Treasures of the Tsimshian from the Dundas Collection

Exhibition on display through June 7, 2008

From February to June 2008, MOA is hosting Treasures of the Tsimshian from the Dundas Collection, a major exhibition of 48 artifacts collected by the Rev. Robert J. Dundas at Metlakatla, BC, in 1863. MOA is the last stop on the exhibition’s cross-country tour, which began in April 2006 in Tsimshian territory, where these important cultural pieces originated, and where they had not been seen for more than a century. Following their display at MOA in 2008, the objects will be returned to their present owners, who purchased the majority of them at auction in October 2006.

Developed by the Royal B.C. Museum and the chiefs and elders of the Allied Tsimshian Tribes of Lax Kw’Alaams and Metlakatla, and co-presented at MOA by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, this exhibit presents a unique opportunity for local and international visitors to learn about and appreciate the rich artistic and cultural traditions of the Tsimshian people.

A range of public programs accompanies the show (please see  www.moa.ubc.ca/programs - "We Are All One" - for details). Thanks to exhibition sponsors Westerkirk Capital and BC Ferries, and media sponsors The Georgia Straight and CBC Radio One.

Seeing is Believing

There are more than 90,000 historic photographs in the Archives at the Museum of Anthropology. The collection is worldwide, covers a multitude of subjects, and dates from the early 1900s to the present day. This exhibit reveals only a tiny portion of this hidden gem, yet hints at the remarkable potential of this collection for scholars, researchers, and visitors. Geographically, the collection includes images from the Northwest Coast of British Columbia, the Southwest United States, South America, and various areas of Asia, Oceania and Africa. Institutionally, the collection documents the people and events that were instrumental in the history and growth of the Museum.

Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas – Meddling in the Museum

Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas mixes it up at MOA with three site-specific installations inspired by the Museum’s current Renewal Project. Michael’s works incorporate media as diverse as car hoods and copper leaf (“Coppers from the Hood”), argillite dust and an entire canoe-bearing Pontiac Firefly (“Pedal to the Meddle”), and archaeology storage trays and Haida manga (“Bone Box”). In the process, he brings his own brand of humour, narrative, and social commentary to jumpstart new debates in the Museum’s changing spaces.

Installations curated by Karen Duffek, Curator, Contemporary Visual Arts. Thanks to Canada Council for the Arts for their support of this project.

Wheel: Overlays - An Installation by Edgar Heap of Birds

Opening reception 7:00 pm, Tuesday March 20, UBC Museum of Anthropology; artist’s talk (preceding reception), 5:00 pm, Tuesday March 20, Frederic Wood Theatre.

At 7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 20, you are invited to attend the opening of a new installation by Hock E Aye Edgar Heap of Birds, a leading Native-American artist who has completed numerous site-specific installations and public art projects and across North America and internationally.

Wheel: Overlays has been conceived specifically for MOA’s Great Hall. Inspired by Native American architecture and medicine wheels, its ten semi-transparent pillars carry the outlines of forked “tree forms” and are arranged to create a 9-meter circular space. The four surfaces of each tree are layered with words, symbolic motifs, and other markings. Together, the forms and texts chronicle the clash of Native and non-Native peoples in Colorado, with particular focus on the cosmology, history, and renewal of the Cheyenne.

“I’m there to uncover or reveal the history between the Native and the Anglo populations,” says Heap of Birds, who is of Cheyenne/Arapaho descent. “These events changed the Native world in a very rapid and negative way forever.” Mourning, defying, exposing, honouring, renewing: the work offers a possibility of creating change through exchange, stimulating dialogue through the weapon, and regenerative tool, of art.

At 5:00 pm the same day, Mr. Heap of Birds will present a free public talk at the Frederic Wood Theatre (6354 Crescent Road, UBC). Entitled ‘Wheel: Overlays’ and ‘Native Hosts’ – Positioning First Nations Art at UBC, the talk will focus on the installation at MOA and an outdoor art project, Native Hosts, that the artist has donated to the University Art Collection through the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. Native Hosts consists of 12 aluminum signs referencing the relationship between First Nations and British Columbia, which eventually will be placed in 12 different locations across the UBC campus. These signs were previously exhibited on the grounds of the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1991 as part of the exhibition Lost Illusions. Language has consistently been an important aspect of Heap of Birds’ work, and these signs use text in an imaginative and disconcerting way to stimulate thoughts about issues of history, public space, land claims, and even generosity and sharing.

Edgar Heap of Birds is a Professor at the University of Oklahoma. He has been exhibiting since 1979 in the U.S, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Europe.

Wheel: Overlays is presented by the UBC Museum of Anthropology, and curated by Karen Duffek, Curator, Contemporary Visual Arts. Mr. Heap of Birds’ talk is presented by the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, the UBC Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory, and the UBC Museum of Anthropology.

Sculptures by Dominic Benhura

Dominic Benhura is an acclaimed Zimbabwean artist credited for his contributions in transforming Shona stone sculpture into a world-class modern art. The sculptures shown here attest to his ability to portray human feeling through form and movement rather than facial expression.

Born in 1968 in the small town of Murewa, Zimbabwe, Dominic Benhura began sculpting as a young boy under the instruction of his cousin, internationally acclaimed sculptor Tapfuma Gutsa. He proved to be an excellent student, selling his first sculpture at the age of twelve.

His subject matter is diverse and includes plants, animals and a wide range of human experience. His prime motivation is to explore new ideas, concepts, techniques and methods and to express and communicate powerfully simple ideas.

Although Dominic now enjoys an international reputation he retains his commitment to charitable works and continues to give back to his community.

Dominic is currently an Artist-in-Residence in the UBC Faculty of Education. His works will be displayed here at the Museum until February 11, 2007.