The indigenous peoples of the world’s largest river basin have long been under threat from outsiders, yet their ancient cultures persist even as populations dwindle. Traditional Amazon communities mark personal milestones, harvests and healings with ceremonies involving shamanistic ritual and costumes rich in symbolism. This summer, visitors to the Cantor Arts Center can see 150 art objects from the region in one of the museum’s most unusual exhibitions, Vanishing Worlds: Art and Ritual in Amazonia.
The masks, headdresses, tunics and ornaments on display are striking for their brilliant colors and cleverly fashioned materials. All the spectacular hues of Amazonian birds show up in feathered headgear, and several tunics are adorned with the heads of toucans. Belts and ornaments for arms, legs, necks, shoulders and lips utilize—besides feathers—an array of seeds, fibers, gourds, shells, even peccary hoof casings. A standout pair of earrings, probably 10 inches long, is crafted from iridescent green beetle-wing casings. Other items in the display include spears, pottery vessels, cloth skirts and full-body costumes.
Wall legends—enhanced with photographs and maps—describe the beliefs and practices of groups stretching across a region as big as the continental United States. The exhibit comes from the Houston Museum of Natural Science and will be at Cantor through August 21; guided tours are available Thursdays at 12:15 and weekends at 2.
