VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents their September Artful Thursday: India, My Inspiration, Sep 16, 2010 at 6:30 PM, at the Caroline Wiess Law Building.  Presented by author Dr. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, The Betty and Gene McDavid Professor of Creative Writing, University of Houston.

The heart of India pulses through Dr. Chitra Divakaruni´s fictional writings. Recipient of the American Book Award, Divakaruni is the author of 16 books, including the best-sellers Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart which were adapted into films. The MFAH is featuring her 2008 novel, The Palace of Illusions, as one of the current MFAH Online Book Club selections.

Praised by The Los Angeles Times as "a mythic tale brimming with warriors, magic and treachery," The Palace of Illusions offers a fictional reinterpretation of the ancient Indian epic, The Mahabarat, through Panchaali, a young princess who receives news from a sage that she is fated to cause the greatest war of her time. "By happy coincidence the museum has sculptures and paintings depicting many of the book´s characters . . ." says Divakaruni.

At the September Artful Thursday, she reads from The Palace of Illusions and other works, and shows how they dialogue with works of art at the MFAH.

Learn more about the author and the MFAH Online Book Club by visiting www.chitradivakaruni.com  and www.mfah.org/bookclub.

Admission is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing follow the program. Register to win great giveaways from KUHF 88.7 FM and the MFAH.

Artful Thursday programs receive generous funding from the Rockwell Fund. Promotional support is generously provided by KUHF 88.7 FM, Houston Public Radio.

Refreshments generously provided by the Buffalo Speedway Starbucks (corner of Buffalo Speedway and Westpark), Carla Everett, manager, and the Rice Village Starbucks, Jenna Ortiz, manager.