Sam Noble Museum exhibit explores diversity of Papua New Guinea 

A new exhibit at the Sam Noble Museum will explore the diverse cultures of Papua New Guinea. Warrior Spirits: Indigenous Arts From Papua New Guinea opens Feb. 4 at the Sam Noble Museum in Norman, and runs through May 13

Warrior Spirits: Indigenous Arts From Papua New Guinea features nearly 100 objects from the permanent collections of the Sam Noble Museum and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. The objects were created and used by the indigenous peoples of present-day Papua New Guinea and West Papua, Indonesia. 
Daggers carved from the bones of cassowary birds – a large flightless bird native to New Guinea and prized for its aggressive territorial nature—are displayed along with carved shields, war-clubs, spears and bows and arrows. 

The exhibit showcases a variety of cultural objects, including masks, drums and ceremonial garments, many of which were collected during surveys in the 1970s assessing petroleum and mineral resources. U.S. soldiers also contributed items collected while Allied Forces manned listening stations in New Guinea during World War II. 
The island of New Guinea is one of the most diverse places in the world, with over 850 distinct languages spoken and hundreds of cultural groups. The people of Papua New Guinea are mostly descendants of Melanesians, closely related to the islanders of Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. 

Warrior Spirits: Indigenous Arts From Papua New Guinea reflects the diversity of the region, highlighting such ceremonial traditions as the dramatic fire dances practiced in the Highlands of West Papua and the ritualized veneration of ancestors among the Sepik River groups of New Guinea. Augmented with maps, graphics, and audio and video elements, this exhibit allows visitors a glimpse into the fascinating world of New Guinea.

The Sam Noble Museum is located on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus at Timberdell Road and Chautauqua Avenue. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and up, and $3 for youth ages 6 to 17. Children ages 5 and under are free. Discounts are available for military personnel and their immediate families. There is no additional admission fee to see Warrior Spirits.  

For more information about the museum, call (405) 325-4712, or visit the museum’s website at www.snomnh.ou.edu.