It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Entries by Fabian Lewkowicz (6147)

NAVAJO TEXTILES: Wearing Blankets and Rugs 


NAVAJO TEXTILES - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Highlights from California Heritage Museum's NAVAJO TEXTILES opening reception on Thursday, May 16, 2013. The California Heritage Museum is pleased to present two new exhibitions: NAVAJO TEXTILES: Wearing Blankets and Rugs and Edward S. Curtis: Photogravures. 

NAVAJO TEXTILES: Wearing Blankets and Rugs 

During the 19th century, the Native Americans of the Southwest used colorful hand-woven wool textiles as clothing, cloaks, baby wraps, bedding, furnishings, saddle blankets and trade goods. Featuring 58 blankets made between 1860 and 1960, Navajo Textiles highlights the powerful aesthetics and graphic design trends that characterize the five periods of Navajo weaving. Additionally, the exhibition emphasizes the Navajo blanket weaving process including the materials, functions and design motifs. This exhibition was curated from the Mark and Jan Hilbert Collection.

Navajo rugs and blankets (Navajo: diyugí) are textiles produced by Navajo people of the Southwestern United States. Navajo textiles are highly regarded and have been sought after as trade items for over 150 years. Commercial production of hand-woven blankets and rugs has been an important element of the Navajo economy. Chief blankets and Saddle blankets were in especially high demand. Woven as utilitarian items meant for heavy use, they convey a superior sense of design and craft not seen in other tribal weavings.Dismissed for years by dealers and collectors, and under-represented in museum collections, today they are among the most sought-after collectible Navajo weavings. Their new-found appreciation is long overdue.

Near the end of the 19th century, weavers began to make rugs for tourism and export. Typical Navajo textiles have strong geometric patterns. The original function of Navajo weaving was to produce clothing: shoulder robes, rectangular panel or wrap-around-dresses, semi-tailored shirts, breechcloths and a variety of belts, sashes, hair ties and garters. The Navajo did not produce rugs until export markets expanded at the end of the 19th century, and their textiles served no specific religious or ceremonial function. 

EDWARD S. CURTIS: Photogravures 

Beginning in 1900 and continuing over the next thirty years, Edward Sheriff Curtis took over 40,000 images and documented the disappearing cultural heritage and history of over eighty Native American tribal groups, ranging from the Eskimo or Inuit people of the far north to the Hopi people of the Southwest. He captured the likenesses of many important and well-known people of his time, including Princess Angeline, aka Kickisomlo—the daughter of Chief Sealth of Seattle, Geronimo, Chief Joseph, Red Cloud, Medicine Crow and others. This monumental accomplishment consisted of more than 2,200 sepia toned photogravures accompanied by written information. 

In 1906, J. P. Morgan provided Curtis with $75,000 to produce a series on The North American Indian. This work was to be in 20 volumes with 1,500 photographs. Morgan's funds were to be disbursed over five years and were earmarked to support only fieldwork for the books—not the writing, editing or production of the volumes. Curtis himself would receive no salary for the project, which was to last more than 20 years. Under the terms of the arrangement, Morgan was to receive 25 sets and 500 original prints as his method of repayment.

222 complete sets were eventually published. Curtis' goal was not simply to photograph, but to document as much about Native American traditional life as possible before their way of life disappeared. In the introduction to his first volume in 1907, he wrote: "The information that is to be gathered ... respecting the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind, must be collected at once or the opportunity will be lost." Curtis made over 10,000 wax cylinder recordings of Indian language and music. He recorded tribal lore and history and described traditional foods, housing, garments, recreations, ceremonies and funeral customs. He wrote biographical sketches of tribal leaders and in many cases, his material is the only written records that document their rich history. 

This exhibition was funded, in part, by grants from Mark and Jan Hilbert, The Wells Fargo Foundation, The LLWW Foundation, The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Copyland Los Angeles, the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Department, Tom and Mary Ann Hays, Dawson Design, Pamela Singleton, Helen and L. O. Harding, DLR Electric, Dermot H. McQuarrie, The Victorian/Calamigos Ranch, Grand American Inc., as well as generous corporate, foundation and private individual donations.Located in the 1894 Historic Landmark Roy Jones house at 2612 Main Street in Santa Monica, the California Heritage Museum is a multicultural facility presenting exhibitions, lectures, publications and workshops that promote the history and cultures of the people that comprise our California community. 

Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Parking is free and handicapped facilities are available. On Sundays, the museum hosts a Farmer's Market in its parking lot. Visitors to the museum can find parking in adjacent "quarter metered" parking lots. 

 
Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 09:38PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Pier Replacement Project

Crew from John S. Meek Company, Inc. work on the trestle at the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, May 16, 2013. The year long-$8.2 million Pier Replacement Project consists of a complete demolition and reconstruction of a 360-foot long by 36-foot wide section of the Municipal Pier from the high tide line to the westerly concrete pier constructed in the late 1980s. The existing Municipal Pier in this area was constructed of timber in the 1920s. A Pier infrastructure assessment study concluded that this section is in need of complete replacement. The pier will remain open for the entire time of construction.
Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 04:23PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Tying the Knot

A young couple tie the knot at Santa Monica Beach on Monday, May 13, 2013.
Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 03:29PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

California Heritage Museum

The California Heritage Museum is currently exhibiting Navajo Textiles Wearing Blankets and Rugs. During the 19th century, the Native Americans of the Southwest used colorful handwoven wool textiles as clothing, cloaks, baby wraps, bedding, furnishings, saddle blankets and trade goods. Featuring 50 blankets made between 1860 and 1960, Navajo Textiles highlights the powerful aesthetics and graphic design trends that characterize the five periods of Navajo weaving. Additionally, the exhibition emphasizes the Navajo blanket weaving process including the materials, functions and design motifs. This exhibition was curated by Tobi Smith, Executive Director of the California Heritage Museum from the Mark and Jan Hilbert Collection. The California Heritage Museum is open 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

 
Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 12:00PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Heidi Ross, AKA Elephant Mama, holds 10 elephants while the Baila Baila Band performs at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Sunday, May 12, 2013.
Posted on Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 04:19PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Santa Monica Farmers Market

Kids ride the ponies and feed the animals at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Sunday, May 12, 2013.
Posted on Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 04:15PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong was spotted at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, May 11, 2013. He was promoting Nintendo’s new 3D Video Game.
Posted on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 08:42PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Lawn Bowls Day

Chris Horiuchi, 24, and Andrea Chow, 23, lawn bowl during Santa Monica Lawn Bowling Club’s Annual open House  on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

Lawn bowls is a finesse-skill game, sometimes referred to as “billiards on grass”.  Although it is a sport for all ages, and played both as a recreation and highly competitive international sport, it’s low impact manner and unique social interaction appeals especially to adults and seniors.      

California’s first lawn bowling green opened in 1901 at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, followed in Southern California by bowling complexes in Redlands, Pasadena and Long Beach.  Currently, the Southland has 38 lawn bowling clubs from San Diego south to Santa Maria north. 
Posted on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 05:47PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint
Previous 8 Entries | 217 | 218 | 219 | 220 | 221 | Next 8 Entries