'Gods of Angkor' exhibit of bronzes opens today at Getty

The height of Angkor Empire was noted for some of the most extravagant and impressive temples and monuments of its culture or any other. And while the grand expressions at places such as Angkor Wat are what we now associate with that time, there was also a thriving art culture creating much smaller but exquisite statuary in bronze.

Examples of that period will be shown beginning today in a new exhibit at the J. Paul Getty Museum."Gods of Angkor: Bronzes from the National Museum of Cambodia" is a small but important collection of 26 pieces of Hindu and Buddhist statuary that will be on display through Aug. 14.

The exhibit contains statues dating from between the seventh and 14th centuries. The collection had its debut in Washington, D.C., and for its Los Angeles presentation it has been downsized from 36 to 26 objects, ranging in size from 4 to 40 inches in height.Tonight the exhibit will be kicked off with a discussion on "The National Museum of Cambodia: Preserving Cultural Heritage," at 7 p.m. at the Harold M. Williams Auditorium at the Getty Center.

Hab Touch, director general of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in Cambodia and the former director of the National Museum of Cambodia, and Paul Jett from the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, will speak about the conservation of bronzes from the collection.In conjunction with the display during its six-month stay, a number of events are being planned.

These will include a concert titled "From Heaven's Mirror: An Evening of Classical Cambodian Music and Dance," featuring Ho Chan and Charya Cheam Burt.The March 12 event at 7:30 p.m. in the Williams Auditorium will feature classical Cambodian music and dance.

Ho Chan is a Durfee Foundation master musician fellow from Long Beach. He joins acclaimed dancer Charya Cheam Burt to create a dynamic evening of work inspired by the exhibit.Tickets for that event are $15; students/seniors $10.The exhibit will also feature a Family Festival on June 4, which will include several Long Beach performers and organizations.

In March, several buses are scheduled to leave from Mark Twain Library to visit the exhibit. Details are still being worked out."I think this will give Long Beach an opportunity to shine," said John Edmond, chief of staff for 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews. "I think L.A. will be getting a taste of what Long Beach has to offer."Andrews was also happy to have the chance to put a spotlight on Long Beach and its Cambodian community.

"We are so proud to showcase our Long Beach Cambodian residents in a venue as spectacular as the Getty Museum," Andrews said in a prepared statement. "This is a wonderful opportunity to indulge in great performances and view some of the ancient artifacts that make the Cambodian culture so rich with inspiration from belief and religion. This is a culture that has been in existence for centuries and one that plays a vital role in the Long Beach community."

Source = contracostatimes