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“Links to the Past: The Work of Early Hawaiian Artisans”

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The award-winning book Links to the Past: The Work of Early Hawaiian Artisans presents images of 1,000 of the earliest collected works of Hawaiian artisans.

What went into tracking down those artifacts now scattered across the globe? What do the 1,400 illustrations tell you about pre- and early-contact Hawaiian culture and the ways it changed in response to Westerners? What sort of questions are raised by the grouping of so many objects? Our talk will address these topics and more.

Wendy S. Arbeit is the author of What Are Fronds For?, an introduction to the craft of plaiting coconut fronds; Tapa in Tonga, an overview of the techniques and uses of Tongan bark-cloth; and Baskets in Polynesia, a historical and photographic survey of central Polynesian baskets. She was co-editor of Pacific Arts, an annual international journal devoted to the arts of the Pacific basin. She also produced the documentaries From Mortal to Ancestor: the Funeral in Tonga, an intimate exploration of Tongan art, music, and culture; and Dance for the King, encapsulating details of the royal Tongan kava ceremony in seven minutes. She was also coproducer of Pacific Passages, an educational video about the arts and culture of the Pacific Islands.

Event Sponsor
Center for Biographical Research, Mānoa Campus

More Information
956-3774, biograph@hawaii.edu, http://www.facebook.com/CBRHawaii

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