JIM LICHNEROWICZ A River Runs Through Them

Winding through the country of Nigeria on the great continent Africa, a mighty river makes its way through lush green forests, over harsh mountain terrain and around the countless villages that surround its flowing banks. The river carries with it not only the nutrients that feed and nourish the wildlife it sustains, it also brings with it the very soul of the people that make the river their home; an endless cornucopia of cultures and tradition, weaved together by the Niger Delta's steady flow. An entire ocean away, and across another continent, a second river winds its way through a very different terrain. This one, the Los Angeles River, certainly lesser in size, but no less great as a conduit for bridging cultures and communities. As vast as the gulf is between these two bodies of water, they come together in two exhibitions which are the subject of our most recent adventures. Rare it is that two differing stories come together and complement each other so perfectly.

A new exhibit at the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History entitled "Ways of the River: Art and Environment of the Niger Delta" brings to Los Angeles residents wondrous artworks and photographs representing the daily life, customs and rituals of the peoples of this vast river basin. Throughout the exhibit can be glimpsed the daily life and traditions of numerous cultures, represented by elborate carvings, exotic headdresses and intricate masks, most of which relate to the lifeblood that the river embodies. Lurking in the exhibit space are wooden carvings of the Bush Spirits, mysterious and frightening creations which embody the deepest, darkest fears of the villagers. Ritualistic masks and headdresses make up a substantial portion of the objects including an elaborate crocodile design and a lengthy sawtoothed shark that is worn horizontally on the head instead of over the face. In addition to these wooden wonders, there is the Kalibari Funeral Bed, an elaborate funerary representation splashed in a dazzling array of colorful cloths; a final and fitting farewell to a respected elder. It is an astounding exhibition of color and imagination as the artistic and religious icons of numerous cultures come together like the great river delta from which they spawn.

Half a world away in the land of iced mochas and cell phones, the L.A. River carves its way through a city as fractured and diverse as anywhere on the African continent. But unlike its Nigerian majestic counterpart, this one measures barely a trickle; a shallow, mostly dry concrete bed that is often an eyesore and in times of flood, a menacing deathtrap. But despite its drawbacks, sprinkled throughout this meandering waterway are rays of hope: a soft bottom with living plants and flowing water offering refuge for waterfowl like ducks and egrets as well as a solitary pathway for cyclists and nature lovers. A recent exhibition sponsored by the Arroyo Arts Collective offered artists the opportunity to explore their passions for this misunderstood resource. On a Spring Sunday afternoon, twenty-nine artists put their creative imaginations to work in an exhibit entitled "River Alchemy," weaving together a broad canvas of works reflecting their cares and concerns for the river. "Rivermation" saw the site through the eyes of a camera in fast motion, a frenzy of images flashed across space and time, "Not Fish" encompased a series of plastic fish skeletons linked together and floating on the river's surface, their neon orange color and cartoon shapes defying the realistic surroundings, and "Frog" loomed over the river's edge, peering through the lush greenery in the very area popularly known as "Frogtown." Making the greatest impact was none other than Los Angeles' own urban anthropological oddity, the LA Mudpeople. With their mud-splattered bodies and primitive face masks, they represent the very embodiment of innocence and curiosity; a wondrous tribe of childlike wanderers exploring their world and their place within it. Two peoples, an ocean apart, each bound together by the river which divides them. Rare it is that two differing cultures come together and complement each other so perfectly.

"Ways of the River: Art & Environment of the Niger Delta" can be seen currently at the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History. To see this segment as well as the accompanying "River Alchemy" on this edition of "Out & About," check the "schedule" link on this site.