Ambassadors from the Jungle's Edge: The Artists of Asmat
April 24 - 27, 1999
Salt Lake City, Utah

An estimated 300 people attended the gallery talk at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts on Sunday afternoon, April 25, 1999. The event started with a procession through the museum with the Asmat artists blowing the feu (a bamboo signal horn) to gather the crowd in the gallery. After introductions, the Asmat performed one of their energetic and frenzied traditional dances. Yuefin Biakai, Director of the Asmat Museum of Culture and Progress, then spoke about the emak cem ritual. The group then accepted questions from the audience, which included such diverse topics as the artwork, health care, conservation and ecology. Museum patrons lingered until 5:00 p.m.

The afternoon rain didn't dampen the spirits of the 60 or so guests who attended the Asmat Art and Cultural Experience at the Equatorial Arts Gallery on Sunday evening. The group presented a traditional Irian Jaya bark cloth painting to the Mayor of Midvale, JoAnn Seghuini, then performed a traditional dance. Tired after their arduous seven-day journey, the group was a bit subdued by the evening's close.

On Monday morning, the Asmat leaders held a very important meeting with Burke Burnett of Indo Pacific Conservation Alliance in order to further plan the activities of the Lembaga Mushawara Adat Asmat (LMAA), a foundation formed by the Asmat to foster the art and culture of the Asmat people. The afternoon saw the group on the tram at Snowbird - the first time any of them had ever been in snow. The tram ride was extremely exciting for all. Several asked to have photos taken with some of the skier's. Surprisingly, one of the skier's had visited Papua New Guinea - the eastern side of the island.

After purchasing new carving tools and some wood, the group gathered Monday evening to carve, sing, and talk with those in attendance. Early Tuesday morning the group packed their vehicle, said their good byes and headed south to Moab. Their visit will surely be a most treasured memory and a source for stories to be told to their friends and families back home.

We would like to thank the following individuals and companies for their contributions and support for this event:

Upon arriving at the Equatorial Arts Gallery (home of Steven Chiaramonte and Angela Keeney), Robby noticed a carving sitting in the front dining room window. The carving - of a man and woman paddling a canoe - was one he had carved four years ago.

Abraham also had a carving at EAG. This one was purchased from him last fall, but it was too dark outside to take a photo at that time.