The Maya

The Maya

Photographs by William M. Frej July 1-August 31, 2016 Opening Reception Friday, July 1, 5-7pm

William Frej has been photographing indigenous people for over 40 years, while living in Indonesia, Poland, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Mexico, as well as other remote mountainous regions of Asia, documenting the changing lifestyles and architecture of many of the world’s unique cultures. In 2014, his one-person photographic exhibition Enduring Cultures was featured at Galeria La Eskalera in Merida, Mexico as part of a citywide arts festival. It included recent black and white and color photography from Afghanistan, Upper Mustang, Nepal, and San Augustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico. During 2015-2016, his photography was featured in the exhibition which opened June 2015 at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, entitled Tradicion, Devocion Y Vida: 80 years of Black and White Photography in New Mexico and Mexico. His photography of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) in Oaxaca, Mexico was exhibited OctoberDecember 2015 in a one-person show at Peters Projects Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Recent black and white photographs are now featured in a new, major exhibition entitled Chimayo: A Pilgrimage Through Two Centuries at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Mr. Frej’s photographs were also featured in one-person exhibitions, The Nomads of Kyrgyzstan, in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2008 and Himalayan Pilgrimage, at the Museum of Asia and the Pacific in Warsaw, Poland in 1998. His photographic work, Taninbar to Tibet, was featured in a one-person show at the Duta Fine Arts Museum and Gallery in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1991. Mr. Frej’s other exhibitions include the Tucson Art Center in 1972, The Eye Gallery in San Francisco in 1977, and the San Francisco Arts Festival in 1976 and 1977. His photographs of Peru received purchase awards from the San Francisco Arts Commission and the San Francisco Arts Festival in the 1970s.

His photographs of the Himalaya, India and Africa were featured in the Edwin Bernbaum book, Sacred Mountains of the World, and his photographs of India’s Tilwara camel fair were highlighted in Adventure Travel Magazine. Mr. Frej’s photographic work is represented in numerous public and private collections throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia. www.williamfrejphotography.com

The remains of Maya civilization have certainly assured it a special place in history. The ancient Maya civilization flourished within the region known as Mesoamerica, occupying areas of Mexico, including the Yucatan Peninsula, Tabasco, and Chiapas and present-day Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras. The geography and climate of the region where the ancient Maya inhabited include mountains or cooler highlands, and the hot and humid lowlands covered with tropical rainforests rich in flora and fauna. Maya civilization in ancient, colonial and modern time periods has always demonstrated a marked contrast between lowland and highland dwellers. This difference can be perceived in all elements of daily life, represented through art and crafts. Sadly, works using more fragile media from Maya daily life, like textiles, baskets or feathers, have largely been lost due to the high humidity of the region. Fortunately, samples of architecture, sculpture and ceramic work have survived giving us a great insight into Maya life.

Maya history can be divided into three key phases. It first emerged throughout Mesoamerica beginning in 1500 BCE during what’s known as the Preclassic period. This period is furthermore divided into Early Preclassic, Middle Preclassic, and Late Preclassic. The years during which Maya civilization truly flourished reaching its pinnacle, 200-900 CE, is known as the Classic period, which consists of two subdivisions: the Early Classic period, 200-600 CE, and the Late Classic period, from 600-900 CE. The Postclassic period starts during the collapse of Maya civilization and finally ends with the conquest of the Maya region by the Spanish around 1541.

A key cultural influence on Maya civilization were the Olmecs, widely considered the mother culture of Mesoamerica. While Maya civilization represents a summit of achievement in the arts and sciences, much of their accomplishment had as a foundation the breadth of knowledge of the Olmecs, including fields such as mathematics, astronomy, architecture and the fine arts. In fact, the Olmec influence is so strong, that many cultural practices that appear in other pre-Columbian cultures, like the Aztecs or the Maya, such as the ball court, originated with them. After the Maya Classic period collapse, the remains of the culture assimilated with the Toltecs, invaders from the highlands of Mexico. The Maya-Toltec culture flourished in some locations until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century.

