Speaker Series: Victoria Lautman presents “Subterranean Ghosts: India’s Vanishing Stepwells” | May 23

Monday, May 23, 2022 — 11:30 am

Join us in person as the journalist and author presents on these unique marvels of architecture, engineering and art.

PLEASE NOTE: New event date is Monday, May 23

While India’s palaces, forts, temples and tombs are on every tourist itinerary, its magnificent subterranean stepwells remain largely unknown. These unique water harvesting structures proliferated throughout the subcontinent for over a millennium, but by the 19^th century faded into oblivion.

Victoria Lautman spent years documenting hundreds of the underground edifices and her book, now in hardcover and paperback, traces the fascinating history, variety and current state of these wonders. We will see many of these lavish images that were recently on exhibition at UCLA’s Fowler Museum.

A veteran cultural journalist, Lautman has also hosted and produced several long-running radio programs in Chicago dedicated to the arts, literature, architecture and design… following several years in Washington D.C. at Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. She has lectured widely and contributed to dozens of international publications.

Photo: The Vanishing Stepwells of India by Victoria Lautman book cover

The Ebell of Los Angeles requires all members and guests to be fully vaccinated and up to date to attend in-person programs. “Fully vaccinated and up to date” is defined as having had a primary series of vaccinations plus a booster (if eligible) and being at least two weeks past the booster dose. Guests must bring ID and proof of vaccination to every event to enter. Special accommodations will be made for those who have a medical or religious exemption. For those with exemptions, The Ebell of Los Angeles will need the following three items on record:

• A note from a doctor or religious leader
• Negative PCR test within 48 hours of event
• Rapid Antigen test taken onsite (provided by the Ebell for an additional $15 cost)

Medical grade masks are optional but still strongly recommended.