64° Partly Cloudy
Recurring
17th Annual Magi Exhibit
- When Ongoing until Wednesday, January 6, 2010
- Wednesday 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Thursday 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Where Bonita Museum & Cultural Center, Bonita
- Age limit 8+
- Cost Free
17th Annual Magi Exhibit Returns to Bonita:
During the Korean War, Dr. Harris Teller, then a Navy corpsman on a ship in Pusan Bay, wanted to lift the spirits of the men in the ship’s sick bay. On the streets of the city, he purchased a porcelain nativity set and brought it back to the hospital. Being Jewish, Dr. Teller turned to the New Testament to learn the story of the nativity and role that the Magi played in the story. Fascinated by the many ways in which he saw the Magi depicted, Dr. Teller began to collect them. In 50 years, he collected over 700 sets.
The collection Dr. Teller’s amassed returns to the Bonita Museum & Cultural Center for its annual exhibition on November 21st and continuing through January 6th. The Magi figures in the display are constructed from paper, porcelain, metal, fabric, clay, tin, and found objects and come from 5 continents. The collection also includes images of the Magi depicted on ornaments, puzzles, cards, textiles, and other works of fine art.
The collection was first displayed at the Museum in 1992 and was subsequently donated to the organization, although Dr. Teller continues to acquire and donate new Magi each year. The image of the Magi has become an integral part of the Nativity Story even though their narrative in the Gospel of Matthew takes up fewer than 300 words. Magi is a Latin word for a priestly class in Persia, the country that tradition holds was the home of the Biblical Wise Men.
The Bonita Museum & Cultural Center is located at 4355 Bonita Road in Bonita and they are open Wednesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm. Tours are available for groups.
Get Directions (Google Maps)
For further information, please call the Bonita Museum & Cultural Center at 619-267-5141.
Log in to comment:
Forgot your password?