Hyderabad|India|October'2010: Art and literary enthusiasts enjoyed a special treat at an exhibition “Picturing America” presented by U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad in association with the B.M. Birla Science Center.

Consul General Katherine Dhanani and Dr. B.G. Sidharth, Director, B.M. Birla Science Centre on Wednesday inaugurated the exhibition at the B.M. Birla Planetarium which will be on display until October 24, 2010. The exhibit will travel to Vishakhapatnam and will be on display in the port city from October 29 to November 3.

Speaking on the occasion Consul General Dhanani said, “The Picturing America exhibit uses art as a tool for the study of America - the cultural, political, and historical threads woven into our nation’s fabric over time. This is just one element in the Consulate’s effort to stimulate an exchange of culture between the U.S. and India.”

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities, offers this exhibition of 40 reproductions of significant American art (including painting, fine crafts, sculpture, photography and architecture) that showcases the United States’ artistic heritage and offers unique insights into the character, ideals, and aspirations of America.

Picturing America’s images span several centuries and features artists ranging from early American Indian artisans to painters Mary Cassatt and Thomas Hart Benton; to photographers Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange, to architects Frank Lloyd Wright and William Van Alen.

Used in conjunction with a Teacher’s Resource Book, and a Picturing America website (http://picturingamerica.neh.gov) which provides further resources and information regarding the art, it can enhance the teaching and understanding of America’s past for those interested in knowing more about America.

The exhibition will be open to public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, including holidays. The U.S. Consulate General has invited many schools from the city to be a part of the exhibition.