Plantation Places

Fine Arts Building is a confusing place. The floor numbers don’t match with the room numbers and every door seems to lead to a mysterious level of campus. So when you’re lost and miserable because you’re forever trapped in the confines of Fine Arts, do not despair. The Binghamton University Art Museum is located in the same building and there are some pretty cool exhibits available at the moment. Just don’t get lost getting there.

Currently at the Binghamton University Art Museum, alongside some of the permanent exhibits, is the “Plantation Places” exhibition by guest curator Dale Tomich, Ph.D., sociology department.

This exhibit focuses on the education of “cotton, sugar, coffee and the making of 19th-century slaveries” in various locations in the Americas. Included in the exhibit are maps of Cuban sugar mills and other plantations, oil paintings that depict life on plantations during the 19th century and even some photos of plantation workers from Brazil.

The exhibit is displayed beautifully throughout the entirety of the main room of the museum, arranged carefully and clearly along three walls of the room. It is unique in particular because of its concentration on the Americas and the fact that it includes actual photographs of slaves in Brazil. Brazil was the last nation in the world to abolish slavery, which was in 1888, after the invention of the camera.

The Binghamton University Art Museum endeavors to preserve art collections to further the academic experience through art for students and residents of the Greater Binghamton area.

– Eurih Lee

Chinese Snuff Bottles

“Chinese Snuff Bottles From a Private Collection” is a new exhibit located in the Binghamton University Art Museum. These magnificent bottles express the diversity and beauty of Chinese culture. The bottles were used during the Qing dynasty to hold powdered tobacco. Although tobacco was illegal at the time, the tobacco was often used as a healing remedy for common illnesses, like headaches and colds. Over time, snuffing powdered tobacco became more of a fashion statement, and the snuff bottles became a collectible art for the Chinese.

These snuff bottles are small, yet are crafted with fine and impressive detail. While a majority of them are created from porcelain and glass, others are made from materials like stone, metal, wood and tortoise shell. The bottles feature intricate patterns, Chinese symbols and designs. These ornate details contain meaning and preserve the value of Chinese culture.

One notable snuff bottle from the 18th century resembles a tiny oval flask, and features a group of brown horses overlaying black glass. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes both freedom and immortality. Other snuff bottles, such as the one featuring carved chicken on tan-colored stone, represent important qualities like diligence and responsibility in an individual. Many of the snuff bottles also feature natural elements, such as birds, flowers and mountains. Nature is often incorporated into Chinese art because its beauty is believed to cleanse the human spirit and free the human soul.

These unique, handmade pieces are definitely worth visiting. Not only are they remarkably crafted, but they also truly embody a significant era in Chinese history.

– Alyssa Bossio

Both “Plantation Places” and “Chinese Snuff Bottles From a Private Collection” are available in Fine Arts Building room 213 until Dec. 15.