Exhibit dates: July 1 through August 20,
2000 The Worn With Pride: Celebrating Samoan Artistic Heritage
exhibition and catalog are two of six programs of Sulu O Le Tautua:
A Tribute to American Samoan Art and Cultural Traditions, a collaborative
project of the Oceanside Museum of Art, the Oceanside Public Library
and the Samoan Sister Cities Committee. This two-year tribute to
the contributions of Samoans to the artistic and cultural life of
the nation also included two artist residencies, a performing arts
series, and the creation of the Samoan Cultural Archive at the Library,
a permanent resource for the youth and citizens of Oceanside.
Throughout the world and from the earliest of times, the human body
has proven itself to be a powerful vehicle for visual expression
and an important avenue for understanding the rich artistic achievements
of world cultures. The body has qualities that make it uniquely
well-suited for self-expression, including its three-dimensionality
and graceful mobility. It is a multi-faceted canvas that allows
a person to express individuality while engaging in a variety of
cultural conversations.
The dressed body has been an important focus
for creative artistry among Samoans for centuries, communicating
important social and cultural messages through tattoo, clothing
and adornment. Worn With Pride: Celebrating Samoan Artistic Heritage
examines modes of dress in the Samoan community that are strongly
linked with their unique cultural heritage. For this exhibit, Samoan
dress is defined as any item worn or displayed on the body for at
least one of two reasons. First, it is deemed culturally appropriate
or necessary (determined by age, event or status), or secondly,
it is individually chosen as a purposeful reference to Samoan heritage,
and thus becomes a personal marker of cultural identity. While the
importance of the dressed body is a deeply rooted link with the
past, Samoans continue to creatively alter and enhance artistic
forms to keep them contemporary and relevant, and thereby continually
reaffirming the expressive place of self-embellishment in fa'a Samoa
(the Samoan way).
The most rewarding element
of curating this exhibit has been the opportunity to meet with many
members of the Samoan community. I have learned the importance of
faith and family among community members, and the pride they share
in their heritage. I wish to thank everyone who patiently taught
me what it means to be Samoan, and I hope that I have presented
your cultural heritage as it should be, with great pride.
"Worn with Pride: Celebrating Samoan Artistic Heritage" was curated
by Teri Sowell, Ph.D.
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