Post #509405 by JONPAUL on Sat, Feb 6, 2010 2:48 PM

I’m shocked that no one has posted about this yet....

WHERE MASKS STILL DANCE: NEW GUINEA
Photography by Chris Rainier
December 26 - June 6, 2010

From the Bowers Museum site...

A stunning presentation of the intricate and mysterious cultures that inhabit the island of New Guinea, home to over one thousand aboriginal tribes and unique languages. Where Masks Still Dance: New Guinea features 40 black-and-white photographs by acclaimed documentary photographer Chris Rainier, known for his revealing images of earth’s last wilderness areas and the isolated indigenous peoples who live there. Explore the lives, masked ceremonies, crocodile cults, rites of passage, adornment, celebrations and rituals rarely documented in the West. Journey into this vanishing world where masks still dance.

For those bibliophiles that want to have some of this in their library, the 1996 Bulfinch coffee table book of the same name is a MUST!!!!

And, for those that weren’t already aware, the Bowers holds in its permanent collection quite a substantial amount of Art of the Pacific.

Again, from the Bowers Museum site...

ART OF THE PACIFIC
This collection includes art and artifacts from many of the Pacific Islands. Objects from Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya make up largest part of this collection though other areas of Melanesia, Polynesia and Australia are also represented. There are more than 2,400 objects ranging in age from pre-historic to contemporary. Objects in the art of the Pacific collection are varied including basketry, pottery, feather work, weapons, wooden sculpture, food bowls and utensils, jewelry and costume.

For further information on the photographer, visit...

http://www.chrisrainier.com

And the Bowers Museum, visit...

http://www.bowers.org

And if this is something that gets you going, you’ve got to check out the special exhibition opening Feb. 20...

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=35442&forum=17&0

[ Edited by: JONPAUL 2010-02-06 15:06 ]