PAA In Memoriam

Mick Pendergrast, 1932-2010

sbailey — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:17:13 -0500

Maori weaving expert Mick (Michael John) Pendergrast died on June 27, 2010 after a long illness in his 78th year. Loved and respected uncle, best friend and mentor of Andrew and Clare ("Clarabell"). Devoted master and companion of Jack.

Pendergrast’s book Maori basketry for beginners, now known as Te Mahi Kete, was first published in 1975. He has since published numerous other books on Maori and Pacific fibre arts.

A funeral service was held Saturday, July 3, 2010 at the Manukau Memorial Gardens in South Auckland.

For a list of publications by Mr. Pendergrast, please click here. read more »

Nicolai Michoutouchkine (1929-2010)

sbailey — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:48:08 -0500

Nicolai Michoutouchkine
Born Belfort, Russia 05/10/29
Died Port Vila, Vanuatu 02/05/10

Nicolai Michoutouckine an artist of international repute, a collector and promoter of Pacific arts for many decades passed away 2nd of May 2010. Michoutouchkine was a gregarious and generous person who dedicated much of his waking moments appreciating, collecting and creating art, during his journey he made friends easily and encouraged many across the world to appreciate the arts of the Pacific, both contemporary and traditional. read more »

OAS President David Baker

sbailey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:18:42 -0600

The Passing of OAS President David Baker

OAS Members were saddened by the sudden death of our President, David Baker, who died in his home in Sydney on November 9th, 2009, shortly after returning from a trip to Vanuatu.
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Epeli Hau'ofa (1939-2009)

mcadora — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:13:13 -0500

Epeli Hau'ofa, one of the Pacific's most influential leaders in the academic and creative arena, passed away in Suva, Fiji, on 11 January 2009, after a long illness. Professor, mentor, poet, comic writer, scholar, storyteller, and friend to many people in the Pacific region and the Pacific studies international community of scholars and students, Hau'ofa's memory lives on, particularly in his tragicomic sketches of Pacific Islands life in Tales of the Tikongs and his brilliant satire of a Pacific Islands community wrestling with the absurdities of traditional and modern life in Kisses in the Nederends. In the academic world of area studies, Epeli's hugely influential essay "Our Sea of Islands" has single-handedly changed the course of Pacific studies. read more »

Philip J.C. Dark (1918-2008)

sbailey — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:08:36 -0600

Leading Authority on Tribal Arts, Philip John Crosskey Dark (1918-2008), professor emeritus of Anthropology at Southern Illinois University, a leading authority on tribal arts, particularly of Benin and the Pacific, as well as a pivotal figure of the PAA, passed away on April 4th in Cornwall.
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Jordan Wright (1958-2008)

sbailey — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:00:00 -0600

It is with great sadness that we inform our members of the untimely and sudden death of Jordan Wright, publisher of the Pacific Arts Association Journal. Beginning in 2006, Jordan revived our publication and with his staff helped us produce seven issues. His enthusiasm and commitment to the Pacific Arts Association was intertwined with his love for the arts and cultures of Oceania. We deeply mourn his passing and send our condolences to his family.

Wright was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 26, 1958. Son of artist Faith-dorian and Martin Wright, important collectors of tribal arts, he became an energetic art collector himself. His passion for Oceanic art was reflected in his trip to New Guinea to take photographs that were then exhibited in several museums. read more »