Kabah, Yucatan, Mexico, 2016 30 x 45 inches

Kabah Sur, Yucatan, Mexico, 2016 30 x 45 inches

Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 2016 30 x 45 inches

Labna, Yucatan, Mexico, 2015 30 x 45 inches

Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico, 2015 30 x 45 inches

Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico, 2015 30 x 45 inches

Edzna, Campeche, Mexico, 2016 30 x 45 inches

Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico, 2016 30 x 45 inches

Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, 2013 30 x 45 inches

Yaxchilan, Chiapas, Mexico, 2015 30 x 45 inches

Pixoy, Campeche, Mexico, 2016 30 x 45 inches

Sabacche, Yucatan, Mexico, 2014 30 x 45 inches

Each photograph in this exhibition is printed in an edition of six.

Prints that are 20 x 30 inches and 30 x 45 inches are archival chromogenic silver halide prints printed on Fuji Crystal Archive paper with archival UV coating.

Prints that are 13.75 x 20.75 inches are archival ink jet prints printed on Epson Exhibition Fiber Paper with museum grade 8-ply mats and Tru Vue Conservation Clear Glass.

When we think of explorers of the Maya region, most will think of Teobert Maler (1842-1917), the German indefatigable explorer who visited Mesoamerica in the late 19th century. Mr. Maler’s memoirs, sketches and photographs of Maya antiquities and lost cities provide us with invaluable documentation that continues to be priceless today. Mr. Maler first travelled to Mexico after studying architecture in 1865 to serve militarily under Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg, who at the time ruled Mexico. During his time in service, Maler traveled throughout Mexico learning about various indigenous groups, even learning dialects like Zapotec and Totonac. After a short stay in Europe, Maler returned to Mexico and successfully explored sites in Yucatan, discovering sites like Uxmal and Chichén Itzá. With support from the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology, he ventured to other areas of Yucatan. We are fortunate to have his exploration journals and images, since many sites he explored have not survived the test of time, or, more tragically, have not been protected. Some sites, however, have survived untouched, as we can see in this exhibit, though nature has continued to make its presence known at the various monumental sites.

Balche, Yucatan, Mexico, 2015 20 x 30 inches

Chicanna, Campeche, Mexico, 2016 20 x 30 inches

Chuncatzim, Yucatan, Mexico, 2014 20 x 30 inches

Hochob, Campeche, Mexico, 2016 20 x 30 inches

Labna, Yucatan, Mexico, 2015 20 x 30 inches

Labna, Yucatan, Mexico, 2015 20 x 30 inches

Kabah, Yucatan, Mexico, 2014 20 x 30 inches

Santa Rosa Xtompak, Campeche, Mexico, 2015 20 x 30 inches

Sayil, Yucatan, Mexico, 2016 20 x 30 inches

Tonina, Chiapas, Mexico, 2016 20 x 30 inches

Edzna, Campeche, Mexico, 2015 20 x 30 inches

Xkichmook, Yucatan, Mexico, 2014 20 x 30 inches

Each photograph in this exhibition is printed in an edition of six.

Prints that are 20 x 30 inches and 30 x 45 inches are archival chromogenic silver halide prints printed on Fuji Crystal Archive paper with archival UV coating.

Prints that are 13.75 x 20.75 inches are archival ink jet prints printed on Epson Exhibition Fiber Paper with museum grade 8-ply mats and Tru Vue Conservation Clear Glass.

The Maya during the Classic period achieved an advanced level of written expression depicted in stone, ceramics and even books. Four Maya book fragments survive today. The Dresden Codex, the Madrid Codex, the Paris Codex and the Grolier Codex contain detailed records on astronomy and the Maya calendar. Writing has mostly survived through sculpture on monumental walls, stelĂŚ and ceramics alongside images depicting rituals, deities, great warriors and ball games. It is worth to note that the height of writing most likely occurred during the Maya Classic period. During the past few decades scholars and epigraphers alike have continued to decipher the surviving glyphic repertoire of Maya civilization, giving us a glimpse into life and society of these ancient people. In some instances, scholars have been able to identify through images and their accompanying glyphs the faces of kings as well as their lives, names, accomplishments in battle and lineages.

The remains of ancient Maya cities, including palaces and ceremonial sites, show not only aesthetic but also architectural greatness.

