OCTOBER 2008

THE PRIMAL NATURE OF TRIBAL ART

Herbst International Exhibition Hall, Presidio of San Francisco

Tribal art has the power to affect viewers in mystical ways. Masks, weapons, shields, jewelry, and sculptures carved and painted by distinctive cultures throughout the world retain the hopes and dreams of the visionary individuals who created them.

The Primal Arts exhibit at Fort Mason Center’s Herbst International Exhibition Hall (HIEH) in the Presidio of San Francisco offers viewers a glimpse into another world through the carvings, textiles, ceramics, and aboriginal paintings of many global cultures.
The San Francisco Bay Area supports a solid community of tribal arts importers and enthusiasts. From the Bay Area, these tribal arts experts migrate throughout the world to discover new cultural treasures, which they bring back to add to collections and gallery exhibits.

Among the cultures represented at the Primal Arts show are African, Oceanic, Asian, pre-Columbian, Australian Aboriginal, and North American Indian. The great beauty and diversity of artifacts from these cultures are legendary among the tribal arts community.

Statues and other artful objects authentically used for ceremony, ritual, and battle dazzle the eyes of art collectors, art aficionados, and those fascinated by the world’s ancient cultures and arts. The fifth annual tribal art show, fair, and sale features 14 local but internationally renowned specialist dealers exhibiting fine and authentic ethnic art from Africa, Oceania, tribal Asia, and the Americas, including Pre-Columbian art.

The Gala Preview on Friday, October 10 benefits the de Young Museum, which is a respected repository for tribal art collections and exhibits. The show continues on Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, with stimulating exhibits and gallery displays. For more information see October 10 in the calendar and visit www.sftribal.com.

— Claudia Willen


Images: Primal Arts exhibition Courtesy of Robert Brundage (top and two middle images)
The Primal Arts: Tribal Mask, Nepal, Courtesy Robert Brundage (bottom)