Issue date: 5/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jessica Larkin Beaded gloves like this pair, which date back to the 1800s, were just some of the artifacts on exhibit at the museum. [Click to enlarge]

Silver jewelry, hand-woven rugs, beaded baskets, a drum and an acrylic on canvas painting are just a few of the items on display at the Sacramento State anthropology museum.

The presentation is called The Art of Collecting: Native American Market in the 1970s. The theme is the transition of the objects from being considered as artifacts and tourist art to being fine art.

Jena Peterson, a graduate student with a special major in museum and Native American Studies, curated the exhibition. Because Sac State's museum is small, she had to do everything.

However, Peterson has experience in curating. In fall 2005, she curated the show, Native American Art: Changing Traditions at the Witt Gallery, on campus. In addition, Peterson co-curated an exhibition with Pat Chirapravati called the Cycle of Life: Wisdom last fall in the Library Annex Gallery.

"I handled all the aspects of planning this exhibition such as developing the interpretive theme, filling out insurance forms and applying for several grants," Peterson said.

Curating the show involved researching the pieces, the artists and the collector, as well as cataloging and displaying the collection. This project is in lieu of a thesis and is part of the graduation requirement for a master's degree, said Terri Castaneda, associate professor of anthropology and the museum director.

The private collection belongs to Jim and Kitten Sornberger and is on loan.

The Sornberger's interest in the art began in the 1970s when Jim Sornberger went to a gun and knife show. He enjoyed seeing the silver and turquoise Native American jewelry. Through do-it-yourself books, Sornberger learned how to create his own style of jewelry.

The couple obtained their collection by selling his jewelry, as well as buying or trading objects, at Old West shows and similar events. Some of the jewelry dates as far back as the early 19th century, while other pieces are more contemporary.

Misha Parker, a visitor from the Sacramento area, was looking for the campus library and wandered into the gallery.

"I thought it was fascinating and was complete. (It has) all the facets of Native American art and (is) done with integrity," Parker said. "I like the silver and bone ring with the etching of a feather and the beaded, small baskets."

Parker said she's interested in Native American items because she's traveled extensively throughout the Southwest. She formerly lived in San Francisco and frequently visited the anthropology section of the DeYoung Museum, too.

The exhibition began April 22 and will continue until May 16. Gallery hours are noon to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. The anthropology museum is in Mendocino Hall room 1000.

Judith Hughes Day, Michele Hamilton-Taylor, the Sac State Asian Art Club and a Student Academic Development grant sponsored the exhibit. They either gave actual funding or in-kind donations.

The next exhibit at the museum, titled "The Order of Primates," will be coming this fall. For more information, visit www.csus.edu/anth/museum.

Leonard Low can be reached at llow@statehornet.com.

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