FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2000 CONTACT: Loulou Kane, (515) 271-1994 or 277-2183, Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 The Anderson Gallery at Drake University offers visitors a rare opportunity to view antique weaving from Sweden in the exhibition "Swedish Textiles: The Ericson Collection," which runs Jan. 23 through Feb. 20. An opening reception at the gallery will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23. The event and exhibition are free and open to the public. Little-known to the outside world although highly prized by those familiar with it, the woven art of Sweden displays an astonishing variety of pattern - geometric, floral and figurative. Because these textiles were created primarily for use in religious festivals and weddings and were otherwise stored in wooden coffers, they have retained a remarkable degree of vivid color and pristine condition. Dr. Tom Ericson's collection features over 20 richly patterned and brightly colored textiles from the 18th and 19th centuries, including several examples of rare, flat-woven tapestries ("flamskvavs") from southern Sweden (Skane), a region famous for weaving some of the most beautiful textiles in all Scandinavia. Initially produced by professional weavers brought to Sweden from the Netherlands and France in the early 16th century under royal patronage, tapestries were eventually created by women and became a cottage industry, with knowledge of the craft being handed down from mother to daughter. The earliest pieces were woven as wall-hangings or tablecloths for households of the nobility. Later textiles - bedcovers, cushions, coverlets, table-runners were made for use in the more modest homes of farmers, or as dowry pieces or presents. Ericson, a physician in Des Moines, has been collecting textiles from Sweden, the country of his ancestors, for close to 20 years. His initial interest in them was sparked by oriental rugs and Amish quilts, which he began collecting while in medical school. His shift in interest to Swedish textiles was prompted by a major exhibition in London in 1984. A recent three-month trip to Sweden to pursue language fluency and solidify family ties, also resulted in additions to his textile collection. Ericson continues to be drawn to the variety and vibrancy of Sweden's native textiles and is always eager to introduce them to new admirers. "I'm really pleased to be able to show the collection at the Anderson Gallery," he says. "I hope visitors will fall in love with the beauty of Swedish textiles...their folkloric charm as well as their affinity with contemporary design." The Anderson Gallery provides Drake students and the Des Moines community the opportunity to experience the rich diversity of the visual arts, past and present. Gallery hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday in the Harmon Fine Arts Center, 25th Street and Carpenter Avenue. For more information, call (515) 271-2863.