Exhibitor Highlights

MEDIA OFFICE AGK Media Group 323 937 5488 [email protected] [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TOP GLOBAL TRIBAL ART SPECIALISTS TO CONVENE AT SAN FRANCISCO TRIBAL & TEXTILE ARTS SHOW Groundbreaking Field Collectors Connect Visitors to the Most Remote Cultures Around the Globe (October 2014 – San Francisco, CA) More than eighty of the world’s top Tribal Art Specialists will showcase art, jewelry, antiques and accessories from the most remote areas on the planet at the 29th Annual San Francisco Tribal & Textile Arts Show (SFTTA). Taking place February 6 – 8, 2015 at the Fort Mason Center’s Festival Pavilion, the SFTTA has the largest collection of ethnographic art on view and available for purchase in North America. “It really is like globe-‐trekking,” states Show Producer Liz Lees. “It is not uncommon for galleries to feature art from isolated tribes of only a few thousand people, or artifacts from cultures that are completely extinct. Many of our dealers collect in the field, so the first-‐hand knowledge they have is not only of the pieces themselves, but the humanity and traditions behind them. They are sought after by cultural institutions and museums for their expertise. It is a privilege to have the best of the best at our show. These tribal art specialists enrich the experience for both collectors and arts enthusiasts alike.” Highlights for the 2015 SFTTA include Buddhist Temple figures from Myanmar; Tatanua masks from Papua New Guinea; Iban masks from Borneo; a 24-‐karat gold Pyu Repousse of Buddha; an exceptional example of a Kazak “Tree of Life” rug, as well as contemporary artists that specialize in traditional artforms such as brush painting and basket weaving. Tribal art specialist Louis Nierijnck from The Netherlands will showcase an early 19th Century Iban mask from Borneo (pictured left). Belgium’s Patrick Mestdagh will feature a Tatanua mask from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea (pictured right). The masks used in funeral ceremonies called malagan to help families communicate with their deceased loved one. “Ethnographic arts are truly amazing to me,” states Mestdagh. “These anonymous artists and their ability to create such objects of beauty out of everyday items is astounding and inspiring. A simple spoon or shield is often hiding a chef d'oeuvre. It is my passion to seek out these craftsmen and women. There are still so many stories to be told, so many tribes and cultures to be discovered.” In addition to a strong showing of international tribal art experts, the SFTTA will also feature prominent galleries from across the United States. IndoArts from San Rafael, CA will exhibit an 8th century 24-‐karat Gold Repoussé of Buddha by the Pyu people (pictured left), the earliest settlers of Myanmar. As a devout Buddhist, one would gain ‘merit’ by having votive items, like this repoussé work, to be made and then donated to a particular monk or pagoda. Centuries later, Buddhist art remains a central part of culture in Myanmar as evident by 19th Century Buddhist temple figures (pictured left) that will be featured by Mark A. Johnson from Marina del Rey, CA. These figures represent sickness and old age that Prince Siddhartha encountered when he first snuck out of the gilded world of his father's palace. It was this encounter that led Siddhartha to leave the palace, give up his perfect life, and search for the meaning of suffering. Eventually, after long journey and lengthy meditation, he found enlightenment and became the "Buddha". Hagop Manoyan from New York, NY will feature an excellent example of a “Tree of Life” Kazak rug (pictured right). Tree of Life rugs represent one of the oldest spiritual symbols in Turkish history linking mankind to heavenly worlds. The tree occupied a semantically important position both in the world-‐outlook and in the ritual of Turks. In the epics of Turkic peoples the tree was the center of life which functioned as an orientation point in time and space The Kazak rug from Southwest Caucasus is more than a century old with the colors all naturally sourced. The SFTTA will also showcase select contemporary artists that specialize in traditional crafts and artforms. The featured exhibit of this year’s event is ‘Heart of the Brush II’ by artist and tribal & ethnographic textile dealer Vichai Chinalai (pictured left). Self-‐taught, Chinalai weaves poetry, sacred writing, Asian philosophy and Zen Buddhism into his brush paintings. The exhibition will culminate in a central installation signifying that each individual painting is really an entire body of work. Wounaan Rainforest Baskets from Beaverton, OR will feature the works of contemporary weaver Eva Ginguimia (basket pictured below). Originally designed purely for practical endeavors of storage or transportation, these baskets, today, have evolved into revered works of art. Gaining their inspiration from the nature that surrounds them and the geometric patterns of pre-‐Colombian body painting, the talented women who weave them often incorporate ancient Colombian pottery designs and pictures of the exotic plant and animal life found in the Darién rainforest into their creations. Using needles to sew only the supplest of fibers from the native Chunga and Naguala palm and other natural materials found in the abundant Darien rainforest, this basket took three years to complete. The SFTTA takes place February 6 – 8, 2015 at the Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion. Visit www.sanfranciscotribalandtextileartsshow.com for more info. General admission for The San Francisco Tribal & Textile Arts Show is $15 per person. The Opening Night benefit takes place Thursday, February 5, from 6:00pm-‐9:00pm. Tickets for the Opening can be purchased at tribaltextile15.eventbrite.com. This event is open to the public on Friday February 6, 11:00am-‐
7:00pm, Saturday February 7, 11:00am-‐7:00pm and Sunday February 8, 11:00am-‐5:00pm. There will be no admittance on Sunday after 4:30pm. For press information, to schedule interviews or request images, contact AGK Media Group at (323) 937-‐5488 or email Treanne /[email protected] or Agnes Gomes-‐Koizumi /[email protected].

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