Welcome Day: New Offerings at NHM!

NHM Welcome Day: A celebration of new offerings in conjunction with the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PIEAM)

There is always something new to discover at NHM! In collaboration with PIEAM, join us as we celebrate the work of artists Maria “Lia” Terlaje Barcinas and JP / Jason Pereira. Together these artists-in-residence are combining traditional weaving and contemporary fiber art techniques to create a one-of-a-kind woven mat from natural materials. Chat with the artists and watch them weave before your eyes, explore rarely-seen items from the Museum’s collection, enjoy hands-on activities, and more!

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Ongoing Programs from 11 am–3 pm:

Welcome Tables: Great location for all Welcome Day info!
Artists Open Studio: Chat with the artists and watch them weave a one-of-a-kind woven mat before your eyes.
Anthropology Collection: View rarely-seen Pacific Island cultural objects from the Museum’s collection.
Horticulture Table: Learn about plant materials used to make natural fibers for weaving and other treasures of the soil.
Woven Paper Hearts Activity: Craft your very own paper heart by using the art of weaving – just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Timed Programs:

11:30 am & 1:30 pm | Scavenger Hunts: Join a Museum Educator for a scavenger hunt on the art of weaving.
1:00 pm | Meet the Artists!: Learn about the exciting work of artists Maria “Lia” Terlaje Barcinas and JP / Jason Pereira! They’ll be in conversation with a Museum Educator and taking questions from the audience too!

MEET OUR ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE

Maria “Lia” Terlaje Barcinas is a Indigenous Chamorro fiber artist. Her art seeks to celebrate the legacy of the Chamorro people who utilized the environment for both sustainability and art. Maria is most known for her skills in coconut leaf weaving and pugua fiber jewelry. She was first introduced to the art of weaving from her Great Grandmother Rita T. Barcinas and Grandmother Dolores R. Barcinas in the village of Malesso’. At the age of five, Maria began taking formal weaving lessons from Nina Martha Tenorio, a lifelong weaver from the village of Talofofo. In 2011, Maria was selected to apprentice under the instruction of Master Weaver Phillip Sablan where she specialized in weaving contemporary sculptures that speak to the issues of environment, cultural traditions, and Chamorro identity. Maria was a member of the Guam delegation for the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture in the Solomon Islands. The following festival, Maria was a delegate for both weaving and visual arts in the 2012 Festival of Pacific Arts held in Guam. Maria’s work has been showcased in the Hawaiian Islands, Solomon Islands, and the Mariana Islands.

In addition to weaving, Maria's experience in Chamorro arts include a wide range of disciplines. Throughout her high school years, she was a student and participant in the community dance troupe of Inetnon Gef Pa’go under the direction of Master of Chamorro Dance Vince Reyes and the George Washington High School Chamorro dance troupe under the instruction of Master Eileen Meno. In 2010, she became an apprentice of Surahan Maria Fuijihara, on the island of Luta. In 2010-2011, Maria was an intern with TASI (Traditions About Seafaring Islands) one of Guam’s first traditional navigation organizations. In 2015, Maria participated in Inetnon Gef Pa’go’s European tour, utilizing her skills in fiber arts and body ornamentation for the creation of the dancers uniforms, as well as fulfilling the role of logistics coordinator during the tour.

JP / Jason Pereira is a visual artist of Samoan descent (with a lil’ Portuguese!). Born and raised in Southern California where he resides with his wife and son. JP has been an artist his entire life. As a kid he found inspiration in his father’s architectural work, and discovered his love for island culture during formative years he spent in American Samoa, attending cultural art workshops at the museum. As a teen and into adulthood, Jason’s creative interests gravitated towards graffiti art, yet he always carried the artistry of his Pacific Island culture with him. Jason sought his education in Graphic Design and Murals, which led him to create his own graphic art apparel line JP South Pacific. Throughout that time to today, he has served the Pacific Islander communities as a resource in creating logos, t-shirt art, event branding, book cover design for the various non-profit, small business, and educational organizations. Currently JP is the Artist-In-Residence at PIEAM (Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum) in downtown Long Beach. There he participates as an artist in ongoing exhibits, hosts art workshops and student talks, as well as works on his own creative projects, murals, graphic art and commissioned works.

It’s important to Jason to tell a story through his artwork. There's always a story in what his pieces are about, what the creation process was, or even whatever drama or craziness that it took to get it done! Telling a story is innate to his culture as well as being essential to making a human connection with others. Because of JP's influences from his Pacific Island, graffiti art and graphic design cultures, you'll often find his style to be multi-layered, telling multi-stories, using multi-materials to make the works he creates.