SECTION: WHAT
TO SEE
|
|
Statesmen, Indians, Soldiers, Missionaries and
Travelers
The Development of an Ethnographic Collection
October 10 through August 1, 2010, 2nd Floor
Galleries
Ethnography is the systematic recording of human cultures
throughout the world. The objects that are acquired
as part of this systematic recording become part of
the ethnographic collection reflecting individual cultures.
This exhibition traces the development of the New Jersey
State Museum’s ethnographic collection from the
first acquisition (of a deer hunter kachina) in 1920
to the present. The State Museum was one of the first
museums in the nation to present exhibitions that brought
a new perspective on the important contributions made
to American culture by American Indians to the general
public.
|
Delaware Indians Oklahoma
1800s
A rare specimen collected by Frank Speck from the daughter
of Chief Wooden Buffalo, the blouse was worn on ceremonial
occasions.
NJSM AE 3202
Photograph by Ricardo Barros
|
The Museum’s inaugural ethnographic exhibition, in
1931, was an innovative presentation of the traditional crafts
of the North American Indians and explored their cultural
and artistic diversity. At the close of this exhibition, the
State Museum purchased fifteen works from the contemporary
artists included in the show. These works formed the nucleus
of the ethnographic collection. The objects in this collection
are important not only for the intrinsic merits of their craftsmanship,
but more importantly because they rough the cultural context
of the societies in which the works have been produced.
The collection has continued to grow as New Jersey residents
including statesmen, Indians, soldiers, missionaries and travelers
explored the world extensively and brought back representations
of historic and contemporary art and craft from cultures throughout
North and South America, Africa, China, Japan and Vietnam.
Through their generosity, these objects found their way to
the New Jersey State Museum. Many of these exotic objects
including clothing, basketry, pottery, weapons and children’s
toys are represented in this exhibition. The collection reflects
the varied interests of New Jersey collectors and represents
a broad range of cultural diversity found throughout the world.
The collection also serves to inform our understanding of
the multicultural immigrant populations that now call New
Jersey home.
|
|
Main Museum Building and Auditorium Galleries
205 West State Street, Trenton Tuesday –
Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm Sunday, noon to 5 pm
Closed Mondays & State
Holidays
|
|
|
|
The Friends Museum Shop is located on the second floor of the Museum's main building.
The Shop Hours
10am - 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday
Noon - 4pm on Sunday
The Friends Shop is closed on Mondays and State Holidays
For more info call: 609-826-3936
Friends members always receive a 10% discount on all purchases.
|
