February 18, 2005 :: No. 132
Seven anthropology students have delved into
two new worlds: that of museum curation and of early Oceanic explorers.
The resulting Anthropology Museum exhibit, “Conquest
of the Pacific: Society on the Sea,” showcases the exploration
and settlement of the Pacific islands through tools, models and
other items.
“What were the migration patterns these people
followed and how did they get there? Those were the questions we
were seeking to answer,” said senior anthropology major Eric
Paison. “We were only able to scratch the surface of this
amazing period.”
The students worked under the direction of Armand
Labbe, chief curator and director of research and collections at
the Bowers Museum, who teaches the upper-division curation and exhibit-design
course. The student curators are: Candice Alvarado, Kimberly Casey,
Paul Constantine, Cat Elrod, Noreen Javadi, Paison and Justin Stewart.
“Like the Pacific navigators portrayed in this
exhibit, student curators who take on these museum projects embark
on a voyage of discovery that tests their capacity for creativity,
perseverance and ability to work together toward a common goal,”
said Susan Parman, chair and professor of anthropology and museum
director. “Their guide to self-discovery has been Armand Labbe,
who has shared his expertise in teaching the department’s
museum classes, and in challenging students to explore multiple
visions of what it means to be human.”
The exhibit, which includes items on loan from the
Newport Harbor Nautical and Bowers museums, evolved while the students
attended two classes. The first, held in spring 2004, focused on
how to curate an exhibit, plus the history behind the people and
their migration. The second course, held last fall, involved the
implementation of what they had learned: selecting the pieces, designing
the placement of the items, and creating and posting the identifying
labels. To complete the tasks, the student team worked during Intersession,
and the finishing touches were made just before the exhibit opened
Feb. 28.
The project was intense and challenging, especially
in maintaining valuable communication throughout the process, said
the students.
“We had such different schedules with our classes
and work. We often had to work independently,” said Candice
Alvarado. “It was very hard sometimes to get certain things
done in a timely manner. But it was an amazing feeling to see the
exhibit come together.”
“It was very time-consuming...more time consuming
than we thought it would be,” said Kimberly Casey, a senior.
“It was a hard process to go through but it was very rewarding
to see it all come together. Seeing it get to this point was the
best feeling ever.”
“We made numerous mistakes along the way,”
said Paul Constantine. “But that’s what this class was
all about. We were allowed to make mistakes, put in situations we
thought we might not be able to overcome and forced to work out
problems within the group.
“We are proud of the work we have done, and
we do know that if we ever are in the position to do this again,
we have acquired the skills that will make the next project a success,”
Constantine added.
Among the items on exhibit are stick charts used
by the Oceanic peoples for navigation. The primitive maps were used
to identify where islands were located and the currents that they
would face at different times of the year. “They were very
accurate and reflected a vast knowledge of the sea,” said
Casey.
Also exhibited are canoe models, paddles, prow pieces,
tools used to create canoes and trade goods.
The exhibit continues through May 31 and is open
Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 424 of McCarthy
Hall.
Media Contacts: |
Susan Parman, chair and professor of anthropology,
at 657-278-2844 or sparman@fullerton.edu
Pamela McLaren of Public Affairs at 657-278-4852
or pmclaren@fullerton.edu |
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Canoe models, prow pieces, paddles, trade
goods, basket and bowled used for carrying food are among items
on display in the exhibit. |
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When: 7 p.m. Feb. 25 exhibit
opening celebration
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. exhibit hr.
Feb. 28 through May 31 |
Where: Anthropology Teaching Museum
McCarthy Hall, Room 424 |
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