Arte / Art

Art of the Ancient Americas at the Museums

SPRINGFIELD, MA | SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS | November 12, 2021 — The Springfield Museums presents The Body Adorned: Artistry and Legacy of the Ancient Americas (Bilingual Exhibit), November 23, 2021-February 27, 2022 in the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. Never before featured at the Museums, this is a must-see opportunity to view the remarkably crafted accessories of ancient cultures from Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, and México and understand the ongoing influence of their artistry.

Feather textiles, gold pendants, and greenstone ear rods are among the most exquisite adornments crafted by artists working in the ancient Americas. Designed to be worn both in life and in death, these treasures functioned as status symbols, ritual paraphernalia, and sacred channels to a more sublime realm. Often small in scale and intricately crafted, the adornments featured in this exhibition were created in sophisticated workshops by highly skilled artists. These splendid works of art offer insight into the values, beliefs, and achievements of indigenous peoples. This exhibition will explore the artistic adornment of the ancient American cultures of Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, and México, as well as the influence that metalwork, textiles, and ceramics had on future generations of artists. In addition to including work made between 400 and 1500 AD, the display will include works by 20th century American designer and jewelry maker William Spratling (1900-1967), who spent over three decades in Mexico and was inspired by Mesoamerican art and architecture. The display will explore the enduring power of these brilliant motifs, and bring together different eras in dialogue. “Art of the ancient Americas is not represented in the collection of the Springfield Art Museums, so the opportunity to share these stunning adornments from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is a very special one,” said Maggie North, Curator of Art for the Springfield Museums. “In addition to looking to the past, the exhibit celebrates the enduring influence of pre-Hispanic artists, and invites visitors to consider their legacy.” “This exhibition, The Body Adored, is the result of a meaningful partnership between the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Springfield Museums, which is supported by the Art Bridges Initiative. This collaboration allows the MFA Boston to share its collection with a wide audience and to learn from colleagues at other institutions,” said Martina Tanga, Curatorial Research and Interpretation Associate. In addition to highlighting artistic objects, The Body Adorned: Artistry and Legacy of the Ancient Americas includes hands-on, interactive exploration stations for people of all ages and abilities. “We are excited to offer an interactive station in the exhibition,” said Larissa Murray, Director of Education for the Springfield Museums. “These activities will allow children, families and all visitors to understand and interpret the magnificent and functional art objects on display through tactile elements and creative self-expression.” The stations include a Maker and Tactile Engagement Station, which features activities such as creating chenille stem jewelry (braiding, twisting, looping), apply a temporary tattoo, and contributing to a community weaving project. Anothre station helps visitors better understand the materials used

Embossed gold pectoral, Cocle, A.D. 700-1520, Place of Origin: Sitio Conte area, Cocle Province, Panama, Gold alloy, Height x diameter: 9.2 x 8.9 cm (3 5/8 x 3 1/2 in.), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Museum purchase with funds donated by Landon T. Clay, 1971.1120. to make the objects of the exhibit. For instance, visitors will be able to touch types of materials, such as feathers, textiles, silver, and greenstone in various finishes. The exhibition’s interpretive framework and programming help visitors better understand ancient artistry and illuminate the ways in which ancient adornment has influenced, and continues to influence, 20th and 21st century ideas about jewelry, tattoos, and clothing. Related lectures include:

Mastery and Materiality in the Ancient Americas Thursday, January 27, 2022, 12:15 pm–1:30 pm

Cost: $4; Free for Members, in the Davis Auditorium, D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts Not able to join us in person? Watch the lecture on Zoom! Register in advance at Springfield Museums.org/programs. Members free; nonmembers $5. Ji Mary Seo of Harvard University explores artistic traditions of the ancient Americas, from highly sophisticated weaving, carving, and metallurgical practices to notions of material preciousness in the pre-Hispanic world. This talk examines artworks from both the Andes and Mesoamerica and considers the pre-Hispanic values these objects make evident through their construction and materiality. Seo is a PhD student in the History of Art and Architecture Department at Harvard University. The Body Adorned: Artistry and Legacy of the Ancient Americas is one in a series of American art exhibitions created through a multi-year, multiinstitutional partnership formed by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, as part of the Art Bridges Initiative.

Masks are Required for All Visitors Springfieldmuseums.org, One Admission/Five Museums, including the one and only Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum. Parking is always FREE.

Hours - Tuesday-Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm - Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm The Hanmer Museum Store - Tuesday-Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm - Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm The Blake House Café - Open daily 11 am to 4 pm

Heather Haskell-Burns, Vice President of the Springfield Museums; Kris Ludwig, Manager of Exhibit Services; and Maggie North, Curator of Art, wear The Body Adorned masks to help promote this unique and exciting exhibit of ancient artistry. THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS are located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards Street in the heart of downtown Springfield, Massachusetts. The nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated consortium of museums includes the Springfield Science Museum, the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, and the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, the first and only museum dedicated to the beloved children’s book author and Springfield native.