Interview: Dr. Michael Mel
Jim Elmslie talks with the West Pacific Collection Manager from the Australian Museum about his life and the concept he has developed of museums being a Ples Namel– or middle …
Stories from all OAS Journal Volumes
Art of the Prince Alexander Ranges at the NGA
by Crispin Howarth The Prince Alexander Ranges in northern Papua New Guinea are home to a number of cultures. The largest group are the Abelam with a population of some …
Interview with Paula Latos-Valier
Paula Latos-Valier is the Art Director for the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and chairs the Gallery Advisory Committee for the SH Ervin Gallery. She serves as Vice President of …
A Canoe Named Ealamai’iea, or Patience ©
By John Greenshields of Adelaide, South Australia I took this photo of Joseph Ayodila at the Milne Bay Canoe and Drum Festival on Alotau, Papua New Guinea, in 2014. I …
Jens Bjerre – Danish Adventurer
by Leif Birger Holmstedt At the end of the Second World War the Danish travel ban ceased and the door had opened to the wider world. Jens Bjerre, a budding …
Vale Jim Sinclair
James (Jim) Sinclair CSM OBE D.Litt, passed away in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on 9 October 2017. Jim Sinclair was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992, an …
The Savage Club OAS Forum a Stunning Success
The OAS Forum, held at the Melbourne Savage Club on October 21st, was a fantastic success and the Victorian members of the OAS, especially Dr. Michael Martin, are to be …
Navigating for a ples namel: Between the Museum, Collections, and Communities
Saturday 11 November 2017 – OAS Lecture as part of our AGM. 10:00am registration, AGM 10:30am, 11:00am lecture in The Australian Museum. Michael A. Mel will be presenting an illustrated …
Dr Hugh Gallagher
Vale Dr Hugh Gallagher OAS is sad to announce the passing of another of its founding members who remained with us until the last, Dr Hugh Gallagher, 29.09.1929 – 12.09.2017. …
David Tribe
Vale David Tribe OAS mourns the loss of one of its founding and staunchest members, David Tribe, OAS Member number 66, who passed away in Sydney 30 May 2017 aged …
OAS Forum at the Savage Club, Melbourne
By Jim Elmslie Dr. Ross Bowden gave an overview of the Savage Club collection, noting that very little documentation exists concerning the origins of the works but that most are …
Mugus – the terrible blind god, the lord of pigs – a unique sculpture from Papua New Guinea
By Crispin Howarth, Curator, Pacific Arts, National Gallery of Australia Since the mid-1920s, this masterpiece of Oceanic sculpture with its gently twisting elongated torso, oversized hands and stout powerful legs …
Fijian Gods, The Fair and The Forum
After a very successful Tribal Art Fair Sydney, eyes, minds and tastebuds are turning eagerly toward Melbourne. This year’s OAS Forum is to be held at the iconic Savage Club, …
Fijian Gods, Sacred Objects and Temples
NEXT LECTURE Wednesday 20 September 2017 – OAS Lecture 6:30 arrival, 7:00 lecture in The Centenary Auditorium, Art Gallery of NSW. Refreshments available afterwards in the Art Gallery cafe and …
Stoned – Lithic Technology of the Ancient Polynesians
Lecture to Oceanic Art Society, Sydney, 19 July 2017. Mark Blackburn’s talk on the lithic technology of the ancient Polynesians at the Australian Museum on 19 July 2017 was educational …
Tribal Art Fair Sydney – 2017 | A great success, our best yet!
The Tribal Art Fair Sydney-2017 held this year at the Masonic Hall in Kensington was even better than last year having twice the number of visitors. Sydney kindly put on …
The Art of Warfare in Papua New Guinea
By Clémentine Débrosse, Pacific Arts volunteer, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Traditionally, warfare was one of the most important actions of a man’s life in Papua New Guinea. It was …
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor – Part VII
by Barry Craig. Continued from OAS OAS Journal Vol.22 No.3. In this issue of the OAS Journal, I provide more details of Harry’s service with the AN&MEF and a sample …
Pacific Presences: Current Research into Oceanic art and European Museums
By Dr Erna Lilje, Research Associate For some decades, museums have had to reflect upon and re-imagine what they do and for whom. Museums that hold ethnographic collections have become …
Oceanic Encounters Through Time and Space
This edition of the OAS Journal once again traverses through time and space exploring aspects of Pacific cultures, from the first contact made by Captain James Cook in Hawaii to …
STONED – Lithic Technology of the Ancient Polynesians
NEXT LECTURE Wednesday, July 19, Australian Museum, 6.30 for 7.00pm. OAS & Australian Museum members $25, others $35, includes substantial refreshments and wine. Mark Blackburn will be presenting a lecture …
Patterns in Beaded Aprons of Cenderawasih (Geelvink) Bay – Symbols of Cultural Beliefs
Patterns in Beaded Aprons of Cenderawasih (Geelvink) Bay – Symbols of Cultural Beliefs by Professor Peter McCabe, University of Adelaide Aprons of varying styles have traditionally been worn throughout New …
Between Worlds: A new musical theatre work reimagining James Cook’s encounter with the Hawai’ians
Between Worlds: A new musical theatre work reimagining James Cook’s encounter with the Hawai’ians by Nick Higginbotham James Cook’s 18th Century voyages of discovery brought home an unparalleled wealth of …
The Mariwai Project
by Shiva Lynn Burgos I have recently been on an expedition of discovery into the rites, rituals and arts of the Kwoma people of Mariwai village, Papua New Guinea. The …