Ancient Goddesses in New York

 

I want to take a moment to thank all the Divine Females who have blessed us with their presence in New York. Whether they are long-term residents in monuments and museums or have visited through exhibitions and art installations, their time here is a blessing.

 

 

At this time in history, there is a greater interplay between religion, spiritual practice, and cultural traditions, in the realm of public history.

 

As I have focused on earning my M.A. in Public History, I have come to understand that public historians are faced daily with learning how to honor and respect the religion, culture, and origin of "sacred" artifacts in museums and heritage areas.

 

They are called more frequently to work with indigenous peoples and descendant communities and deal with controversies related to the demand and return of cultural heritage items taken without permission. The list of reparations and returns of spiritual and religious statues and artifacts grows daily, and both local and international organizations are involved in the protection of ancient religious items and the return to their community and culture of origin.

 

This makes the presence of the goddess in New York— today—all the more important because some of the goddesses have been sent home, and rightfully so. We must experience and appreciate ancient goddesses while we can. They have lasted for thousands of years and may last for thousands more. But our good luck of having them in this state may change over time.

 

Looking at public history through the lens of spirituality―and understanding the significance, the origins of worship, and the meaning of religious items, places, and practices―can help us understand the true meaning of many of the sacred items that end up in museums. It can help us treat them with the proper spiritual reverence. And it can make it easier to understand why some must be returned.

 

Cultures of origin have been demanding back some of the historical and ancient statues that have significant religious and spiritual meaning to them. In some cases, the statues are being transferred to or through local museums (at least temporarily), and in some cases, the statues are being returned to local temples, shrines, and communities where they can once again be worshipped. We are seeing these spiritual icons sent back to their homeland at an unprecedented rate and attempts to make amends with different cultures and descendent communities. This is partly due to new sensitivities to the importance of sacred objects to their original owners and countries. In some cases, these returns come on the heels of huge controversies and international legal actions involving authorities from more than one country.

 

It's happening all over the world. The Elgin Marbles controversy, related to the Greek government's demands to the British Museum to return friezes from the front of the Parthenon to Greece, is one of the loudest controversies. This has a direct connection to the Goddess Athena, as it was her ancient home. But it seems like every week there is a new controversy brewing or there is an article about repatriated sacred items, some returned under duress.

 

While museums in the past may have tried to keep ownership controversies quiet, it no longer appears to be an option (or a standard approach) and many are trying to get out front ahead of the negative headlines. The Met keeps a page on its website called Repatriated Objects on which they report that they "initiated returns" of sacred items to India and Nepal and other countries, based on receiving new information about how they were obtained. They have also added language to welcome people to share information if they think a statue may have been stolen or a gift to the museum may have a shadowy history: "The Museum welcomes and takes very seriously any new information about objects in the collection and is dedicated to seeking resolutions as appropriate. The decision to return a work of art follows an established process of review by curatorial departments, Counsel's Office, and the Board of Trustees."

 

Overall, museum protocol and ethics are being called into question regarding purchasing or accepting sacred objects and statues without questioning the exact method by which they were acquired. Other huge institutions such as the Getty Museum, the Smithsonian, Yale, and some of the largest established institutions as well as smaller ones, like the Rubin Museum, have all been in the news recently due to their return of sacred items and statues.

 

Some of the museums I love and frequent—and have relied upon to put this exhibit together—have been part of today's repatriation news. When I think of all the beautiful, sacred goddesses and objects they make available to us all, I am so grateful! But I understand that some precious sacred statues will—and should—go home.

 

There are many caring and concerned heritage and museum professionals trying to figure out best practices.

 

The museums no longer share photos or historical information about the goddesses once they are repatriated so I have decided not to list them or try to show them all with photos. I am only using one photo—that I took myself at the Met of Mother Goddess Matrika—because I witnessed her presence and took a photo of her because he moved me.

 

Let us always express gratitude. And let us thank each goddess and her culture of origin if she is returning home.