Smiley Library to Host Central Asian Exhibit

Images, artifacts and impressions collected by photographer and journalist Penny Schwartz from her travels through Central Asia are now on display in the Assembly Room at A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands. Entitled My Silk Road, the exhibit includes 20 dramatic color images, along with artifacts such as a rare Turkmen wedding hat and jewelry, Kyrgyz skull caps and a pair of Uzbek puppets. "In 2004, my husband Leon and I traveled through the storied lands of Central Asia, following the path of ancient traders along what came to be known as the Silk Road," said Schwartz. "This east-west trade route flourished for about eight centuries, beginning in 100 BC, and ran from Xian, China, to what is now Istanbul, Turkey. Our journey took us from Istanbul to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. In addition to all of the fascinating landscapes and architecture, the people of the regions we traveled through, and their cultural traditions remain with me." A native New Yorker, Schwartz graduated from New York University. Travel has always been a pivotal part of her life. After spending several years in Chicago, she and her husband settled in Redlands in the early 1970s, where she raised two children and earned her master's degree in English Literature from the University of Redlands. She has been a freelance writer in the areas of arts, theater, restaurants and travel for more than 30 years and has also taught journalism and English as a second language. "I've known Penny for years and am familiar with her work," said library director Don McCue. "When Penny and her collaborator, longtime local curator Michelle Nielsen, came to me with an exhibit proposal, I thought the library’s patrons would enjoy seeing some of Penny's material." Visitors interested in viewing the exhibit can access the assembly room between 1 and 5 p.m. every day of the week, with the exception of when groups are meeting in the room. "The library’s assembly room is in high demand as both a meeting space and exhibition area," said McCue. To be certain that the exhibit is accessible during a specific time, the public is encouraged to call 909-798-7565 during normal library hours. The display will be available through Sept. 14.