A hilarious account of the cultural clashes, setbacks and final insight which affected O'Biso so deeply while trying to prepare a collection of Maori ancestral treasures for exhibition in the Unites States.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Te Maori,
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This review is from: First Light: A Magical Journey (Hardcover)
On September 10, 1984, at first light, New York's Fifth Avenue was the scene of an unusual ceremony. On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art a group of Maori women wailed the ritual welcome: HAERE MAI !! Their calls were answered and taken up by a group of Maori elders down the avenue, their leader in a feathered cloak, their path cleared of evil spirits by a small band of tattooed warriors ferociously thrusting their spears.
It was opening day of a groundbreaking exhibition at the Met: Te Maori: Maori Art from New Zealand Collections. The elders were in New York to lift the tapu and open the exhibition. Their greeting was for their ancestors, spiritually residing in the 174 taonga (treasures) on display outside New Zealand for the first time. Nine years in the planning, Te Maori was the culmination of a massive exercise in politics and logistics. Carol O'Biso was the registrar of the exhibition, responsible for the packing and safe passage of these treasures collected from a number of New Zealand museums. First Light: A Magical Journey is her lyrical story of this great adventure. The "cultural artifacts" are believed by the Maori to be sacred and powerful. Carol, overwhelmed at first by the vast divide between her New York self and the ancient Maori beliefs, struggled to do her job in the midst of controversy over the exhibition. She was excluded by Maori custom from speaking at the many ritual gatherings in museums and meeting houses. Frustration was her constant companion, in those early days. Gradually the power of the collection became entirely real to her and she found herself honoring the treasures in ways she would not have found possible. Carol spent several years packing, shipping and unpacking the irreplaceable treasures and was under their spell when she returned them to New Zealand in 1986. She handed them over, in yet another ceremony that left her in tears, to a New Zealand registrar for their awe-inspiring progress through New Zealand museums. Carol's story is a very personal one and some of her early impressions of New Zealand were less than favorable. However the country's charm and especially the strength of the Maoris' respect for their culture led her to a deep appreciation of The Land of the Long White Cloud. I had the privilege of seeing Te Maori in New Zealand, and First Light brought back vivid memories of its power. I read the book in the early 1990s and then gave it away (read it! you'll love it!), and when I found a copy on Amazon this month I was delighted to be reacquainted with it. Linda Bulger, 2008
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
First Light: Shedding the myth of working in museums,
By ssbalding1 (champaign, illinois United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: First Light: A Magical Journey (Hardcover)
One of the most unexpected, wonderful and funny true day to day experiences of a woman who worked for one of the most prestigious museums in the world. Her journey, both physically and spiritually in creating and formalizing a major exhibit of the Maori People of New Zealand on a world tour. Her writing style was easy to read and I am still searching for a copy of my own!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Rare Gem!,
By Phoenix (New York City, United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: First Light: A Magical Journey (Hardcover)
Thought provoking, moving and fun. The story is told in a masterful way that made me laugh, cry and sit-up thinking about it for a week after I read it. The author takes you along on her own personal journey and as her New York City eyes and heart transform into something miraculous so does the readers'. It touches the heart and reminds us of our humanity in the most magnificent way. Read it slowly; you won't want it to end!
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