Feather Arts: Beauty, Wealth and Spirit from Five Continents (Exhibition)

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Exist Dates

1980 April 18 - 1980 September 1

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract
Exhibition. Opened April 18, 1980 and closed September 1, 1980. Located in Section 3, Floor 3 in Gallery 3 at the American Museum of Natural History. Feather Arts: Beauty, Wealth and Spirit from Five Continents, which featured over 250 artifacts of featherworking, was a travelling exhibition originating from the Field Museum of Chicago and curated by Phyllis Rabineau.

Summary

Feather Arts: Beauty, Wealth and Spirit from Five Continents, which featured over 250 artifacts of featherworking, was a travelling exhibition originating from the Field Museum of Chicago and curated by Phyllis Rabineau. (1). As presented at the American Museum of Natural History, the exhibition was a collaboration between the Departments of Anthropology, Ornithology, and Exhibition and Graphics (2, p. 12, 37, 49). Some items dated back over 1,000 years. The exhibition also emphasized that many of the birds whose feathers are used for featherwork were endangered. A related Exhibit of the Month, Papua New Guinea: A Feather in the Cap, was concurrently on view in the Akeley Gallery (1). The exhibition was promoted through a radio advertisement which featured Frank Perdue (3) and a demonstration by Dana Moore of the Broadway musical Sugar Babies dancing with feather fans using two belonging to dancer Sally Rand (4).

Highlights (1; 4):

*Brazilian headdresses

*Feather pins from 19th century China

*Musical instrument from India in the form of a peacock

*Bornean woodcarving of a hornbill

*Specimens of birds used for feathers in the American Museum of Natural History's collections, including a bird of paradise, quetzal, bald eagle, and scarlet ibis

*Section on featherworking techniques

*Two ostrich feather fans used by dancer Sally Rand, loaned by the Chicago Historical Society

This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.

Sources

    (1) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Feather Arts from Around the World on View at the American Museum of Natural History." May 1, 1980. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.
    (2) American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1979-1980.
    (3) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Chicken Man, Frank Perdue, is Ad Spokesman for Museum's Feather Arts Exhibition." May 1, 1980. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.
    (4) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Sally Rand's Fans Join Museum's 'Feather Arts' Exhibition; Performer in Broadway Musical 'Sugar Babies' to Show How to Use Them." July 15, 1980. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.
    For more information on this exhibition see:
    "Art: Fine Feathers." New York Times, April 18, 1980.
    Brunskill, Joan. "Exhibit Displays Feather Artifacts." AP NewsFeatures, May 25, 1980.
    "Cultural Treasures." Promenade (April-September 1980).
    "'Feather Art: Beauty, Wealth and Spirit from Five Continents,' an exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City through September, consists of some 250 examples of the ancient and universally practiced art of featherworking." Rockland-Journal News (Nyack, NY), June 1, 1980.
    Ferretti, Fred. "What to Do Over Labor Day Holiday in Town and County." New York Times, August 29, 1980.
    Finston, Mark. Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), April 23, 1980.
    "Frank Perdue Turn to Feather Arts." Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), May 14, 1980.
    "Moccasined Feet Tread Fashion's Latest Trail." New York Times, August 26, 1980.
    "Museum offers 'feather arts' exhibit." News World (New York, NY), August 3, 1980."Sally Rand's Fan Dance Was Just Science in Action." New York Times, July 13, 1980.
    Trebay, Guy. "Phyllis Rabineau: Wings over America." Village Voice, April 23-29, 1980.
    Turner, Patricia. "A visual feast of feather art." Courier-News (Bridgewater, NJ), April 26, 1980.

Terms

localDescription
temporary exhibition
localDescription
enhanced
place
New YorkExternal link
AMNH: Section 3, Floor 3

Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Gallery 3.
Location of exhibition 1980 April 18 – 1980 September 1 (1)
American Museum of Natural History. Department of Anthropology.
Related department (2, p. 12)
American Museum of Natural History. Department of Exhibition.
Related department (2, p. 49)
American Museum of Natural History. Department of Ornithology.
Related department (2, p. 37)
Chicago Historical SocietyExternal link
Loaned Sally Rand fans (4)
Field Museum of Natural HistoryExternal link
Institutional partner
Papua New Guinea: A Feather in the Cap (Exhibition)
Related exhibition (1)
Rabineau, PhyllisExternal link
Curator of exhibition from Field Museum of Natural History (1)

Related Resources

American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1979-1980: 4, 12, 29, 37, 49, 52, 54.
American Museum of Natural History photographic drawers
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [Black and white contact sheets of exhibition in preparation and on view and related performances]
American Museum of Natural History press releases, 1933-1990s.
"1980 at the American Museum of Natural History." December 28, 1979.; "Feather Arts from Around the World to Open at American Museum of Natural History." December 31, 1979.; "Calendar of Events, April 1980." February 29, 1980.; "Calendar of Events, May 1980." March 27, 1980.; "Feather Arts from Around the World on View at the American Museum of Natural History." April 21, 1980.; "Calendar of Events, June 1980." April 22, 1980.; "Feather Arts from Around the World on View at the American Museum of Natural History." May 1, 1980.; "Chicken Man, Frank Perdue, is Ad Spokesman for Museum's Feather Arts Exhibition." May 1, 1980.; "Calendar of Events, July 1980." May 29, 1980.; "Calendar of Events, August 1980." June 24, 1980.; "Feather Arts and Dr. E. Thomas Gilliard." [1980].; "Sally Rand's Fans Join Museum's 'Feather Arts' Exhibition; Performer in Broadway Musical 'Sugar Babies' to Show How to Use Them." July 15, 1980.
[American Museum of Natural History temporary exhibitions posters] [poster]
Date of resource: [1975] - [2009].
American Museum of Natural History vertical files
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [News articles, Grapevine article]
Grapevine.
"Feather Arts Exhibition Moves On; Tickled the Fancy of 288,806" (September 1980).
subjectOf
Feather arts : beauty, wealth, and spirit from five continents / Phyllis Rabineau.
Date of resource: 1979.
subjectOf
Feather Arts exhibition photographic slides, circa 1980.
Date of resource: 1980.
subjectOf
Feather Arts exhibition photographs.
Date of resource: 1980.
Thomas D. Nicholson papers, 1969-1989 (bulk 1969-1980).
Date of resource: [1969-1980].
Thomas D. Nicholson papers. American Museum of Natural History Library Special Collections.

Written by: Clare O'Dowd
Last modified: 2018 October 1


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