On Oct. 17 & 18, CNN International’s Scene-by-Scene program will feature film workshops at the University of Goroka that give PNG students the opportunity to tell their own stories to the world. Michael Mel is involved with the project. Check the Yumi Piksa website for times and details.
Nov 17 update: photos added. Thanks to Ashley Marston for most of these.
Saturday, November 7, 7:00 p.m.
at Wawaditla (Mungo Martin House), Thunderbird Park, Royal British Columbia Museum
(outside the museum, at the corner of Belleville & Douglas Streets)
Join Michael Mel, John and Luke Marston, the Coast Salish Tzinquaw Dance Group, and the South Pacific Dance Group [...]
From Rosanna Raymond and Michael Mel’s performances at Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery.
Fibre artist Cathy Kata on the significance, creation, styles, and innovation of Papua New Guinea’s famous bilums.
Lucas Tangun with his brilliant contemporary
interpretation of the Founding of the Pig Clan
(Photo: D. Lepsoe)
Lucas Tangun was born July 15, 1969, into the Nauwaia clan of the Iatmul people. He learned to carve from his father. Growing up in Tambanum Village in the Middle Sepik region of Papua New Guinea, he was exposed to many [...]
Cathy Kata sings a traditional song about bilum-making during a performance at Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, September 2009. (Photo: Dan Lepsoe)
Interview by Dan Lepsoe, 2009
DL: In many parts of PNG, people of all ages carry handmade bags- bilums- suited to their different tastes, activities, and backgrounds. What does bilum mean to you?
CK: There’s a song [...]
Martin Morububuna, a leading artist in PNG since the 1970s, inherited his talent from his grandfather. Behind him is Fever of Milamala, in progress. (Photo: Dan Lepsoe)
Interview by Elaine Monds and Dan Lepsoe, 2009
EM: How have you developed as an artist?
MM: When I was small, I was given sopi, the responsibility to be an important [...]
Jackson Timbin of Palembei Village paints a dance mask in his family’s distinctive style. The Timbin family is represented in this exhibition by Jackson’s elder brothers Michael and Otto. The finished mask is visible here. (Photo: Dan Lepsoe)
Essay by Elaine Monds
Alcheringa Gallery
Sepik art has long captured the imagination of collectors. Sought after as much for [...]
Cathy Kata showing “looping”, the traditional hand-weaving technique used to make bilums in Papua New Guinea. (Photo: Dan Lepsoe)
Essay by Nicolas Garnier
Centre de Recherche et de Documentation sur l’Océanie
University of Papua New Guinea
Alliance Française de Port Moresby
In Papua New Guinea (PNG), string bags, or bilum in Tok Pisin (a widely spoken Creole), are commonly used [...]
Pamela Rosi with Goroka bilum weavers Alice Sibili, Emma Opa, Julie Reginol, Mama Titi, Cathy Kata, Dorothy Wusik, and Doli, 2008.
Pamela Rosi is a co-curator of Hailans to Ailans and editor of the accompanying exhibition catalogue. She is Visiting Associate Professor of Anthropology at Bridgewater State College, Massachusetts.
Pamela received her BA from Dickinson College, [...]
Michael Mel performing Shoosh! Na Kang Temani te tokor il. Nunga koom talg na ta. (Shoosh! I am chanting a tale. Give me your ears) at Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, September 2009. (Photo: Dan Lepsoe)
Essay by Pamela C. Rosi
Bridgewater State College
INTRODUCTION: A CONTEXT OF ENTANGLED HISTORIES
Since the 19th century, the unique art forms of Papua [...]
Tom Deko in his studio at the University of Goroka. (Photo: Dan Lepsoe)
Essay by Michael A. Mel
University of Goroka
Tom Deko was born in Makia village in the Bena area of the Eastern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). As a youngster, Tom grew up learning the language, lore, and laws of his local community. [...]
An artist’s residency, special exhibition tours, a performance evening, and film premieres at the de Young Museum were added today to our event listings.
Friday, October 30, 7:45 p.m.
Koret Auditorium
de Young Museum, San Francisco
The de Young is proud to host the world premiere of two documentary shorts filmed in PNG and commissioned by the Jolika Collection of New Guinea Art: The Shield Is My Brother and The Man Who Cannot Die. The first film tells the story of young [...]
Michael Mel performs at Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, London (Photo: D. Lepsoe)
Update Nov 19: photos and more are on the de Young’s website.
Friday, October 30, 7:00 p.m.
Koret Auditorium
de Young Museum, San Francisco
Dr. Michael Mel is from the Mogei tribe of the Wila Village, Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province, PNG. His work as a performance artist, [...]