NYC's Rubin Museum is helping to preserve the rich blended history of Nepalese religious art

THE HUFFINGTON POST
By Priscilla Frank

In Nepal, Buddhist deities and Hindu gods are both vital parts of ritual life and are worshiped side-by-side. Rakta Lokeshvara, a meditation form of the Bodhisattva of compassion, stands at the center of this painting and is surrounded by a number of Hindu gods emanating from his body. Rakta Lokeshvara/Macchendranath, Nepal; dated 1842, Pigments on cloth; 29 3/8 x 22 in. Rubin Museum of Art

NEW YORK---On Saturday, April 25, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal, centered outside the capital of Kathmandu, rattling and destroying many of the city's oldest neighborhoods. Aside from the thousands of lives lost, Nepal's culture was irreparably wounded, as well. We reached out to Jan Van Alphen, Director of Exhibitions, Collections and Research at the Rubin Museum of Art -- New York's mecca for art from the Himalayas, India, and neighboring regions. Van Alphen spoke about the damage and what people can do to help. "The Rubin has listed humanitarian organizations currently providing aid on the ground and accepting donations." [link]