A Visit And Observation Of The Bowers Museum In Santa Ana

Santa Ana’s Bowers Museum was my first stop. There were three major categories of California History: Mission Era, Native American Settlement, and sections that featured paintings that represent California’s historical past. These displays show the origins of California, as well as how California became the state it is today.

Native American settlements featured pottery, jewelry and tools that were displayed to show the Native American lifestyle. While California was home of many Indian tribes, such the Manopalute, Pomo and Yokut, Southern California was a special place because it also housed the Chumash as well as the Gabrielino. The Bower Museum featured a variety of baskets made from Californian Indians. These baskets were used in a variety of ways: for water and food gathering (with the basket tightly woven), storage, cooking, and as ceremonial objects. Each basket was unique and represented themes such as love, life, health, happiness, and the pursuit of prosperity. One basket featured what we know as swastika symbols. We were told by a museum attendant that this sign was important to native people. It represented everything from making fires to the sun’s rays. It is amazing to see how signs that represent hate, prejudice, or death today were the exact opposite of what they were 100 years ago. Kerwin Klein’s Frontier Tales: A Narrative Construction of Cultural Borders In Twentieth-Century California, states that every family had a unique sign mark. The family’s signature mark, also known as the tribal sign, was found on all their items, including baskets and ollas. These marks didn’t signify language. The sign marks could be changed, but not the language” (Klein 481). Native Americans used symbols to communicate messages of love, belonging, family, friendship and nature. These baskets could be used to represent the most important things for a tribe or family. Native American culture was dominated by shells. The Bowers Museum has many different types of shells. They range from large abalones used as ceremonial objects to tiny shells that can be used to decorate hair to currency shells. The museum identifies the butterfly-shaped ornaments as hair accessories. They were made in Channel Island Culture between 250-1600 A.D. Aside from being used ceremonially, the abalone Shells were also used to catch fish using small pieces. Hugo Reid, a museum researcher, stated that Native Americans used thick, rounded shells with a diameter less than five cents. They were strung with long strings and had an opening in the middle. These shells were used to make currency. Native Americans traded goods with shells that had holes and string. These shells show how Native Americans used their natural resources and surroundings in the best way possible.

The Native American section provided significant insight into the earliest evidence of Californian civilizations. Native Americans were once the dominant people in the United States. As such, we must study and acknowledge their cultures and practices to understand how they have shaped and influenced culture and our lives today. It was fascinating to see how Native Americans dealt with challenges and what tools they used. These include shells that they used to make money, jewelry, or for ceremonial purposes. While the museum’s treasures and materials are impressive, Anthony Andreas from the Caliente tribe reminds Klein that culture is not about material things. He taps his chest and says, “It’s in there” (Klein 490). Although Natives had some material possessions, the core of their culture was about the emotions and bonds that were formed with them.

California’s frontier movement rapidly evolved into the era of mission settlement. California saw the establishment of communities and religions that drove Native Americans from their native areas to the missions. The establishment of businesses by the Settlers led to an increase in economic development and the development of social classes. Pico Family was one such colonist. Pico’s family was among the first to settle Los Angeles. It gained power and positions via a marriage. Pio was the last governor of California, according to the museum (Bowers Museum). He fought for Mexican independence, as well as California’s liberalization. Pico fought the American invasions and became involved in politics. He was able to make a name for himself by 1840s. Pico’s biography is interesting because it includes the fact Pico, who owned the first California-based hotel. Maria Casas reviews Pio Pico. Carlos Manuel Salomon is the Last Governor of Mexican California. Pico’s political position and his penchant for economic deals secured Pico fame and wealth. But, Pico’s gambling addiction caused him to become bankrupt. Pico thought he owned a horse that was faster than the rest. Pico lost the race, and he slowly fell into bankruptcy. Pico, his family and colonizers of California are still a symbol of mission and settlement eras.

