My wife and I went to see the art exhibition at Josselyn Art Musuem, River of Gold and Mexican Folk Art, and we both without a doubt recommend it. River of Gold:
Beneath the continuos flow of water of the Rio Grande in Panama, the local people began to find gold artifacts and ancient pottery. Puzzled as to why they would find such treasures they began to ask for help and in 1930, a Harvard archeologist, discovered the great burial grounds of what we is now known as The River of Gold.
Under the Rio Grande they discover 3 layers of burial grounds. Each one of them with its own unique treasure. Much of what I observed was that gold plates that were used as decorative pieces to their clothing was the most found artifact. It was very obvious in each of the burial grounds which skeleton was the chief for he was the one covered with the most gold. According to this tribes traditions when a chief died all of his servants were also killed. They believed that if they were to die at the same time as their chief, they could also help serve h
im in the afterlife.
Mexican Folk Art:
This is a private collection of the Wagner Family. It is a beautiful and diverse collection of everything that would fall under the label of Folk Art. My favorite exhibition was that of the "mask". Mexico and other Latin American countries have a long traditions of producing mask either for decoration or for festivals. Many of these mask either portray a mythic beast like figure or mock certain figures such as the Spanish Conquistadors. I happen to have about 3 mask in my house, one of a Spanish Conquistador, an Angel with huge cheeks and a beast like figure. I was surprised as to how many of the art pieces were from Oaxacan artist. I can't wait to find my own art pieces to bring back and add to my collection!
