Contact: Whitney Hale

Mayan bowl with polychrome

“Latin America today owes much to the ancient heritage of its native peoples. The objects in the wide-ranging exhibition impress us with the mastery of the artists who created them as they inform us about the beliefs and ideals of their diverse cultures”

-- Christopher A. Pool,
associate professor,
Department of Anthropology,
University of Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 31, 2005) -- The University of Kentucky Art Museum next month will present a fascinating multicultural exhibition, appealing not only to art lovers but to history and archaeology buffs as well.

“Pre-Columbian Art from the Mississippi Museum of Art” will open April 3, featuring more than 130 treasures gathered from two continents, spanning more than 2,000 years of history.

Art and artifacts from civilizations that flourished in Peru, Mexico and Central America prior to the arrival of Europeans in the New World will be featured. These cultures, including the Maya in Mesoamerica and the Moche in Peru, had divine kings, believed to be descended from gods, which ruled over vast cities and constructed monuments rivaling those of ancient Greece and Egypt.

The majority of the artifacts in this exhibition came from elite burials and offerings, which explains why they are so well preserved. These objects were meant to be taken into the after-life or given as offerings to divine forces, and include the possessions of religious figures, warrior priests and divine kings. Displays will focus on plants and animals, people and structures, gods and the supernatural, and abstraction and form.

“Latin America today owes much to the ancient heritage of its native peoples. The objects in the wide-ranging exhibition impress us with the mastery of the artists who created them as they inform us about the beliefs and ideals of their diverse cultures,” said Christopher A. Pool, UK associate professor of anthropology. “I urge everyone to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to admire and learn from these ancient works.”

The Pre-Columbian art exhibition will be available for viewing through June 19. UK is providing this exhibition with assistance from numerous sponsors, including the Selz Foundation; Clay Ingles, LLC; Dr. and Mrs. Phillip Tibbs; Messer Construction; Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels Education Endowment; Lexington Arts and Cultural Council; Target Stores; and Chipotle.

The University of Kentucky Art Museum, located on the corner of Rose Street and Euclid Avenue, is open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Friday. For general museum information, call (859) 257-5716.