Spirits and Headhunters: Art of the Pacific Islands - Bowers Museum, Santa Ana - California Events

STCB Sabu The Coconut Boy Tiki Socialite Carson, California Joined: Aug 20, 2002 Posts: 2813	STCB Sabu The Coconut Boy Posted posted on Mon, Mar 1, 2010 5:55 PM The Bowers Museum really delved into their vast collection of Oceanic artifacts this time to do quite an extensive exhibition in their newly-built wing. Just a breathtaking collection that you could spend hours and hours taking in. Since it's only a few minute drive from my workplace, I went ahead and got a year's membership so I could visit this collection multiple times until it closes - something I haven't done since the early 1990s when they had their last Oceanic exhibit. The scope of this one puts that last exhibit to shame. :down: The foyer to the main exhibit hall is well-lit and houses some monumental pieces. :down: including several nice slit drums :down: The main exhibit hall is darker with a meandering maze of lit display cases and larger tableaux :down: Grade Figures from Vanuatu, carved from Tree Ferns :down: Asmat carvings :down: Several feasting bowls. This is one I liked. :down: Easter Island Artifacts :down: Majority were Melanesian artifacts, but several cases of Polynesian: :down: Many, many cases of smaller ornamental pieces, including my all-time favorite, that I've only seen in books until now - Necklace of Sperm Whale teeth worn in Fiji and Samoa: I'd love to find a way to reproduce these in resin or ceramic (sperm whale teeth being illegal and/or incredibly expensive nowadays. :down: A close second favorite was this back ornament made of hornbill and boar's tusks. :down: several cases of just ceremonial bone knives: :down: Perhaps what impressed me most were the Baining Fire Dance Masks. I've seen them in books, but had no idea how gigantic and eerie they are. They're made for one dance only and then left to rot in the jungle afterwards. So nice that these ones were collected in the mid-20th century and preserved. I've just shown a fraction of what's on view, so do yourself a favor and make a point to see this exhibit before it's gone in December. The collection of photographs from Papua New Guinea in another hall deserves a post of its own. [ Edited by: Sabu The Coconut Boy 2010-03-01 18:09 ]

The Bowers Museum really delved into their vast collection of Oceanic artifacts this time to do quite an extensive exhibition in their newly-built wing. Just a breathtaking collection that you could spend hours and hours taking in. Since it's only a few minute drive from my workplace, I went ahead and got a year's membership so I could visit this collection multiple times until it closes - something I haven't done since the early 1990s when they had their last Oceanic exhibit. The scope of this one puts that last exhibit to shame.

:down: The foyer to the main exhibit hall is well-lit and houses some monumental pieces.

:down: including several nice slit drums

:down: The main exhibit hall is darker with a meandering maze of lit display cases and larger tableaux

:down: Grade Figures from Vanuatu, carved from Tree Ferns

:down: Asmat carvings

:down: Several feasting bowls. This is one I liked.

:down: Easter Island Artifacts

:down: Majority were Melanesian artifacts, but several cases of Polynesian:

:down: Many, many cases of smaller ornamental pieces, including my all-time favorite, that I've only seen in books until now - Necklace of Sperm Whale teeth worn in Fiji and Samoa:

I'd love to find a way to reproduce these in resin or ceramic (sperm whale teeth being illegal and/or incredibly expensive nowadays.

:down: A close second favorite was this back ornament made of hornbill and boar's tusks.

:down: several cases of just ceremonial bone knives:

:down: Perhaps what impressed me most were the Baining Fire Dance Masks. I've seen them in books, but had no idea how gigantic and eerie they are. They're made for one dance only and then left to rot in the jungle afterwards. So nice that these ones were collected in the mid-20th century and preserved.

I've just shown a fraction of what's on view, so do yourself a favor and make a point to see this exhibit before it's gone in December. The collection of photographs from Papua New Guinea in another hall deserves a post of its own.

[ Edited by: Sabu The Coconut Boy 2010-03-01 18:09 ]

Post #514375 by Sabu The Coconut Boy on Mon, Mar 1, 2010 5:55 PM