Similar to the Olmec building techniques, artificial platforms that served as foundations for large architectural structures contained as much as 2.2 billion pounds of material. These gargantuan amounts of soil had to be transported by workers. Seasonal laborers would help in the building effort when farming was not possible. Large building structures could take decades to complete. Thanks to the ubiquitous presence of limestone in the region, it was possible to create lime mortar, thanks to which so many building structures throughout the region have survived. Aside from the architectural feat, palaces like Palenque played a key role, serving not only as the setting of courtly life but also as administrative centers affecting much of Maya daily life. Palaces were sites of official functions and rituals, where rulers sat on their thrones during audiences, and where the royal nuclear family resided. Palace complexes included large interior galleries and small plazas within their confines. These complexes oftentimes included funerary structures and ball courts, as well as living spaces both within the palaces and in neighboring areas, where in all likelihood the extended family members of the royal family lived. Unfortunately, more fragile materials and items used daily in palaces and family dwellings, like textiles, pillows, feathers, and baskets, have long been lost. However, we know of these items through scenes recorded on murals, as well as sculpted palace walls, stelae and ceramics alongside glyphs providing descriptions.

Becan, Campeche, Mexico, 2016 13.75 x 20.75 inches, ed 6

Huntichmul, Yucatan, Mexico, 2015 13.75 x 20.75 inches, ed 6

Sayil Sur, Yucatan, Mexico, 2016 13.75 x 20.75 inches, ed 6

Sacbe, Yucatan, Mexico, 2016 13.75 x 20.75 inches, ed 6

Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico, 2016 13.75 x 20.75 inches, ed 6

Tantah, Campeche, Mexico, 2016 13.75 x 20.75 inches, ed 6

Xkankabil, Campeche, Mexico, 2015 13.75 x 20.75 inches, ed 6

Xkankabil, Campeche, Mexico, 2015 13.75 x 20.75 inches, ed 6

Mesoamerica Maya Culture Head of a Dignitary 600-900 CE Stucco 17 x 11 x 9 inches Provenance: Andre Emmerich, New York, NY Gallery 1970s Ex collection of Janos Szekeres, CT Ex collection of Roland de Montaigu, Paris, France

Mesoamerica Maya Culture Cylinder Vessel 600-900 CE Earthenware with colored slips 9.75 x 6.25 x 6.25 inches Provenance: Collection of Joseph Paul and Billie Schaumberg, Santa Fe, NM

Mesoamerica Maya Culture Hunter’s Plate 550-950 CE Terra cotta with polychrome 14.75 x 14.75 x 2.75 inches Provenance: Private collection, New York, NY

Mesoamerica Maya Culture Cylinder Vessel 600-900 CE Earthenware with colored slips 8.75 x 6 x 6 inches Provenance: Collection of Joseph Paul and Billie Schaumberg, Santa Fe, NM

Guatemala Maya Culture Head of a Dignitary 550-950 CE Basalt 11 x 7 x 6 inches Collection of Monika and Erich Neusbauer, California, 1975 Collection of Mrs. Hannah Petersen, California, 2001 Collection of Miguelangelo Giron Juarez, California, 2015

Ulua Valley, Honduras Maya Culture Cylinder Vessel 600-900 CE Earthenware with colored slips 8.75 x 10 x 10 inches Provenance: Collection of Joseph Paul and Billie Schaumberg, Santa Fe, NM

Mesoamerica Maya Culture Camazotz (Bat Deity) 900-1520 CE Stone 7.75 x 7 x 14 inches Provenance: Collection of Milton Birnbaum, M.D., 1968 Collection of Professor Peter Arnovick

Ulua Valley, Honduras Maya Culture Cylinder Vessel 600-900 CE Earthenware with colored slips 7.75 x 7.25 x 7.25 inches Provenance: Collection of Joseph Paul and Billie Schaumberg, Santa Fe, NM

Mesoamerica Hacha 500-800 CE Stone 12 x 9.5 x 1.5 inches Provenance: Collection of Charles Warren, Florida, acquired c.1968 Collection of Fernando Lopez, Miami, FL, c.2007

PetĂŠn, Guatemala Maya Culture Cylinder Vessel 600-900 CE Earthenware with colored slips 8.75 x 6 x 6 inches Provenance: Collection of Joseph Paul and Billie Schaumberg, Santa Fe, NM

Mesoamerica Transformational Hacha 600-900 CE Stone 7.5 x 9.5 x 2 inches Provenance: Collection of Charles Warren, Florida, acquired c.1968 Collection of Fernando Lopez, Miami, FL, c.2007

El Salvador / Guatemala Maya Culture Cylinder Vessel 600-900 CE Earthenware with colored slips 9.25 x 7 x 7 inches Provenance: Collection of Joseph Paul and Billie Schaumberg, Santa Fe, NM