June 24, 2022

MoAW

presents

ALL UNDER HEAVEN

Earth, Heaven, and the Afterlife

Tianxia (天下) or, All Under Heaven is an ancient Chinese phrase defining the ideal of a perfect and harmonious empire in the eyes of the people.

This diverse collection of 50 Asian antiquities (3,600 BCE to the mid-1800 CE) is divided into three sections: Earthly possessions, objects used by the living, the temple icons of Buddha and Shiva (Heaven), and funerary goods, objects found in the tombs of the elite (the Afterlife). Representing China, Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia, these artifacts are gathered together for the first time in one exhibition.

This exhibition is made possible through generous gifts from

Heather James Fine Art,

Marlene and Bruce Kanter,

Tim Walsh and Michael H. Healy

Demetre Chiparus

(1886-1947)

Civa (Shiva)

Cold-painted, enameled bronze and chryselephantine

1925

Gift of Heather James Fine Art

Beneficent Civa is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. In this work, the illustrious Austrian deco-era artist, Chiparus, represents the exoticism of the East, as the elegant figure meditates in the lotus position. The work recalls the dances of the Ballets Russes, one of the artist’s primary inspirations, and embodies the essence of the age, particularly the rediscovery of the ancient Egyptian art, as Tutankhamun’s tomb was recently excavated in 1922.

Chiparus depicted most of his figures in a sensual, curvilinear fashion. His subjects always look beautiful and at ease. This sculpture is an excellent example of the artist’s impeccable casting, particularly the detailed work in the bronze body and the expressively carved ivory face.

Head of Buddha

Burma, Shan Period

(17^th / 18th century)

Wood and Pigments

Gift of Heather James Fine Art

Two traditional crafts in which the Burmese excel are wood carving and lacquer work. They used their skills in these areas to create images of the Buddha, as part of their devotion to Theravada Buddhism. The use of woodcarving for religious and secular purposes has been attested to in Burma since Pyu times (AD 200-900) and may have even begun earlier. 

As evidenced by the wise and serene expression on this particular piece, this Burmese artist had an innate understanding of the properties of wood, working with the grain of the wood to best utilize its properties.

Statuette (Bulul)

Northern Luzon, Philippines

Ifugao People

Wood

Gift of Heather James Fine Art

This bulul sculpture was used in numerous harvest ceremonies, an important and cherished object bestowed upon its owner. Bulul figures were inherited by the first born child in a family and were held in high esteem for generations. At harvest time, at the home of the rice field's owner, bulul deities, are venerated by the presiding priests who encourage them to join the festivities.

During these harvest ceremonies, wood-carved deities, jars of ice wine, and ritual boxes are presented to the holy men.

Helmet Mask

Sumatra

Batak People

Wood

Gift of Heather James Fine Art

This large mask was fashioned from a single piece of wood. With mouth open, large eyes, sharply defined cheeks, and large ears, a helmet form covers the entire head and is worn exclusively during funerary ceremonies.

Located in the mountainous highland of northern Sumatra, the Batak are one of the largest indigenous groups in Indonesia. There are divided into six groups, the Toba, Pak Pak/Dairi, Karo, Angkola, Mandailing and Simalungun, and have an estimated total population of 3 million.

CURRENT EXHIBTIONS ON DISPLAY

ALL UNDER HEAVEN

Treasures of the East

Earth, Heaven,

and the Afterlife

A Very Special Gift From

Marlene and Bruce Kanter,

Heather James Fine Art

Tim Walsh

Michael H. Healy

Tianxia (天下) or, All Under Heaven is an ancient phrase used to define the ideal of a perfect and harmonious empire in the eyes of the people.

50 original antiquities spanning millennia (3,600 B.C. to 1850 A.D.) of ancient Asian cultures, from mysterious funerary objects and life-size protective temple guardians, to delicate terracotta sculptures created for the tombs of the deceased. A tapestry of silk and gold thread, a rare lacquered cosmetic box, earthen vessels, and bronze statues, these ancient treasures from China, Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia, celebrate everlasting happiness, remembrance, and eternal life.

