Bowers Museum — Attraction in Santa Ana

I had a really wonderful time at the Bowers Museum. It's a lovely cultural museum in Santa Ana, probably one of the best in Orange County, but it makes a serious misstep in the Mission Indians exhibit that is really unconscionable and needs addressing. Parking is paid, despite what is said online, so be prepared for that. Restaurant looked good. A few vegetarian options. No vegan options that I saw. Gift shop was interesting for a museum gift shop. Worth checking out. Try to get a tour from the docent Diane, she's the best.

The exhibits:

My favorite was Spirits and Headhunters, which focused on cultural art out of the Pacific Islands. This was a gorgeous exhibit that was beautifully laid out, making full use of the space in such artful ways. I truly was happy and content to just exist in here for a couple of hours, and that's exactly what I did while going through, reading the inscriptions, and looking up a little more information on my phone.

This is where we start getting into the iffy for me.

As I'm losing myself in learning more about some items in one exhibit, I was kind of accosted by a docent who called me out for being there for a long time. This was a quiet day and I was one of probably three other people that were in there, so I was a little confused. She proceeded to talk at me about the history, which, sure, was welcome, but felt far more like she was trying to catch me doing something I wasn't supposed to be doing. It really took the peace out of the moment and kind of killed my enjoyment. I managed to shake her off and get back into the moment, looking up different things, when another docent again starts talking at me about the items, but in a very western-centric lens that downplayed the artistic abilities and achievements of the people represented, with a lot of emphasis on how "primitive" they were. Modern art history and anthropology views utilitarian art as just as important and vital to the continued development of a culture as aesthetic art so I was a little shocked that this outdated view is being held by the museum, especially when we were surrounded by the literal elements of the aesthetic tastes of the Polynesian cultures on display. Aside from that and the interruption, this exhibit was just so good. I still have so much good to say about it.

The Miao Silver exhibit was so good. You have to see it before it goes away. Just incredible craftsmanship.

The Chinese art exhibit was so good!! I came just for this and it didn't disappoint in any way.

The Mission Indians exhibit needs serious updating. To display it as is, unconscionable, erasing the genocide of the indigenous people of the area and calling their enslavement in the California Mission system just them "helping" to build the missions and "helping" to grow vegetables and "choosing" to stay close and "choosing" to wear Western clothing. I was shocked. I was disappointed. It was the last exhibit I saw and I'm glad it was, because I probably would have left after seeing it if it had been my first one.

Honestly, the best thing about this museum was the docent Diane, the most intelligent, qualified, and welcoming person I had spoken to that day. I met her in the Chinese art wing and she was an utter delight to chat with, providing excellent information that really rounded out my understanding and added to my curiosity. She skillfully engaged families and I watched her just get so many kids excited and into the art they were looking at. They'd ask questions and make observations and she'd just encourage it along. She moved to the California Visions wing just as I was going through it and showed me some really incredible details I never would have otherwise picked up, like pointing out a husband and wife painting team and the differences in their work. She kept my energy and my interest up in a wing that otherwise I wasn't as excited for. I wish every museum...

Generally, I love the Bowers Museum, their Hokusai exhibit was one of my favorite museum exhibits, period. However, I was left extremely disillusioned by my recent trip to their Fantasy exhibit. It's not that I had a problem with the actual items in the exhibit itself, it was awesome to see Gandalf's staff and the main costumes and props from the Dark Crystal, but my real issue is the use of AI generated images and videos for the murals. Being in the exhibit, surrounded by these intricately detailed fantasy books, journals, and costumes, it is an absolute slap in the face to be greeted with AI generated drivel around every corner. I often found myself getting lost in the rich history of the fantasy genre as I poured over the deliberately written words on each page of each book, only to look up and be completely taken out of the emotion and romance by imagery infinitely larger than these manuscripts generated by a computer towering on each wall. And its not even just the size of these murals that's the problem, but that they're interspliced with the real exhibition of works that authors and creators poured their souls into. And the museum isn't even trying to hide this seeming adoration for AI generated images and videos since the very first thing you are presented with when entering the exhibit is a video of an AI generated unicorn. It begs the question of what the point of art and museums even is if something generated in one second by a computer can be held on the same pedestal as an individual person's life work. What the point of this exhibit at all if a bunch of ones and zeroes is held in the same esteem, if not moreso purely based on size, that a deliberately crafted work of art and imagination. When I go to a museum and am presented with code attempting to replicate the soul of a person, I can't help but feel like the art in that museum is meaningless, because that is what the Fantasy exhibit at the Bowers explicitly says to its audience. I find it impossible to believe that the usage of AI generated drivel was anything more than the executives of the museum trying to save a few extra dollars. For crying out loud, this was an exhibit focused entirely on fantasy, I cannot think of a genre with more amazing imagery created for it by real people who would've loved the opportunity to see their creations on the walls of as esteemed a museum as the Bowers. If this is the standard that the Bowers Museum is going to accept moving forward, maybe it doesn't deserve to be a museum at all. My only hope is that this reaches those who have the ability to change future exhibits for the benefit of the public and the...

I spent hours at the Bowers.

Today was free admission because Target sponsors Free Admission Sundays on the first Sunday of every month. This month, New Year's was on the first Sunday, so Free Admission was pushed back a week. My main interest was checking out the Warriors, Tombs & Temples Terracotta Warriors.

The Warriors, Tombs & Temples temporary exhibit was fairly large w/many sculptures. I accidentally took a pic w/flash and alarm bells sounded. I felt like there was a jail break or prison riot. One of the staff just told everyone "No flash photography", not knowing I was the one who did it. Wheew! I still had my anonymity. I noticed that as I was browsing other sections of the Terracotta Warrior exhibit, the alarm went off quite a few more times. Thankfully, it wasn't me. There was also a large sculpture of the Medicine Buddha, which I have posted, which I really enjoyed.

I was fascinated by the Scrimshaw Whaling exhibit. The bones and teeth of sperm whales, porpoises and seals were used to make a myriad of household items and artwork. Some items included spoons/forks, clothespins, pie crimpers & salt/pepper shakers. The artwork on whale bone was simply beautiful.

The Spirit & Headhunters exhibit was interesting, too. Masks, weapons & statues were on display. I didn't notice the human teeth necklace, or if I did see it, I wasn't aware the necklace was made from human teeth. Some of the weapons were pretty bad-ass!

The Secrets of the Silk Road exhibit was my second favorite exhibit, behind the Warriors, Tombs & Temples. The skill & dexterity showcased on the intricately carved elephant tusks is truly remarkable. Seems like artistry on that level has been lost to antiquity. There were sculptures of horses & camels that were quite lifelike. There is also an exquisite chess set, too.

The permanent exhibits were nice to check out, such as Pio Pico's carriage. However, I didn't spend as much time there as I did in the featured exhibits.

Funny note-there is a guy dressed as a Terracotta warrior that takes pictures with people by the entrance & he periodically walks around the museum. As the Terracotta warrior walked toward a corner, a teenage woman was also turning the corner on the opposite side & she jumped as he walked by. Classic!

I enjoyed my time at the Bowers Museum. However, I think the cost of admission is a little too pricy. My recommendation - Check it out during Free Admission...