Juan Forster, the stepbrother to Pio Pico arrived in California 1833. Forster fell in love with the Californian blend culture immediately. Pio’s younger sister Ysidora became his wife and he later moved his family from San Juan Capistrano to join Pio. According to Bowers museums biography, Forster says that Pio Pico gave Rancho Mission Viejo and Portnero de Las Pinos to his brother-in law. Forster bought the mission at an auction and used the abandoned mission as his own home. Ironically, Forster decided to join the Mexican-American War and helped supply the troops. Forster was instrumental in the American forces avoiding an ambush and helped to ensure that California was surrendered to Mexico. It’s fascinating to observe that Forster supported the Mexican culture and did not support his in-laws, who were Mexican immigrants. Instead, Forster chose to assist the Americans. Forster may have seen it as more than loyalty. He wanted to get involved in a new and exciting culture. America was still relatively modern and had many exciting opportunities.

Robert H. Jackson discusses the facts and statistics that underlie missions in his article, “The Dynamic of Indian Demographic Collapse In the San Francisco Bay mission, Alta California (1776-1840).” Jackson stated that most of the working population was male between 15 and 39 years. Jackson notes that “there was also an increase in incidents and active resistance during missions, large-scale flight… The Spanish Mexican colonization effort at Alta California was stopped by growing resistance from an increasing number Indian groups.” (Jackson, 144). He then studies mortality and life expectancy in missions. Missions in San Diego and Santa Barbara had the highest life expectancy, with a mean of around thirty years. (Jackson 150). This is because Native Americans and the other mission residents are treated better and have better living conditions.

These missions are important even though their lives are filled with death, sickness and enslavement.

There were many paintings in the same style that were featured in the gallery. These included bright colors, loose forms, and natural elements. These paintings depicted the idyllic California lifestyle. They featured beautiful landscapes with everything: mountains, beaches, plains, hills, deserts, and the ocean. California’s new state and economy gave rise to hope and changed lives. The paintings show Californians as courageous, determined, and adventurous. They also displayed California’s perfect environment for its thriving agricultural industry. Frank Coburn’s Ideal California Day was one of my favorite paintings. This painting features vibrant colors and lots of flowers. It’s described as the “quintessential California lifestyle image”. Coburn’s artwork captured the essence and beauty of California, possibly appealing to newcomers. Carl Oscar Borg’s Guardian of the Trail 1930 depicted the Native American lifestyle and landscapes way after it would have been possible in California. Bowers Museum explains that the paintings and romance novels Ramona sparked a love for the rancho lifestyle.

Fannie duvall’s Confirmation Class showed the Anglo community San Juan Capistrano. It also highlighted the mission region. The painting shows young girls wearing white clothes outside of a church. Duvall shows how mission life was not all work and nothing play. But it could be balanced with a family-friendly lifestyle. The role of religion in mission living was important, but it was also a way for families to be involved. It could also help young children’s minds. This landscape demonstrated how everyone could live on a mission, not just religious leaders.

California’s unspoiled beauty was captured by plein-air painting. The museum explains that this style allowed the California landscape to be left as it is, without any modern influences. Joel Isaacson’s study, “Constable, Duranty, Mallarme, Impressionism, Plein Air,and Forgetting”, reveals that plein air has two major themes. These are “forgetting, (putting knowledge aside) or finding (pursuing natural beauty innocently and direct). It also “renews the public’s awareness of nature and art.” (430-431). This style is strongly linked to the Los Angeles cultural boom of 1920. California Impressionists were the first to use plein-air as an artistic method. Laguna Beach was a center of California art and became known as the California Impressionists. Laguna Beach was an isolated resort that was not fully developed until the first decade of the twentieth century. Laguna Beach became a popular tourist spot with its beautiful beaches, canyons, and coves. Frank Coburn, a Laguna Beach painter, took inspiration from Laguna Beach residents. California’s beauty was not lost on modernism, and Californians continued to be drawn to it. The century saw the rise of plein-air painting. The Bowers Museum displayed stunning art that showed how California’s early years changed. One can gain a solid understanding of California’s history by looking at paintings that focus on Native Americans, mission settlements, and more contemporary interpretations.

Bowers museum provided a fascinating glimpse into California’s history. It featured artifacts depicting Native Americans living, the rapid development of missions, and paintings showing typical Californian life. Extensive research was done outside of the museum to provide the necessary information and artifacts to explain the history of California. It also revealed the small details of how the state and territory developed to become an economic powerhouse.