This grand collection of 50 Asian antiquities is divided into three sections: Earthly possessions, objects used by the living, the temple icons of Buddha and Shiva (Heaven), and funerary goods, objects found in the tombs of the elite (the Afterlife). Representing China, Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia, MoAW premieres these dazzling artifacts for the first time together in one exhibition All Under Heaven: Earth, Heaven, and the Afterlife.

PALEO: The Story of Life

4.6 billion years of fossil history 

Drawn from the world’s foremost fossil collections, the unprecedented treasury of fossil casts known as PALEO: The Story of Life brings together in one exhibition some of the most exciting finds in the history of paleontology from over a century of worldwide excavations, exhibited in geological, chronological order.

From 2.5 billion-year-old single cellular cyanobacteria responsible for the oxygenation of the atmosphere to the first multicellular life of 700 million years ago, PALEO: The Story of Life spans 4.6 billion years in scope. From the Precambrian to the Paleozoic Era, from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods of the Mesozoic Era to mammals and prehistoric humans of the Cenozoic Era (including the famous Lucy skeleton), this internationally acclaimed, comprehensive collection dramatically illustrates the awesome story of prehistoric life on Earth.

Displaying casts of rare fossils from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, this prestigious collection includes skeletons, skulls, claws, and eggs gathered from such revered museums as the Smithsonian Institution, the American Museum of Natural History, The Royal Ontario Museum, the Carnegie Museum, and the National Museums of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, as well as many others.

Cathedral City

Historical Society

presents

Then and Now

A 40th-year anniversary exhibition of the history of Cathedral City

A comprehensive photographic and artifact-rich timeline of the history of Cathedral City will greet you upon entering the lobby of the Museum of Ancient Wonders. This is an exhibition of recollections of the people and places that created Cathedral City's early history and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its burgeoning progress, from the past to the present, THEN AND NOW is a loving tribute to the City of Cathedral City.

On Display In Association With PALEO: The Story of Life

STARSCAPE:

A Journey To The

Beginning of Time

This spectacular collection of 33 space photographs combines breathtaking digitalized images from the historic Mariner, Viking, and Voyager probes with stunning photographs from the Apollo lunar missions, the Hubble Space Telescope, and ground-based observatories. Gathered from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the California Institute of Technology, the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and the Hansen Planetarium, this awesome display of cosmic spectacles is a journey to the early days of the cosmos. 

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

JURASSIC WONDERS

11 Lifesize Metal Dinosaurs

Public Art Display

created by

Ricardo Breceda

MoAW presents JURASSIC WONDERS, a public art installation in collaboration with Cathedral City displaying 11 lifesize Dinosaurs created by renowned artist Ricardo Breceda. Divided into 4 stunning dioramas on the corner of Buddy Rogers Drive and East Palm Canyon Drive across the street from City Hall until December 31, 2022.

Become A Member of MoAW

The newest perk of membership: Free admission to more than 1,200 museums nationwide through the North American Reciprocal Museum Program (NARM) Plus, discounts at their museum shops and restaurants (if given to their members). Local museums include the Palm Springs Art Museum and Cabot's Pueblo Museum, several museums in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, throughout California, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia, including Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. This is available to all members at the Donor Level ($125.00) or higher. Members who qualify will be receiving new membership cards with the NARM logo to be used at participating museums.

Current members who would like to upgrade their membership to take advantage of this new benefit please give us a call, (442) 268-5004.

Click below for more information and to join.

THANK YOU

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, establishing museum diversity for the Coachella Valley.

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Saturday

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.



The last admission is taken one hour before closing.

Admission:

$15.00 Adults

$12.00 Students, Seniors, & Military

$ 3.00 Discount available for Coachella Valley Residents

$10.00 Group Rate for 10 or more individuals.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, MoAW is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association, the American Alliance of Museums, and the California Association of Museums. Contributions are tax-deductible and gratefully accepted.

MoAW IS SPONSORED BY

ART LABOE FOUNDATION, INC.