ARCHIPELAGO: Indigenous Art of Indonesia and Melanesia

Beyond the stone-carved temple guardians flanking the entrance to the Wichers Gallery, two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, are the centerpiece of this exhibit.  More than sixty works of art and artifacts – paintings, weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks – give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. Entirely from the museum’s own collection, the core of this exhibit was formed by museum founder Willard C. Wichers while director of the Holland MI branch of th Netherlands Information Service 1941-73. (The museum is closed on Tuesdays.)