40 Years of Building the Pacific Asia Museum Collection
July 8, 2011 – October 9, 2011
In honor of its 40th Anniversary, the museum will share the extraordinary range and quality of its art collection and provide visitors the opportunity to view over 50 of the most important objects in the collection, many of which are not on regular display because of their sensitivity to light.
Since 1971, USC Pacific Asia Museum has carefully built its collection through a combination of purchases and strategically targeted donations. David Kamansky, Director from 1977 through 2003, was instrumental in acquiring much of the museum’s collection of over 15,000 works of art and artifacts from Asia and the Pacific Islands. Today, the museum boasts especially significant holdings in East Asian paintings, ceramics and textiles, Himalayan Buddhist art, Pacific Island sculpture and ethnographic art.
The works of art in 40 Years of Building the Pacific Asia Museum Collection span more than 1200 years and represent a large cross-section of art from across Asia and the Pacific region. The objects and the exhibition were carefully chosen to resonate with each other and with the objects in the museum’s new introductory gallery, completed earlier this year and opened to the public in March. The introductory gallery currently contains an exhibition titled The Art of Pacific Asia. Topics addressed in the display include the geography of Asia, materials and techniques, religion in art, and ceremonies and rituals. The combination of 40 Years of Building the Pacific Asia Museum Collection and The Art of Pacific Asia is intended to deepen the understanding of art from Asia and the Pacific Islands and also delight the eyes of all visitors to USC Pacific Asia Museum.
This exhibition is curated by Bridget Bray and Yeonsoo Chee and supported by the Los Angeles Arts Commission and Grace Tsao.
Related programs
An Afternoon with David Kamansky, Director Emeritus
Saturday, July 9
As USC Pacific Asia Museum’s director for twenty-six of its forty years, Director Emeritus David Kamansky will share his insights on the treasures of the museum’s collection.
Art and Coffee series
The second Friday of each month from July through October
This series of informal Friday afternoon get-togethers will provide visitors a chance to learn more about featured items of the exhibition, decade by decade. The Curatorial staff will introduce and lead discussions of selected items.
Collector’s Panel Discussion
Thursday, August 11
Join Curator Bridget Bray and a panel of Asian art collectors for a behind-the-scenes peek at what it has taken to build USC Pacific Asia Museum’s often surprising collection.
Lecture-Vision of the Next 40 Years with Charles Mason, Executive Director
Sunday, September 25
Join Executive Director Charles Mason as he talks about the museum’s future.
Poetry Tour
Saturday, October 1
Enjoy a fresh perspective on the art of 40 Years of Building the Pacific Asia Museum Collection with original poetry by the talented artists of Poets on Site.
Lecture- How to Build Your Own Collection
Sunday, October 2
Edward Wilkinson, independent appraiser and past Worldwide Head of Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art at Sotheby’s will give guidance to those who would like to be more knowledgeable in their own art purchases.