ART ON VIEW
FIG. 17 (below):
Bowl with abstraction of an
exploded Datura seedpod.
Mimbres, New Mexico. AD
850–1150.
Terracotta. D: 2i cm.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art,
gift of Ann Ziff, inv. 2017.43.8.
Photo © 2018 Museum Associates/
LACMA.
92
FIG. 19 (left):
A closeup view of the
pattern found on the wing
of the hawkmoth.
Photo: Damon Cirulli.
overall structure of an outer band surrounding
a round white interior is consistent with the entoptic
effects of datura. Additional embellishments,
whether fi gurative, fl oral, or geometric,
likely represent individualized
experiences. The fact that the heads
of individuals in Mimbres burials are
sometimes covered with an inverted
bowl—effectively recreating the
vision from that individual’s perspective—
supports the idea that
these are otherworldly visions.
Berlant and Maurer further hold
that the utilitarian use of these
bowls supported a communal interpretation
of these visions, preparing
some individuals for what
they may expect during vision
journeys and reminding others of
what they themselves had encountered.
Decoding Mimbres Painting is
installed in the Resnick Pavilion at
LACMA, a prominent location for
this beautiful show. The clean white
space highlights the striking designs of the
bowls, which are counterpointed with photographs
of relevant fl ora and fauna (fi gs. 20
and 21). The quality of the material presented
here and the signifi cant contribution that Berlant
and Maurer have made to interpretation make
this show a landmark transformation.
The show is accompanied by a fully illustrated
catalog authored by Berlant and Maurer. Additional
contributions to the catalog and exhibition
were made by LACMA curators Julia Burtenshaw
and Nancy Thomas. Recognizing Berlant
and Maurer’s unique contribution, LACMA director
Michael Govan notes in his foreword to
the catalog, “It is our privilege to add their inter-
FIG. 18 (below):
Bowl with trance state
portal and zigzag pattern.
Mimbres, New Mexico.
AD 850–1150.
Ceramic. D: 29.9 cm.
Private collection.
Photo © 2018 Museum Associates/
LACMA.