International art arrived at the Museum of Art Monday for the upcoming Christmas season: A display of woodcarvings by contemporary Polish folk artists represents events from the Bible focusing on Christ’s birth.

The display comes from a larger collection owned by BYU German and Slavic languages professor, Walter Whipple.

Whipple said he started collecting the woodcarvings in 1991 while serving as the president of the Poland Warsaw Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since then, so many woodcarvings have trickled into his collection he cannot keep count.

Approached by the museum to do the exhibit, Whipple said he is happy to participate in the Christmas display.

“I am thrilled with that opportunity,” he said. “Otherwise they remain at home or in my office. This way we get to share them and that’s what it’s all about.”

In true Christmas spirit, the woodcarvings all have to do with some aspect of the Christmas story.

Marketing and communications manager of the MOA, Chris Wilson, said the collection starts with the annunciation, the angel appearing to Mary, and goes all the way through the early years of Christ’s life. Some of the last pieces are Joseph teaching Jesus some of the carpenter’s trade.

“It’s not too often that you get the chance to have a display that is themed to Christmas,” Wilson said. “It is almost a different look at Christmas as well. All the artists are from Poland and they look at Christmas different and interpret the scriptures differently then we do.”

According to the Polish American Center’s Web Site, Polish folk art has thrived for centuries. Their folk art not only includes such standard art as painting, sculpture and woodcarving, but also decorative art: paper cutouts, decorations made of straw, painted Easter eggs, wedding and birthday cakes.

Wilson said it is a unique display because contrast can be seen in the different styles of the folk artists and their interpretations of the Bible story.

“It’s a way to see Christmas through someone else’s eyes,” Wilson said. “Looking at the different styles of the artists, each artist has their own take on the different events and some of the pieces are really reverent and more spiritual and other pieces are more fun and quirky in a way.”

Each display box will accompany a scripture and focus on one theme.

Whipple said the woodcarvings are colorful, wonderful and interesting. He said he is confident the display will be well received.

“I am hoping students will be filled with the spirit of Christmas and the reality of Christ’s birth and the reality of Christ’s atonement,” he said.

Wilson said the exhibit was put up early enough so students could have a chance to see the woodcarvings before leaving for Christmas break. The folk art was also displayed to accompany the Christmas party open to the public and museum members in December.

The woodcarving exhibit is located in the main gallery of the MOA by the south exit and will run through January 6.



Copyright Brigham Young University 23 Nov 2004