April 2004
The end of the academic year brings with it time to reflect on our past years accomplishments and plan for next year's exhibitions. The Museum was delighted to host three exhibitions in its Focus Gallery: Korean Dolls: A Celebration of Life featuring the art of Korean doll making, The American Indian Center Celebrates 50 Years of Powwow, and Luxurious Layers: Kimonos of the Heian Court. In addition to introducing new subjects to Museum visitors, these exhibitions successfully promoted a variety of cross-cultural explorations. Eighty members of the Hakubi Kyoto School and the Cultural Foundation for the Promotion of the Costumes of Japan traveled to our museum for the opening of the Kimono exhibit. At their request, we simultaneously sponsored an American Indian Dance performance. The cultural groups in full regalia intermingled throughout the evening, both learning from the other. Our greatest compliment came from Larry Lockwood, Northern Cheyenne cultural instructor and performer, "this museum and what it does is what we are all about... celebrating our diversity of cultures."
The success of the exhibitions was in large part due to our collaborations with UIUC Japan House, the Hakubi Kyoto School, Tokyo and the Verde Gallery.
Next year we are planning exhibitions on the southern Mexican Day of the Dead celebration (fall), loaned from the Field Museum and augmented with local community involvement, and on the history of Chinese paper in cooperation with the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies's "Year of Asia." Although both exhibitions are still in the planning stages, we feel confident their success will emulate that of last year's programs.
We hope that you will visit the Museum to participate in our Focus Gallery and our other programs and performances.