Treasures of the Silk Road

The exhibit features over 70 musical instruments from the Pastel-Daneshgar musical instrument collection, with a focus on strings, flutes, and percussion from across Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Crafted from wood, snakeskin, horsehair, lambskin, camel bone, and other unique materials, these instruments provide a compelling history of cultural and artistic exchanges that have led to the myriad musical sounds and styles that permeate the world today. The opening event will feature remarks from the collection owner, Shahyar Daneshgar, and will feature musical clips provided by the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival.

Shahyar Daneshgar is a lifelong musician, scholar, and cultural ambassador whose passion for traditional music has shaped more than three decades of collecting, teaching, and performing. Born into a large musical family, he studied at the Tehran Conservatory of Music before pursuing academic work in Germany and later at Indiana University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Central Eurasian Studies in 1995. He taught at Indiana University until his retirement in 2024. He is founder and director of the Bloomington Silk Road Ensemble.

The exhibition is free and runs from September 25, 2026, to September 2027.

The mission of the McCalla Center is to provide accessible exhibition and educational experiences, creating opportunities for students, faculty, and the community to engage with collections, IU-generated creative activity, and community projects in meaningful and innovative ways.

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