Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum
Feb. 13th, 2009 11:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
randy_byersVia my brother: "Out of the Sea - Long Beach's Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum will focus on Micronesia."
"It's quite unique to have a museum devoted just to Micronesia," said Don Rubinstein, professor of anthropology and Micronesian studies at the University of Guam. "Although many museums in the U.S. and other countries have important collections of Pacific Islands art, Micronesia tends to get overlooked."
But the region has a colorful history. Micronesian ancestors settled in the area over 4,000 years ago. Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to visit Micronesia when he anchored in Guam in 1521. Contact with the West was sporadic until the early 19th century, when whaling and trade with Asia brought vessels into the region.
Micronesia was a major battleground in World War II. From 1941 to 1945, United States and Japanese military forces fought many battles in the Micronesian islands.
"For Micronesians, their relationship with the sea is paramount, and Micronesians often consider navigation and canoe building to be their greatest art forms," Anne d'Alleva wrote in her book "Arts of the Pacific Islands."
"It's quite unique to have a museum devoted just to Micronesia," said Don Rubinstein, professor of anthropology and Micronesian studies at the University of Guam. "Although many museums in the U.S. and other countries have important collections of Pacific Islands art, Micronesia tends to get overlooked."
But the region has a colorful history. Micronesian ancestors settled in the area over 4,000 years ago. Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to visit Micronesia when he anchored in Guam in 1521. Contact with the West was sporadic until the early 19th century, when whaling and trade with Asia brought vessels into the region.
Micronesia was a major battleground in World War II. From 1941 to 1945, United States and Japanese military forces fought many battles in the Micronesian islands.
"For Micronesians, their relationship with the sea is paramount, and Micronesians often consider navigation and canoe building to be their greatest art forms," Anne d'Alleva wrote in her book "Arts of the Pacific Islands."
