BEFORE CONSERVATION AFTER CONSERVATION The art of the Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea revolves heavily around men’s societies and their associated ceremonies and initiations. Sepik River religions involve ancestor worship, and many of the masks produced in this region represent either mythological or ancestral spirits, which are believed to provide aid in warfare … [Read more...] about Turtle Shell Basketry Mask: Researched and Conserved by Marissa Ewing
BEFORE CONSERVATION AFTER CONSERVATION Mukudj Mask Traditional Punu culture Mukudj masks are worn in rituals to represent the ideal female and to represent deceased ancestors. The masks usually have white or light-colored faces, full red lips, slit eyes, arched eyebrows, and three distinctive scarification marks … [Read more...] about Mukudj Tourist-Trade Mask and Kifwebe Mask: Researched and Conserved by Caitlin Baker
The Huichol cultures produce art that uses images of animals and other motifs from nature, such as the sun or flowers, to symbolically record their history and ideas. The Huichol are best known for making wooden or papier-mâché sculptures that are coated with beeswax and then covered with colorful nature motifs formed using tiny, imported glass seed beads or … [Read more...] about Huichol Yarn Bird: Researched by Joakima Day
The production of Mesoamerican textiles dates back to about 1000 B.C.E., as shown by textile impressions in ancient pottery sherds. Although actual ancient samples of textiles have not survived the tropical climate of Mesoamerica, Pre-Columbian sculptural depictions and paintings of figures wearing woven costume indicate that textiles were decorative, highly valued, … [Read more...] about Contemporary Mesoamerican Textiles: Researched by Clara Komrosky-Licata