A Peek Inside A Conservator's Lab

Attic horse pyxiz getting restored in the lab.

Last weekend, Dr. Renee Stein, conservator at the Carlos Museum gave a talk on the process of conserving and restoring ancient artifacts. The objective of the work, she pointed out, is to suggest the way a piece looked and was used thousands of years ago, without overwhelming it with modern overlays or "fixes."

The talk was for a program sponsored by the Georgia Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE). It was fascinating to hear about the incredible attention to detail that is required to match paint colors, surfaces, linen and even glues as repairs are made. 

Vaccum tubes for removing dust and decay...

The best part of the event was a tour of the museum's lab. Several artifacts in the process of being repaired, restored or conserved where laid out on tables. I can't wait until these pieces are displayed in the galleries so I can have a before and after look.

The next ARCE event takes place on February 11, 7:30 pm, at Emory. Dr. Lawrence Berman, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, will give a lecture on A Complete Cosmos: The Tomb of an Egyptian Governor and Its Secrets.  Sounds like another great program!

A Black Odyssey

Circe

I want every single person everywhere to come to the Michael C. Carlos Museum and check out the show, Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey. Why?

Because It. Is. Breathtaking. 

Seriously, you guys. The colors. The juxtapositions. The energy. The vibrant reimaginings--it's all there.

Odysseus and the Sirens.

There is something extraordinary and magical about the fusion of this jazz-inspired African-American artist "owning" and reinterpreting the emotional truths of Homer's ancient Greek quest-saga.

Escaping the Cyclops.

Bearden's unique riffs on ancient dramas reminds us of our shared humanity. Of our struggles, of the ways we get sidetracked, of the "monsters" that threaten our equanimity, of everything that gets in our way when all we want to do is to go home, to return to where we are loved.

Come on out and check out the show, y'all. Seriously.

Talking Anubis and Making Masks

     Yesterday, we had a sold-out workshop for children at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University. During the first part of the program, I gave an "Anubis Speaks" tour through the galleries, focusing on some of the not so well-known depictions of the god of embalming.
     The one up top, for example, shows an atypical posture for the god. Instead of weighing hearts or presiding over a ceremony, Anubis seems to be throttling a snake, likely a representation of the evil monster Apophis. In his front hand he seems to be holding up a lotus flower cup, a symbol of renewal.
     Anubis is everywhere in the Egyptian galleries, from Old Kingdom coffins to Ptolemaic/Greek era mummy covers (right). 
     The kids particularly relished my detailed, gross talk on the actual process of mummification. After that, we moved onto the workshop part of the program--making masks!
     Artist Pam Beagle 
Daresta 
helped the kids create their three-dimensional black and gold beauties. While the kids were cutting the fancy black and gold paper, I reminded them that many of the rituals of mummification were performed by priests wearing similar masks. This made some of them cut even faster!
     The project required a lot of concentration and attention to details but the kids were up for the challenge.
     After-ward, a number of the kids asked me to sign their copies of Anubis Speaks!  The bloody paw-print stamp, I've been told, was a favorite part of my "autograph." 
      I was determined to make my own mask but didn't get to because I was assisting Pam and museum education manager, Nina West.  I'm not a visual artist, so my "help" ended up being more of the "fetching glue and patterns" variety. I took all the raw supplies home, though, determined to make my

very own jackal-headed mask of the god of embalming and death.
     I can't wait to make scary god-dog noises through the 3-D snout!
     Teachers, making Anubis masks is a fun activity. So is stuffing little felt hearts and weighing them against the feather of truth (which I conveniently bring with me!).
     Invite me to your schools/classrooms so we can enjoy the wonderful-strangeness of Ancient Egypt together!

