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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1995)
2 0 ▼ January O, 1 9 0 5 ▼ just ou t Everybody’s talking about Gary Luckey. R oyal A rt Seattle is one of four U.S. cities chosen to exhibit treasures from ancient Benin ▼ by Christopher Kamera rsi y HCîlfSS A Call fo r your IG TA Calendar o f Events ~«r K " Ÿ 1939 SE Hawthorne Blvd 232-5944 Em ily S im o n 620 SW Fifth Ave., Ste. 1204 Portland, Oregon 97204 ( 503 ) 241-1553 (503) 241-2587 FAX Emphasizing representation of the accused in all misdemeanor, felony, traffic and DUII actions in state, federal, juvenile courts and administrative actions Portlands First Non-tipping Salon. 281-7831 ^ 4016 N E F R E M O N T WORLD PREMIERE BEFORE 1995 NATIONAL TOUR Starring Walter Cole/Darcelle Written by donnie • Directed by Sharon Knorr SUNDAYS ONLY! • Jan . 8 - Feb. 5 7:00 PM • P ortlan d R ep’s Stage II Tickets: $10 in advance; $12 at the door. • FASTIXX - 224-8499 | • Jelly Bean Card Shop in downtown Portland ® • triangle productions!, 2805 SW Hume St., Portland 97219 § U l . 1 All Shows 7 P.M.* Portland Rep’s Stage II • 815 NW 12th remarkably, is constant, unlike many other mon rare exhibit of art and crafts from one archies. (While other nations have royal families of Africa’s oldest and greatest civili dating back further in history, the original blood zations—the kingdom of Benin— lines have often ended centuries ago— the British continues through Feb. 12 at the down monarchy is a prime example.) Like that of many town Seattle Art Museum. “Benin: nations, Royal Art of Africa” features more than 100 royal the art of the country is directly tied to the religion and history of the kingdom. The first treasures, including incredible cast-brass works, major act of a new Oba is to commission a brass monumental ivory carvings, precious jewelry, and casting of the head of his late father and order an ceremonial objects. ivory tusk carved to celebrate the late king’s life The collection, drawn from the holdings of the and political accomplishments. Most of the current exhibit is from work seized by the British in a punitive expedition in 1897. When the British decided soon after to sell the stolen royal artworks to finance the expedition, two Austrian museum directors sent a directive to in tern atio n ally renow ned M useum für “buy everything available.” A key patron in Vienna Völkerkunde in Vienna, Austria, is scheduled for pledged 10,000 guilders to keep the royal collec only four U.S. cities— Houston, Baltimore, Cleve tion intact, saving it from a “tum-of-the-century land and Seattle. Various activities are planned for collector’s mania that would have divided the the exhibit in the Emerald City. A Jan. 14 “Family collection and destroyed the impact of the works.” Saturday” features activities designed to involve Thus, Austria, with no colonial history, became children in a study of African American heritage. the repository of the world’s third-largest collec “It’s important to kids to know where they are tion of Benin art— with only London and Berlin and where they come from,” said a Seattle Parks featuring more holdings. Royal art from Benin is Department representative, at a pre-opening press so rare that museums with examples rarely lend tour. Hands-on activities and supplemental events them because “they simply don’t have replace expand the exhibit and make the artwork and the ments to exhibit while powerful history of major pieces are on Benin accessible to tour,” the representa contemporary visi tive said. tors o f all ages. Curators from the Photo murals of the Museum für Völker contemporary royal kunde praised the Se court place the his attle installation, call toric artworks in a ing it the best of those m odern co n tex t, on the U.S. tour. which adds immea A stunning pair of surably to the im 660-year-old brass pact of the display. d w a rfs— p ro b ab ly The ancient court jesters or tum kindom of Benin is blers—open the ex known today as the Republic of Benin, hibit. Stylized brass although it encom heads of former kings passed part of what and queen mothers, is now N igeria. their necks and chins Benin is located on wrapped with neck the central west laces, are among the coast, in the “crook most powerful of the of the elbow of Af objects. (They origi ric a .” Its early nally had ivory tusks wealth came from protruding from their ivory exports and woven hats.) Forty- the sale of slaves. two brass relief W arriors from plaques record court nearby tribes cap life, including the ar tured in war expedi rival of European tions were sold to traders and explorers. white slave traders. A remarkable number A tremendous num o f crosses are in ber o f A frican cluded in the royal Americans in the treasures, but they are United States today One of a pair of brass dwarf statuettes not Christian sym can trace their ancestries to the area, so the art of bols. Rather, they represent the four points of the Benin is really an example of racial heritage for earth. Benin religion features a number of trans millions. Today, the country’s wealth comes from formation beliefs, and the royal collection is full of the export of palm oil. pendants, bracelets, staffs of office, bells, clap While the Benin culture is clearly male-domi pers, horns and altar works featuring snakes, croco nated, the most powerful woman is the queen diles, mud fish, chameleons and other native Af mother. She is considered so forceful, so strong, rican creatures. that once her son becomes king he may not see her Swarovski, the Austrian-based company best again. Her supernatural powers are considered so known for its cut-crystal stones, jewelry, and overwhelming that her son is always screened collectible figures, is sponsoring the national tour. from her in meetings, lest she dominate him with The company has made metal recreations of a her magical strength. She lives a public life in a number of the jewelry items in a very affordable palace second only to that of the king. She is the price range. A fully illustrated exhibition catalog only woman in the kingdom with the position of is also available. chief, and her political power is immense. The Seattle Art Museum is closed on Mon The current Oba— believed by his people to be days; admission is free on the first Tuesday of of divine birth— is the 38th in a line of monarchs every month. For more details about the Benin art that dates to the 14th century. The bloodline, exhibit call (206) 654-3100. I
