Artistic “Journey” ART SPRING FROM RITES OF ASMATS

One of our sponsorship MidCity National Bank, Chairman E.M.Bakwin for Asmat Trans-USA Cultural Tour ,May 1999

Stay with Paula and Steve Chiaramonte House at Salt Lake City, UTAH USA for Asmat Trans-USA Cultural Tour, May 1999

Asmat Performances at the Mid-City National Bank 801 West Madison Street
Chicago , IL 60607

Artistic “Journey”

ART SPRING FROM RITES OF ASMATS

By Kevin M. Williams / STAFF REPORTER Chicago Sun-Times (Friday, May 14,1999)

Ethnographic art and our perceptions of it are beautifully illustrative of how lines can be obscured by differing interpretation. We see tribal masks and various offerings from a foreign culture, and for all to many people. They’re these tchotckes that we see in museums and promptly forget. Like a sentence taken out of context, art as derives from ritual gains much from being seen in its environment.

Which makes “Journey to Asmat” a show appearing this weekend at the MidCity National Bank, a rare, genuine way to see this type of art. A bank might seem rather an odd place for an art exhibition, but it is in part explained by the allure of the Asmat people, and Indonesian group that has only recently emerged from the stone age.

“People has come back from trips to Asmat, quit their jobs and changed their jobs,” said Asmat curator Patty Seery, who also leads trip to Indonesia. “It so interesting to meet the people who don’t have the barriers that civilization has put up around us. It enables then to see you, and not what job you do or what you might have. That tends to bowl people over.”

The Asmat came about when MidCity Chairman E. M. Bakwin visited the village 1995 during the trip with Seery. Village elder want to adopt Seery, but felt it was rude to adopt a single person from entire party. After his adoption by the Asmat, complete with tribal garb and ritual, and seeing first hand the art and culture of the people. Bakwin wanted to begin colleting art. Seery suggested going one better , by bringing over Asmat people, in addition to their Asmat art.

Four Master Curver and Entertainer who name are Abraham DesNam, Robertus ATju, Alfons FemBes, Siprianus YumKo and Donatus PombAy, with Andre Liem who is Tour Guide in Asmat-Papua, and included Yuvent BiakAy who is the Curator of the Asmat Museum of Art and Culture in Agats-Asmat Diocese will be on hand during the exhibition to answer questions and demonstrate how this art is a part of daily lives.

A headhunting people until as recently as the ‘40s, the Asmats, like many primitive cultures, have a strong belief and spirituality. Their elaborate, carved and painted shields are a tribute to a deceased village member. By painting the person’s name on the shield, the Asmat believe that it makes that person come alive, providing added strength to the villager carrying the shield. Ceremonial Asmat Bisj poles are large, totemic carvings, done by a community when someone dies. Included this show, which will transform the lobby of the bank, is a 23-foot-long Bisj pole containing seven figures. It has undergone months of ritual use. “They also have spirit masks, like full body masks,” Seery said. “Their spirit come back to live in the village spending couple of weeks or month there. The Asmat have a holistic approach to art. Without art can not be ceremony. They say, “Art makes the invisible visible,”

“Journey to Asmat,” thought only at MidCity for a brief time, is a chance to witness ethnographic art and how it defines a group. Believers and harmony and balance, the Asmat feel that everything related, and that life is filled with spirituality.

“It’s an opportunity to meet the Asmat,” Andre Liem said. “To see how much the tradition is alive for them. They’re charismatic, not easily forgotten.

Collected by PaTGom-File-All Right Reserved

The special gift” for the One Century Anniversary of Jayapura – Port Numbay

feest hollandia 50 jaar ,1960

feest hollandia 50 jaar ,1960

The special gift”

for the One Century Anniversary of Jayapura – Port Numbay

Since the first time when the Dutch colony raised the three-color flag on march the 7^th 1910 in Numbay, which was led by Captain F.J.P. sachse, from the infantry corps, who then named the city to be Hollandia, based on its geographical site which is laid bent along the gulf. Based on its old map which is printed in 1960s, where we could see the city was developed widely that it reached Hollandian Binnen (now Abepura), so that we could see the rivers flow from Cyclop mountain to the shore along Youtefa Gulf, such as; Acai river that flows to Abenan, in Youtefa Gulf. So does the rivers in Entrop (the location of Papua Trade Center – PTC, now), which is gathered in sago and mangrove forest that covered abour 9000 hectares of that location. At that time, this sago forest was the source of food for the native people of Tobati, Injros, Kayopulo, Kayobatu, skow, Nafri, and some local people that settled along that area, such as those who came from Yapen Waropen, Biak, Mollucas, and some other regions. Just like the rivers we have mentioned above, Anafre river, Nubay river, and some other rivers are the rivers with the source of their water from Cyclop mountain, which flow to the shore of Youtefa Gulf, Imbi gulf, and Yos Sudarso Gulf. These rivers produce lots of plankton to the sea too, where it is the very good food for many kinds of fish aroud those gulfs, and this natural happenings became a special support for the local people who earn their basic living by being the fisherman. This way of life was also figured out on the ornaments of their traditional houses, and some cultural motives. To appreciate the historical and cultural value of the Tabi tribe which was the essential element of the establishment of Hollandia, the Hollandia government blessed the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of Hollandia by publishing a book entitled: Ein Gouden Jibeleum 50 Jaar Hollandia, van 7 Mart 1910 tot 7 Mart 1960.

