A work of art can be interpreted in numerous ways, depending upon the perspective of the viewer. Labeltalk 2001, a new exhibition at the Williams College Museum of Art, explores the range of possible interpretations by featuring the unique viewpoints of over 20 Williams College faculty members. Labeltalk 2001 is the fifth exhibition in the popular, innovative Labeltalk series.

As part of the museum's 75th anniversary celebration, the exhibition highlights the museum's Asian collection and will include art from Cambodia, China, India, and Japan. Eight of these works are selected for Labeltalk interpretation and will have three labels written by Williams College professors from different academic departments. For example, a Chinese scroll that depicts silk production, including the cultivation of silk worms and the weaving and dying of cloth, is interpreted by professors of art history, economics, and history of science. In all, there are texts from over 20 faculty members representing 16 departments. The result is a fascinating interdisciplinary look at eight works of art that invite the viewer to consider both academic and personal interpretations of art.

The Williams College Museum of Art will host a public reception on Saturday, November 18 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to celebrate the opening of fall exhibitions. A discussion by three Labeltalk professors will offer an in-depth view of one of the works in Labeltalk 2001.

This exhibition was organized by Stefanie Spray Jandl, the museum's Andrew W. Mellon curatorial associate. The Labeltalk series was initiated in 1995 with the support of a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which was awarded to enhance the teaching role of the museum on the Williams College campus.