Anubis Prepares for His Grand Entrance

          While at docent training yesterday with Dr. Peter Lacovara on all the new pieces in the Egyptian, Nubian and Near Eastern galleries at the Carlos Museum, I took the opportunity to start taking notes for my "Anubis Tour."
          After all, Anubis Speaks! releases in just a matter of weeks.
          Of course, I have my favorites at the museum--particularly, Anubis at the Weighing of the Heart ceremony on the side of Tanakhtnettahat's coffin--but I discovered a bunch of other depictions that I normally breezed right past, including this Ptolemaic depiction (above) and many jackal carvings on on tomb reliefs (below). 
          Can't wait to have a howling good time talking about my favorite canine-headed god!
 
     
 

3-D Mask of Anubis

Elizabeth Hornor models the prototype for the 3-D Anubis masks we'll be making...

     This, my friends, is why I love my job (well, it's not really my job, it's more of my passion, but you know what I mean, right?). Today, I met at the Carlos Museum with local artist Pam Beagle as well as Elizabeth Hornor and Nina West from the museum's education department to work out the details for my upcoming children's program. 
     Look, just look, at the 3-D mask of Anubis Pam created. We are going to make these masks as part of the "Anubis Speaks!" program. And this is just the prototype. The ones we will create that day will be on glossy gold and black paper. Isn't Pam's work amazing???
     The program--from 1-3 pm on Sunday, November 17--will begin with an "Anubis Tour," where I will guide kids through the galleries looking for mummies, monsters and Anubis. Then we will move to the art room where we will make our 3-D masks. I will tell stories from my latest book, Anubis Speaks!, while we work.

     The program is limited to 16 participants, so if you think your child will want to be a part of it, sign up soon.  Here are the deets:

For ages 8-12 years. Fee: $12 for Carlos Museum members;

$15 for non-members. Registration is required by

calling 404-727-0519. 

I, for one, cannot wait!

Help Me Pick My Next Author Photo!

A couple of weeks ago, the uber-talented Vania and I headed to Emory University and to the Carlos Museum to shoot an updated author photo. However, I've been so slammed with rewrites, revisions and research, I haven't had a chance to select the one I want to use. Plus, I can't decide.

The photo won't be used in books (for whatever reason, none of my books include an author photo) but an author pic is often requested when I am speaking at a book festival or event.
 So, if you would, let me know which one you like best:

#1 

#2

#3

These next two aren't really in contention because, although it was fun to pose in front of the statue, it'd end up being cropped out anyway. Still, they make me happy:

(I love the statue but it looks like he's holding my head up by a string...)

(I love this because instead of an "upskirt" shot, it's an "up-fig-leaf" shot [made ya look], 

which gives me the giggles.)

 Which photo would you pick???????

"Is He Dead, Alive, or in Between?"

From the Nasca province (ancient Peru).

Strange question, isn't it? I mean, someone is either dead or alive. Right?

Not for the folks who lived in the ancient Americas. They believed there was an "in between" state--a spirit world where shamans traveled to obtain information that would help or heal their people in the living world.

Dr. Rebecca Stone, curator of the ancient American galleries at the Carlos Museum discussed the issue of "dead, alive or in between" in relation to Nascan pottery. In a docent training session, she pointed out a pot (similar to the one above) showcasing a series of disembodied heads meant to represent the staked heads of enemies. No question there--all dead!

But in some pots, the dead-heads were juxtaposed with other heads, which turned out to be not just alive but in between--shamans in the process of journeying to the "other side." Fascinating.

I also loved Dr. Stone's explanation of "anomalous bodies"--statuettes of shamans with some kind of physical challenge, such as being visually impaired, having a hunchback, having ravaged skin, or the like.  Instead of being shunned, differently-abled people were revered for their spiritual strength. Their suffering or difficulties made them important and powerful shamans on the spiritual plane. Being "different" in these cultures was a positive, empowering thing.

I tend to focus my tours on the Egyptian and Greek/Roman galleries because they are my favorite periods in history; however, it's always good to be reminded that just across the hall, entire worlds of wonder and awe await.

The Carlos Museum's comprehensive collection of ancient American art (more than 2,000 pieces) will re-open to the public February 9th.  Come on out y'all!