Rare Afghan Area Rug Exhibit to Travel to Atlanta International Area Rug Market
January 18-21, 2007
U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, AFGHANISTAN MINISTER OF CULTURE, AFGHANISTAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES TO ATTEND AFGHAN RUG EXHIBIT AT AMERICASMART ATLANTA
WHO: Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Abdul Karim Khoram, Afghanistan’s Minister of Culture
Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United States
WHAT: Afghan Impressions: Area Rug Artistry & Inspiration—a celebration of Afghanistan’s resurgent rug heritage and culture—will make its exclusive U.S. debut in the home of the world’s largest permanent area rug product collection: AMERICASMART ATLANTA and the January 2007 Atlanta International Area Rug Market featuring the National Oriental Rug Show. This exhibition is the result of a landmark partnership between AMERICASMART ATLANTA and the Embassy of Afghanistan, with support from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
WHEN: Thursday, January 18, 2007. 5 p.m.
WHERE: AMERICASMART ATLANTA
AMERICASMART, The Merchandise Mart
240 Peachtree Street, floor 2, Exhibit Hall
WHY: Afghanistan once stood as one of the world’s leading producers of handmade rugs. Today, the rugs on exhibit represent the prospect of hope and stability for a country on the brink of reintegration into the global economy.
Afghan Impressions: Area Rug Artistry & Inspiration—a celebration of Afghanistan’s resurgent rug heritage and culture—will make its exclusive U.S. debut in the home of the world’s largest permanent area rug product collection: AMERICASMART ATLANTA and the January 2007 Atlanta International Area Rug Market featuring the National Oriental Rug Show. This exhibition is the result of a landmark partnership between AMERICASMARTATLANTA and the Embassy of Afghanistan, with support from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
In a custom-designed gallery setting in the 2nd floor Exhibit Hall of AMERICASMART, Afghan Impressions: Area Rug Artistry & Inspiration will present some of Afghanistan’s most spectacular export treasures, including traditional rugs, furniture reproductions and artifacts, many on loan from the private collection of Fredrik T. Hiebert Ph.D., renowned archaeologist and National Geographic Society Fellow. Traditional and modernized Afghan apparel will also be on display.
“For years, Afghanistan stood as one of the world’s leading producers of handmade rugs,” says Chas Sydney, senior vice president of floor coverings and new business development, AMC, Inc., parent of AMERICASMART ATLANTA. “And today these rugs represent the prospect of hope and stability for a country on the brink of reintegration into the global economy. We’re honored to bring this once-in-a-lifetime exhibit to Atlanta for the benefit of our customers and the Afghan people.”
The exhibition opens at 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 18 in the 2nd floor Exhibit Hall of AMERICASMART. A gala reception follows at 5 p.m. at which U.S. and Afghan dignitaries are expected to be in attendance. Among those expected to take part in the reception are U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Dr. Fredrik T. Hiebert, H.E. Abdul Karim Khoram, Afghanistan’s Minister of Culture, and representatives from the Export Promotion Center of Afghanistan. The cocktail buffet menu will feature traditional pastries and teas.
Area Rug Artistry & Inspiration is open to all Market retailer and exhibitor customers from Thursday, January 18 through Sunday, January 21.
9 a.m.– 5 p.m.
Additionally, three Area Rug Center exhibitors will be showcasing their spectacular Afghan collections in January 2007: Amadi Carpets (5G5), Pacific Collection (4A2) and Ariana Rugs (2-1114).
For more information on AMERICASMART ATLANTA, its annual markets and exhibitors, please call 1-800-ATL-MART or visit AmericasMart.com.
CONTACTS:
Keri Hanenkrat Arroll [email protected] 404/220.2106
Jennifer Cowman [email protected] 404/220.2114
AMERICASMART ATLANTA is the largest wholesale marketplace of its kind in the world, and is a leading international market source for a wide variety of consumer goods. It hosts 25 wholesale markets and six Market Wednesdays that annually attract more than 548,000 attendees from every U.S. state and 80 countries.
Retailers attending its markets identify AMERICASMART as the gift/home furnishings/area rug wholesale marketplace most important to their business—as compared to all competing U.S. wholesale markets—in independent research conducted by Moore & Symons, Inc.
