I've never been a fan of South American art like this. It always seemed too alien, too far from my comprehension to appreciate. Too far from my comfort zone. Celtic art is easy, as is the art of the Vikings because I recognize my past there, it's the art of my ancestors. The Museum of Natural History in New York provided the doorway I needed to appreciate this art. In the Museum hangs a quote from anthropologist and spiritual writer Margaret Meade which says "Be grounded in your own culture," She goes on to say that you need to have an understanding of your own society and it's beliefs and rituals before you can appreciate another culture. When I read that this artwork suddenly made sense to me. It still seems alien to me but now it has a context. I have a vantage point from which to appreciate this stuff.
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By: Eric Orchard,
on 2/15/2009
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By: Eric Orchard,
on 2/15/2009
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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6 Comments on Stone And Shadow, last added: 2/17/2009
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i kinda got lost in this section of the museum when i was there last month (Its just too huge). it was a good kind of lost though. did you check out the African section? they have some amazing masks and dress over there
The African and Malaysian stuff also really affected me. I know what you mean, I could have spent a week just in that section.
It's such wonderful stuff... I would like to know what it means to someone who has a direct connection... it all means something to me, looking at it, but can't be the same...
Thanks Viviane, that's kind of what I'm trying to say. This stuff resonates for me but obviously not at all in the same way as someone of that ancestry.
If you ever make your way to Denver, the Denver Art Museum also has a crazy good collection of this stuff.
I'll put that on the list! Thanks Tim!