 years.

His lens captures color and texture and people in their environment.

The sari is a traditional Indian costume, whose origin dates back centuries before Christ.

It is a long length of cloth worn draped over a woman’s body. The piece of cloth used as a sari is usually 6 to 9 yards long and traditionally covers the upper and lower parts of the body while exposing the midriff.

Saris vary extensively by their types as well as the way they are draped.

There are over 25 types of sari and at least 100 different ways to drape them.

Usually the draping of a sari will highlight the region of India from which the person hails.

Saris can range from tens of dollars to thousands – these saris will be inlaid with silver, gold and precious stones and come in wide variety of colors.

Saris are worn not only in India but also in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Pakistan.

Men wear a shortened version of the sari on the lower part of the body, called dhoti, veshti or mundu.

Rangoli (or Kolam) is a form of sand painting that is done with rice powder in several parts of India. It consists of curved loops and drawings that connect a grid of dots.

The Sammamish Arts Commission offers a year-round series of exhibitions in City Hall with a primary focus on regional artists. For more on the Arts Commission go to www.ci.sammamish.wa.us