I think that there is a celebration in this art of the human figure and its beauty that has been forgotten, or shunned, by many over the last several hundred years. It seems that each of these pieces show not only the human body in its most vulnerable state but also in its individuality, in its imperfection. The statues are often disproportionate to what we consider to be an accurate representation of the human figure, but these disproportions are purposeful. The upper half of the body was often seen as the most important. Legs were seen to be used for movement and mobility primarily, thus they were generally made to consume the least amount of figurative space on the statue. However, in standing statues, the positioning of the legs could be used to symbolize power, pregnancy, emotion, etc... Each part of the statue’s body is used to explain a little more about what the statue means or is used for. Large breasts could depict maternity. Long arms for support. A bulge in the neck for beauty. Also, the sex of the statue is often shown. A female statue with a carved vagina to depict the giver of life. A male with a carved penis, possibly for fertility, status. I think that the true beauty lies in not only the visual aspect of these sculptures, masks, pottery, etc..., but in attempting to understand why they were made. Just as music and celebrations hold deeper meaning than the visual spectacle, so do these pieces of history, of life. Within each of these pieces there is a history, a genealogy, a life. I think that this is the truly beautiful aspect of this exhibit.

Evan Gallagher

It’s difficult for me to choose a single piece from the museum that stood out. I was most interested by the functions and uses of the items on exhibition – that is, that they ever had a use to begin with! Reading about what the masks represented, how the drums were the maternal instrument of the band, how some of the clothing was worn, I sort of felt like all of these great and beautiful instruments are sort of anesthetized when they’re placed in the context of a museum. It brings me back to Roach. It seems like we’re far too content to wander through a museum, look at the “artifacts,” and say “How pretty! How quaint!” then move on to the next item. It’s frustrating, because these items didn’t always lie behind a glass case at a museum on a college campus – they were used for something. I’m not suggesting that the admiration of the aesthetic qualities of the museum’s collection shouldn’t be taken into account; certainly, they were created to have some visual effect. At the same time, unlike some of the other pieces in the art museum, these weren’t intended to just sit on the wall and look nice. To immobilize them is, at least in part, to forget about their intended functions.

Bryan Peach

Photos coming soon....

Brandon

One thing that stuck me while visiting the art museum was the dates on the objects. Many were created in the last century. Because these objects share some qualities with the western view of prehistoric art, we tend to view them and date them in our minds as being much older and less sophisticated than they actually are. The common belief is that they are more primitive because they are not naturalistic like western art has become. It is not that they are not talented enough to create naturalistic art; it is that their culture values different aesthetic qualities than in western art. The dates on these objects are also significant because at this time European artists were becoming interested in Africa and it began to influence their work and we see a shift away from naturalism with Picasso, Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh. While African artists continued working in the aesthetic traditions of their culture, European artists borrowed ideas and shifted away from the naturalism that supposedly made them more sophisticated.

http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/art%20movements/cubism/head_of_a_woman.jpg

http://www.tangatawhenua.com/rangikainga/images/2006/5/5avignon.jpg

Erica

This was my first trip to Palmer and I really enjoyed it, we're lucky to have something like that on campus. The Resonance from the Past exhibit was very interesting. The masks were striking in person and The information providing alongside the artifacts was fascinating. Many objects were accompanied by a note that they were forbidden to women. Women could not see or touch the masks or particpate in ceremonies involving them. Its disturbing to see women continually oppressed and denied equal involvment in society in yet another culture.

Sam

I found the African art display to be really intriguing. I especially liked the various depections of the women. I found it interesting that each of the statue’s of the women were always shown with a swollen belly. I especially liked the stools that were carved women who were supporting the stool with their arms typically made for higher members of tribe to sit on. I took this in two ways, one being that women seem to be often crushed down by the men in all society’s and second that it is the job of the women to hold up the tribe’s society. Here I thought there was a strong connection with Obi, in which it was upto Amri to carry on and catalyze the revenge within Three Fingered Jack, and not his father himself. I think this is a trait found within many different cultures, where it always seems to be the responsibility of the women to teach a culture to its children. In other words they are essentially responsible for breeding and keeping the ideals of a society going, just like the women who were responsible for literally holding up the men in their society that were depicted on the stool’s.

Jillian

I really enjoyed going to the museum, seing all of the things that people made to decorate their lives and rituals.  I wish I could say that I found on object and decided that it spoke to me and write specfically about it but I was intrigued by all the masks.  They were so diverse and colorful and considering the obvious effort the artists took in crafting them, they must have served an important purpose in that culture.  Masks are very interesting, a material you put in front of your face to hide yourself or take on a different persona.  Most cultures use masks in holy cerimonies but ours does not; you could mention wearing a costume on halloween or masqerade balls that were so popular but its made ubundantly clear that these are for play and not for any serious funtion.  Some of the masks I encountered seemed impossible to wear and I have no idea how it would have looked on a person but as i looked at each individual one, I tried to imagine the people wearing them and how they were used.  They jusy seemed sacred in a way and I wish our culture had room for masks in its tradition. 

Alyssa