Art of the Americas: Mesoamerican, Pre-Columbian Art from Mingei’s Permanent Collection

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Objects featured in the exhibition straddle cultural boundaries—from the Olmec and Mayan civilizations in Mexico to the Moche civilization in Peru—as well as numerous ancient traditions and cultures, including the indigenous Teuchitlán, Zoque, Huastec, and western Mexican societies. The works range from objects made for ritual and ceremonial use, such as figurines, vessels, and sculptures depicting gods, shamans, animals, marine life, and floral motifs, to objects for domestic use, including jars, bowls, spindle whorls, ocarinas (wind instruments), and roller stamps used for decorating cloth, as well as adornments such as beads and ear plugs. A rare collection of Mayan textile fragments will also be presented.