In the beginning of 2010, exactly in one month before the celebration of one century anniversary of Jayapura, it gives a special blessing for the artist of advertisement makers to get a great blessing, it is licenced officially by the mayor of Jayapura City, who signed the letter of obligation for all people of this city decorate the city, as a sign of the commemoration of the anniversary of this city. By the spread of this city, it seems like the people started to get to know that there is a celebration of one century anniversary of Jayapura city. The lack of people’s knowledge is caused by the lack of local content education of the history and cuture of this city. Even so, the top agenda of this commemoration celebration is done together with the commemoration of the spread of gospel in to the Clan of Tabi land, which was commemorated on March 10^th 2010, as it was adjusted with the history in Metudebi – Youtefa gulf. On that commemoration, there was a great kind of appreciation and sympathy, which is done by rowing the traditional canoe from Sowek – Supiori Regency, while carrying a torch, as the symbol of light of the world. To complete this celebration, there was a christening ceremony of the gospel statue in Metudebi island, even there were no tombstone for the names of those who bring the gospel in to the island. This thing might be able to be answered by reading and understanding a book entitled “Seratus Tahun Baptisan di Metudebi” – (One Hundred Year Baptism in Metudebi), written by Rudy Mebry. To support the great willing of the local people to have their own church, so the local people tried to do their own movement on developing their own church, and it has already been christening on the right a day before the gospel day celebration, that is on March 9^th 2010. Five day after the christening ceremony of the church there were 100 hundred people were christening too, and there is a great expectation that they will continue this religious life of ours. Moreover, to make it clear, everything happened in the past has become a special note for us in form of question such as; do we as the people who live in the era of integration with the Republic of Indonesia, have a willing to keep the existence of the identity of this city? Because unconsciously, we our self who have destroyed this city. It has been proved and cannot be denied again that there has been an environmental degradation happened around this Youtefa gulf, while we know that there laid the entrance gate of the history of this city. Related to our characteristic that just came and stay without having any sense of care of this environment, while we have a lot of genius people to think and work together to make this city becomes a barometer of good environmental friendly among other cities in Papua. Is that enough for us to put a lot of letters signing welcome to the one century anniversary of Jayapura, infront of the public places? Can we start to think simply by thinking “ is that easy to throw our garbage? And if it is easy for us to throw our garbage anywhere, is that easy for us to take it back and place in the right place again? We all know tat the topography of this city makes the stream can easily flows to Youtefa gulf. The natural system of ocean stream can make the garbage thrown into the sea can easily flows back to the shore when the high tide happen. There is no data about the polluted area of this Youtefa gulf which is made by the government department of environmental analysis. Is this a kind of the way the people of Port Numbay to struggle for their live, or it might be a kind of special gift for the one century anniversary of Jayapura that is given by them???

This young mangrove tree is struggling to grow because it is laid up on the plastic garbage, and cannot stick its roots in to the mud. The coral reefs cannot take its breath anymore because its water is polluted. The shelfish are poisoned in the water life reservation area which is stated in the Government law of the Republic of Indonesia, article 26, 2008. Is this picture can just decorate your living room???

By his picture, you have already enjoyed the beauty of this place, and it can even give you money if you sell this picture, but what have you given to this place? It is more than the young coconut that you eat in skyline and throw the pipe down the valley, to ignore its beauty?

But there is still an appreciation for the creation of making a longest Papeda (sago porridge) for 380 meters long, which is cooked by a group of Papuan Young Men, to feed about 6000 people in the celebration of the One Century Anniversary Jayapura. We hope there were announcements about garbage management, but may be the stake holders have not been thinking for that. Thank you Sirs, that is the garbage that you have given to this city, such as; liquid and solid garbage. Save The Port Numbay Green. Wanyambey!

(Andre Liem,translated by John Hallatu).

Garden of War

Waa Waa… Narak Lak … Waa Waa… Laok Inak

Wilil Himan - Walilo Alua is a group of Wita clan and Waya clan within the Dani Tribe who resides around the village of Suroba and Dugum. This story is derived from the front cover.

Back in the olden days, when warfare was frequent amongst the tribes, Suroba and Dugum were a united community who fought against its enemies in Tulem or in Warabaga. During that period, they had many reliant soldiers, amongst them were: Wali, Alhorok, Segearek, Nilik, Obahorok, Siba, Asuan, Yalimo, Pukale, and many more. At night they would regularly gather in the Pilamo (House/main hut for the men) to strategize their attack and defense, also assigning jobs for the men, including : to Hanomoak, seen in the picture standing on top a watch tower "Kayou" when the sun star rising. There are a number of watchtowers which have been placed around gardens. The main watchtower has to be guarded by Hanomoak alone, because he was the one with the most talented in espionage. Perhaps there would be an enemy who infiltrated passed the bushes or the ilalang grass.... And if they were there! You will see the little "Sue" birds fly hastily while making loud noises, which were signs of the hiding enemy. Thus, the war-chief Nilik, a front line soldier who was brave and strong (seen in the picture standing on top of the Watibaga hill, while being prudent and holding his bow and arrow which he brought everywhere), prepares to give war commands towards the infiltrating enemy who were willing to disturb the ladies and mothers who were working in the gardens.

This short story will further be exposed and be told again in the short book "Suroba and Dugum, Cikal Bakal Pariwisata di Lembah Baliem”

In the end, these soldiers reached their old age and one by one left us. Living behind everlasting stories of heroism, passed down to their grand-children; making them known as “the last warriors” who always shouts "Etai" (sign of victory). But in this new millennium, the shouts of victory of Etai will no longer be for war, but for the spirit and motivation of struggle in maintaining the identity and integrity of the Dani with great pride especially in their contribution to tourism on the Baliem Valley.

To conclude this story, we would like to offer you more of us with our guesthouse. So that we can achieve our dreams that the Suroba and Dugum people will always exist to build tourism in the Baliem Valley.

SUROBA GUEST HUT

Chairman : ALES KOSSAY HP : + 6281 2139 55511

Secretary : WILIUS WILIL HP : + 6285 2442 77390