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Celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall, the Lowe
Art Museum is the oldest visual arts institution in
Miami-Dade County. The museum's 11,000-object
collection is one of the most important in the
Southeast, with strengths in Renaissance and
Baroque, American Contemporary, Greco-Roman
Antiquities, Native American, pre-Columbian, Asian
and African art. The development of its highly
regarded collection can be traced through sustained
support from individual patrons like Dr. Leo S.
Figiel who, from its founding, have supported the
Lowe with major gifts of art.
In fact, Dr. Figiel's donation of numerous pieces
of Asian art in 1984 was instrumental in launching
the Lowe's Indian art collection, which now includes
classic Indian art as well as real strengths in folk
and tribal art forms. "Thanks to Dr. Figiel's gifts,
the collection today is a unique resource for the
Lowe and marks one of the finest in the nation in an
art museum," claims Brian Dursum, director of the
Museum.
Dr. Figiel first became interested in Asian art
while stationed with the Army in post-war Germany
and making the acquaintance of an expert on Japanese
art. He was hooked and soon began collecting
Japanese art, becoming an expert on the subject
himself. In 1965, he traveled to India. "I was
intrigued with the religion and the art of the
country, particularly the folk and tribal forms,"
claims Dr. Figiel. This fascination led to 24 more
trips over the next three decades with a 26th
scheduled for next month. His well established
collection of Asian and Indian art grew out of these
travels as did his expertise on the subject.
In 1991, he published On Damascus Steel, a
definitive book covering the historical, technical
and artistic aspects of damascus steel, the name
given to the metal used to make weapons with
mythical qualities. The book is illustrated with
examples of extraordinary Persian and Indian edged
weapons, many from his own collection.
After retiring as a radiologist, he moved from
Michigan to South Florida in 1984 and shortly
thereafter met Dursum through an Asian art dealer in
Coral Gables. "Brian was and is doing a wonderful
job at the Lowe," states Dr. Figiel. He had
previously donated pieces from his collection to the
Detroit Institute of Arts and the Smithsonian
Institution and felt the Lowe was equally deserving
of his gifts from his collection. Many of the pieces
donated by Dr. Figiel were featured in the Lowe's
celebrated Gods, Goddesses, Myths and Legends, an
exhibition first conceived in 1993 and still
receiving attention as the first electronic
catalogue on the Museum's web-site.
A major exhibition of Dr. Figiel's private
collection, titled Change and Continuity: Indian
Folk and Tribal Art, will take place at the Lowe Art
Museum in January 2004. "Although one of the richest
and most ancient in the world, Indian civilization
is a subject not touched on much in the United
States," states Dr. Figiel. "Americans still know
less of Indian culture and arts than they do other
areas of Asia." Both Dr. Figiel and Dursum hope this
exhibition will aid in filling this void and can
enhance appreciation for one of the most original,
complex and consequential cultures in Asia.
- D'Ann Tollett
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