September 14, 2011
Explore carnival traditions worldwide at Burkes ‘¡Carnaval!
At top, masqueraders in fantasy-style costumes in Venice, Italy, 2001, courtesy of the Museum of International Folk Art. Below, a selection of carnival masks. From left they are a Venetian Brighella mask, a New Orleans sequined mask, a Venetian giraffe half-mask, a Basel clique mask and a Venetian Punchinella mask.Shirley and David Rowen / E.G. Schempf
¡Carnaval!, Carnival, Mardi Gras: What is the origin of these words and the rowdy festivals associated with them?
¡Carnaval!, an exhibit running from Sept. 25 to Jan. 8, 2012, at the UWs Burke Museum, explores the history, traditions, arts, and meaning of carnival celebrations around the world, providing windows into eight communities in Europe and the Americas where Carnival is a high point of the year.
The Burke will augment the music, masks, costumes and videos of the traveling display with a centerpiece installation of giant carnival puppets created in the tradition of northeastern Brazil by Seattle-area artists affiliated with Brazil Center.
From the earliest known incarnations in 12th century Rome through the present, carnival season has been a vital part of community life around the globe. In Laza, Spain, celebrants might throw dirt and ants at neighbors. On the other side of the Atlantic, in Recife, Brazil, throngs gather to play frevo (to boil) music or dance the passo (umbrella dances), which grew out of acrobatic knife dances performed by young men who used the dance to threaten other gangs. In Tlaxcala, Mexico, men dress as French dandies and perform a burlesque dance.
¡Carnaval! tells the story of these celebrations through the voices of the people who plan, create, and carry out the festivities every year. Images, video, costume pieces, and masks from their performances relate the history and culture of carnival while conveying the importance and function of community building through play.
The exhibition is a full sensory exploration with visual, audio and interactive experiences. ¡Carnaval! includes:
- Over 50 items of international folk art
- Full-sized Brazilian carnaval parade puppets created by local artists
- 30 photographs
- Hands-on interactives
- Five video features
The exhibition was organized by the Museum of International Folk Art and made possible by NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Burke Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and until 8 p.m. on first Thursdays. New admission prices are $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and $7.50 for students. Admission is free for UW students, faculty and staff as well as for Burke members and children age 4 and under. Admission is free to the public on the first Thursday of each month.
¡Carnaval! opening celebration, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1.
Noon – 4 p.m.: Mask making and carnival crafts
Female devil masqueraders in Oruro, Bolivia, 1998. Photo courtesy of the Museum of International Folk Art.Cynthia LeCount Samake
Noon: “The Carnival of Venice: Commedia dell’arte and the Birth of Opera,” with Stephen Stubs, Burke Room. At the beginning of the 17th century the Carnival of Venice was the one unmissable stop on “The Grand Tour” of anyone who was anyone for all of Europe. The liveliness of the experiences on offer there, from the street musicians and comedians to the grand pallazzi and theaters was almost overwhelming. This provided the perfect situation and a ready-made audience for the birth of a spectacular new art form: the public opera.
1:30 p.m.: “Carnival in Europe and the Americas,” a carnival travelogue with Robert Jerome, Burke Room. Robert Jerome is an award-winning, internationally published travel photographer who specializes in topics related to folklore and culture. He has photographed carnival celebrations around the world for over 25 years. Through a PowerPoint photographic presentation, he will examine the spectacle that is carnival in Europe and the Americas, focusing on the tradition’s origins, spread and current manifestations. He will also discuss the carnival experience and provide real-world advice on how best to observe or participate in carnival celebrations.
3 p.m.: “The Story of Steelband: From Trinidad Carnival to International Stages” with Shannon Dudley, UW associate professor of ethnomusicology, Burke Room. This presentation will discuss the origin of the steel drum (or steel pan) in Trinidad around 1940, and its subsequent diffusion in the Caribbean and the United States. Using images, recordings, and live musical performance, Dudley will offer a variety of explanations for the instrument’s extraordinary appeal, ranging from its roots in rebellious carnival displays to its unique musical qualities in the present day.
7 to 9 p.m.: ‘Masquerade: A Carnival Celebration
The Burke Museum is hosting an opening party in true Carnival spirit. Enjoy live musical performances highlighting Venice, Brazil, and Trinidad, make wearable and festive Carnival crafts, and pose with your creations in the photo booth. Festive attire strongly encouraged! Its free for Burke members and $25 for the general public.
To learn more about the Burke Museum and its programs, visit its website.
