Curator of Collections Paul R. Davis discusses the large painted cloth screen or thliitsapilthim on view in the Menil Collection’s foyer. Among the Nuu-chaa-nulth peoples, whose traditional lands are on the west coast of southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, a thliitsapilthim is the painted cloth screen used for potlatches, ceremonies, and feasts. Along with the dances, singing, and other objects, a thliitsapilthim creates the sacred space for events during which individuals, families, and communities assert their ancestral rights, celebrate important life events, and exchange cultural heritages.
About the series:
Curator Talks take place on select Sundays at 3 p.m. Menil curators speak on a single work of art or small group of works currently on display in the museum. These informal, 30-minute-long discussions offer the opportunity to learn more about and engage with artworks in intimate gallery settings.