This weekend at LACMA, take a journey through the rich history of Fiji with the exhibition Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific, opening on Sunday, December 15 with Member Previews through Saturday. Among the many awe-inspiring objects you will see in the exhibition is a 26’ double-hulled sailing canoe (drua) constructed in Fiji using traditional materials and techniques. The drua will appear alongside figurative sculptures, ritual kava bowls, breastplates of pearl shell and whale ivory, large-scale barkcloths, small portable temples, weapons, and European watercolors and paintings. Historic photographs from LACMA’s Blackburn collection will also be featured to further highlight the art of Fiji in the first project of this size to be mounted in the United States.

Join us on Sunday, December 15 at 10 am, for an opening ceremony where members of the local Tongva community will welcome the exhibition and Fijian representatives will respond with music, a meke performance, and a kava ceremony. Following the ceremony, at 12 pm, learn about the newly commissioned double-hull drua featured in the exhibition with Joji Marau Misaele, the Head of School, School of Mechanical Engineering at Fiji National University. Then at 2 pm, participate in an insightful curator-led walkthrough with curator Professor Steven Hooper and co-curator Katrina Talei Igglesden.

On Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm, stop by BCAM, Level 1 and create your own masterpieces at our Pop-up Art-making Activities in the Galleries. On Friday at 2 pm, join our friendly education staff at Story Time in the Galleries for fun and engaging stories for the little ones.

Then on Sunday, December 15 at 6 pm, celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday at Sundays Live with a performance by members of The Capitol Ensemble, located at St. James' in-the-City.