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Photo: Newsletter brochure The NMV newsletter is a monthly publication distributed free to members of the National Museum Volunteers.
The articles written by our members cover all aspects of SE Asian art, history and culture.

Topics include:
  • Mahayana Buddhism
  • Symbolism in Textiles: Is it important?
  • Krishna
  • Chulalongkorn Day
  • Khon : Men behind the mask

The newsletter also contains book reviews, a ‘museum object of the month’ and notices about upcoming events and activities.

All material published remain the property of the Committee.
No part of this publication may be reproduced using any storage medium without prior written permission of the Committee.

The Article of the Month: August 2009

National Museum Volunteers 40th Anniversary Reunion, Washington, DC, April 2009
By Jan (Martinusen) Ferguson

Washington was in bloom.This reunion was a very moving personal experience for me, so is written from that point of view. I had been out of touch with the Museum Group since my departure from Bangkok in ’79, except for occasional contact in recent years with Robert McNair Scott, and very sporadic contact with Carol and Bob Stratton, all of whom I had known from a shared cottage at Pattaya, and, more importantly, from my involvement as an editor for The Art of Sukhothai, by Carol Stratton and Miriam McNair Scott, and as a photographer for Buddhist Sculpture of Northern Thailand, completed alone by Carol. Through Robert, I had learned of the 30th Anniversary Reunion in ’99 and was reminded of the huge part that the NMV played in my life. When contacted about this 40th Reunion, I quickly moved into logistical overdrive, a skill honed during those Bangkok years, and figured out how to reposition our live-aboard trawler, then in the Florida Keys, for a flight to DC.

Lucy shares her interesting past 40 years with us. The group festivities began on Thursday evening with a dinner hosted by Giannina and Robert McNair Scott, in a condo richly decorated with Thai and Nepalese art and artifacts. As the elevator delivered each arriving group of attendees, the volume and enthusiasm spoke of joyful recognition of old friends, in many cases not seen for years or even decades, or in some cases known only as legends. A masterpiece of creativity was the dining arrangement for the large group, at tables scattered around the apartment, with seats found by matching DC images with the place-setting postcards from which they had been cut. The cross-cultural cuisine was equally imaginative, and conversation flowed as connections were established or renewed from years past.

Clare, Robert, and CarolFriday morning rain did not discourage a large turnout for the custom tour of the Sackler/Freer SE Asian Ceramics Exhibition by Louise Cort, Curator for Ceramics, providing a fascinating overview and useful refresher of historic and geographic differences and similarities of this beautiful and educational collection. Upon emerging from the Freer for the short walk next door to lunch at the Smithsonian Castle Cafe, we discovered that the rain had stopped, the sun was shining, and the wind had caused a blizzard of magnolia flowers now covering the ground in a sumptuous pink carpet.

Friday evening drew the group to Allene Masters’ condo in the DC Cathedral area, where again we enjoyed a setting of magnificent Southeast Asian art for a spirited evening of conversation over a variety of savory Thai appetizers and a tableful of freshly delivered pizza.

Carol StrattonSaturday was hosted, as in past reunions, by Sigrid Blobel, in her house overlooking the Maryland woods of the Carderock Springs area, and the energy and enthusiasm of the past two days were sustained and even surpassed, with considerable humor added as one of the speakers put aside his slide show preparations to retrieve a dropped earring out of a sink drain trap, completed only after a quick trip to the local hardware store for a replacement plumbing part. Having thus demonstrated the renowned versatility of NMV, we moved on with the show, alternating prepared talks with socializing, coffee, sandwiches, and sweets. Starting the program was Carol Stratton’s report on the Bangkok 40th Anniversary celebration and official opening of the Museum’s Textile Gallery, which she and husband Bob were able to attend from their winter headquarters in Chiang Mai before returning to their summer home in the States. Bob Retka then took us on a slide-show tour of major Thai kiln sites with illustration of key identifying characteristics, followed by Sylvia Fraser-Lu with a fast-paced illustrated tour of the history and architectural details of wooden Buddhist monasteries of Burma and Northern Thailand. Adding to the program was a round of personal introductions by all attendees, leading repeatedly to amazing revelations of interests and professional pursuits not previously known to fellow Volunteers. Moving on to Bangkok Garden in Bethesda, we took over multiple tables at one end of the restaurant for a final round of conversations over a dinner featuring many of our Thai culinary favorites.

Cammie and Beth Attendees included (from the Greater DC area unless otherwise noted) Judith Adams, Alice and Sissy Altstatt, Sarah Bekker, Linda and Lee Bigelow (France), Sigrid Blobel, Cammie Burnight, Carol and Dwight Cramer, Jan (Martinusen) Ferguson (Florida), Nancy Fuller, Edgar and Renate (Norway) Harrell, Ann Kramer, JoAnn and David Krecke, Allene Masters, Jenny and Teddy Piastunovich (Israel), Kim and Bob Retka, Lucy Rogers (Oregon), Clare Rosenfield (NY), Giannina and Robert McNair Scott, Carol and Bob Stratton (from Chiang Mai en route to Vermont), and Beth Wray (NJ).

Thanks to JoAnn for this shot so Linda, on the left, could be included. See you all next time! Kudos go to the speakers, whose presentations had the power and pace so reminiscent of those study group talks which for many of us were first approached with trepidation and subsequently immersed us in the joy of research. Thanks go to the hosts of all three days, in each case achieving that enviable balance of careful planning and smooth execution. And, lastly, we extend our appreciation to the reunion planners and facilitators: Beth Wray for initial conception and contacts; Carol Cramer for continuing communications, registration, and program updates; Sigrid Blobel for arranging Friday’s Smithsonian tour and Saturday’s speakers and restaurant dinner; Dave Krecke as shared expenses treasurer and menu selection advisor; and our documentarians, photographers Linda Bigelow and Kim Retka.

Thank you Linda for your photos!

I am glad to see the pictures widely available. The National Museum Volunteers have much to celebrate, including friendships which have endured over the years. These pictures are a testimony of how they have survived long separations and many changes.
Linda Bigelow

To get to Linda Bigelow's photos of the Washington D.C. reunion, please try the following link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/linda.bigelow/


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