Art of the Americas Galleries

I liked the Arts of the Americas exhibit of older and new indigenous work. The extractive colonialism moved me; I didn’t take any pictures. It felt disrespectful. I don’t know how well the museum addressed this.

The Teotihuacan mural pieces from the elite’s compound were cool, but they had been brutally hammered out of the wall. They were literal fragments. Dated to the 3rd-8th century, I guess, found in situ centuries later by some European or a looter seeking sellable wares. Like a rich person said “I want” and pointed and it was taken. No regard for the surrounding stuff.

I have no idea if that’s how it happened. The museum didn’t have any provenance written there that I saw. No story of how these beautiful things got here and when, or if, respect re-entered the story. They were in a somber room, darkened and set off; the museum manipulating the viewers emotions, or legit care, I don’t know.

jg