Spotlight:
DOGON DANCERS
Spreading the Seed of Creation
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According to Dogon myth, some undefined impulse caused an egg to open, allowing it to release a whirlwind that spun silently and scattered its contents in all directions, ultimately forming all of the spiraling galaxies of stars and planets.
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Photograph by Alberto Acosta
FACES OF AFRICA
A Mystical View of
African Heritage
Dogon Mask and Wax Figure
Mali, West Africa
c. 3100 b.c.
With a lineage dating back to ancient Egypt, The Dogon are recognized for their cosmological insight, believing that Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major, one of the brightest stars in the night sky due to its proximity to Earth, is part of a binary star system. In addition, the Dogon were certain of the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter long before the invention of the telescope.
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The Kanaga mask is characterized by a wooden superstructure in the form of a double-barred cross with short vertical elements projecting from the tips of each horizontal bar representing the arms and legs of a creator deity or as the arrangement of the universe depicting Earth and Sky.
Worn for rituals called Dama, tribesmen dance to transport the soul of the deceased family members from the village to the world of the inevitable afterlife, enhancing the prestige of the deceased. It is incumbent upon the descendants to perform this ritual and show generous displays of hospitality to all who have gathered to say farewell.
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Dogon Dance Sculpture, Mali
Captured in motion wearing the Kanaga mask, this wax figure holding a tasseled staff performs the ritual dance associated with the death and transfiguration of the deceased.
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MoAW's mission is to educate a diverse audience about the history of ancient civilizations and prehistoric life using fossils and artifacts from a variety of cultures and time periods; to enhance universal curriculum development for local and surrounding school districts, colleges, and universities while establishing museum diversity for the Coachella Valley.
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FACES OF AFRICA
A Mystical View of
African Heritage
Faithfully recreated by award-winning artist Richard W. Jones, this critically acclaimed collection of authentic reproductions of ancient masks, murals, and sculptures celebrates 3,500 years of African tribal art and traditions.
From ancient Nok heads to the spectacular masks of Dogon dances and contemporary South African murals, the popular Faces of Africa is an intimate and mystical view of the tribal heritage.
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Next Week:
Do you have a favorite piece at MoAW you would like to see highlighted in our weekly email? You can visit www.moaw.org, see the collections tab, visit the catalogs, and state your choice on the link below.
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Help MoAW reopen during the pandemic.
After shuttering MoAW on 3 separate occasions for 2020. being closed more often than open, and with rising rates of infection, Riverside County moved back to Stay At Home Orders. Help MoAW and other Riverside County businesses reopen. The more people adhere to protocols, get tested, get vaccinated, and stay at home, the better for state-wide statistics.
Riverside County offers free testing and vaccinations at several sites, call Riverside County Health to schedule your vaccine.
1-888-634-1123
Thank You
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Members Perks
So many reasons to join MoAW, you help keep the museum open, allow us to acquire new artifacts, plan and present programs including the Second Friday Fantasy, and help local students learn about ancient civilizations and human origins.
For all that you do to help us we thank you in many ways:
- Unlimited free admission for one year
- Free Guest Passes (see Membership levels for details)
- Invitations to Members-Only exhibition receptions and programs
- Priority registration and discounts on programs and special events
- Special rental rates for hosting events (see membership levels for details)
- Copies of exhibition catalogs (see Membership levels for details)
- Unique travel opportunities through the Museum Travel Alliance
During the initial phase of "The Pause," we offered new members two extra months with membership. While we are back in "The Pause" we are offering this again. Current memberships will be extended by the amount of time we are closed and new members, 14 months of membership will start when we reopen. Click below for more information and to join.
Thank you.
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ON DISPLAY AT THE
MUSEUM OF ANCIENT WONDERS
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FACES OF AFRICA:
A Mystical View of
Tribal Heritage
(38 Replica Masks and Sculptures)
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TUTANKHAMUN:
"Wonderful Things"
Treasures From The Pharaoh's Tomb
(124 Egyptian replicas)
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MESOZOICA:
The Age of Dinosaurs
(Approximately 100 fossil cast dinosaur elements and fully-mounted skeletons from around the world.)
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LUCY:
The Story of Human Origins
(Courtesy of the Institute of Human Origins and the National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa)
On view exclusively at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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