Andrew Finegold presents at the Columbia University AAOA Seminar

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SEMINAR ON THE ARTS OF AFRICA, OCEANIA, AND THE AMERICAS

Andrew Finegold
2015-2016 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Fine Arts – NYU

Perforated Pots: Revitalizing the Discourse Surrounding “Kill Holes” in Classic Maya Ceramics

The presence of holes drilled through the bottoms of some Classic Maya ceramics has long been noted. Mentioned only in passing in the literature, most scholars have discussed these perforations as being indicative of “termination events” whereby vessels are ritually “killed” and their life force is released. Rather than an act of decommissioning, I will argue that the drilling of vessels served to actuate these objects as non-utilitarian artworks. The congruence of some holes with the imagery painted on the vessels suggests that this diachronic transformation was considered a possibility at the time of their creation, and that these apertures, as sites of fecund potentiality, were often associated with progenerative forces at odds with the term “kill hole.”

Wine and Cheese from 6:00 to 6:30 pm

Those wishing to do so may join us for dinner with the speaker after the presentation.
MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GIFT FROM A MEMBER OF THE SEMINAR