_*ART OF THE AMERICAS—Pre-Columbian Art from Mingei’s Collection*_ is the most comprehensive presentation to date of the Museum’s significant holdings of objects used by people from the ancient cultures of Mexico, Central and South America. Objects featured in the exhibition straddle cultural boundaries—from the Olmec and Maya civilizations in Mexico to the Moche civilization in Peru—as well as numerous ancient traditions and cultures, including the indigenous Teuchitlán, Zoque, Huastec and western Mexican societies.
The works range from objects made for ritual and ceremonial use – figurines, vessels and sculptures depicting gods, shamans, animals, marine life, and floral motifs – to objects for domestic use including jars, bowls, spindle whorls, ocarinas (wind instruments), roller stamps used for decorating cloth and adornments such as beads and ear plugs. A rare collection of Maya textile fragments and ancient beads will also be presented.
_*ART OF THE AMERICAS*_ is part of *PACIFIC STANDARD TIME: LA/LA*, a far-reaching and ambitious exploration of Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles, taking place from September 2017 through January 2018 at more than 70 cultural institutions across Southern California. Pacific Standard Time is an initiative of the Getty. The presenting sponsor is Bank of America.
_*ART OF THE AMERICAS*_ is one of the few exhibitions of ancient Latin American art among the 70 participating institutions. Six _Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA_ exhibitions are in San Diego, including the San Diego Museum of Art and Museum of Photographic Arts – for more information on these other regional participants, visit pstlalasandiego.org.