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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2008

Cultivating Spirits: The Art of Sepik River Yam Displays opens July 8 at the Harn

GAINESVILLE, Fla. –— Beginning July 8, the Harn Museum of Art will exhibit the artwork of Papua New Guinea in an exhibition entitled Cultivating Spirits: The Art of Sepik River Yam Displays.

The exhibition focuses on the ritual display of yams that occurs around the time of harvest in Sepik River societies. For many Sepik peoples, including the Kwoma, Nukuma, Abelam and related groups, yams are not only a vital food source but also the manifestations of the power of clan spirits.

During harvest rites, male members of clan-based organizations construct monumental ceremonial houses for the storage and display of the yams. The actual yams, reaching up to 12 feet in length, are decorated and displayed in the ceremonial houses, which are filled with painted reliefs and free-standing sculptures. Yam displays enhance the status of male yam cultivators, their clan members and ancestors.

The exhibition is comprised of 25 works from the Harn collection and the C. Frederick and Aase B. Thompson Foundation. Join us for a Gallery Talk on Sunday, July 13 at 3 p.m. by Rick and Aase Thompson, world travelers and avid collectors, whose artwork is on view in the exhibition.

The exhibition will be on display until Sept. 21, 2008 and is supported by S.F.I.

Admission to the Harn Museum of Art is free. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.

Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
The Harn Museum of Art at SW 34th St. and Hull Rd. is one of the largest university art museums in the country with nearly 7,000 works in its collection focusing on African, Asian, modern and contemporary art and photography. The museum enhances the activities of the University of Florida and serves a culturally diverse audience through educational programming. Admission is free. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free on weekends. The Camellia Court Café is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum and café are open until 9 p.m. Thursdays for Museum Nights during the UF Academic calendar due to the generous support of UF Student Government. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu

Media contact:
Tami Wroath, Interim Director of Marketing and Public Relations
352.392.9826 x116
twroath@harn.ufl.edu