Released.

Released on: August 17, 2008, 5:47 pm

Press Release Author: lymthomas

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: The release of rare art brought about the clash of two
cultures.

Press Release Body: Attendance during the opening of the art exhibitions at the
prestigious Annandale Art Gallery, one a Methodist church, then a Masonic hall, now
a prestigious art gallery, is a common occurrence for many elite ladies of Sydney
society.

The Gallery earned its reputation in the art world, through specializing in showing
the best of Australian and overseas contemporary art.

July 22nd seemed to be exceptional from the outset. The invitation spoke about
secret rare art on view for the first time, from a remote tropical island of the
tiny South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Sacred art which had never before been seen
outside Vanuatu.

A group consisting of nine Ni -Vanuatu artists, dressed in full regalia, would
perform a major sacred ceremonial dance from the island of Ambrym during the
opening. It all sounded rather mysterious and lots of fun.

Sipping a glass of French champagne the guests buzzed with excitement as they
admired the beautifully carved wooden figures and masks, plus a four meter wooden,
intricately carved drum, one of the world's largest free standing musical
instruments.The gallery curator, Mr. David Baker said, "This could be easily
mistaken for modern art. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world, apart from
one slightly similar piece in a British museum."

Suddenly a barely clad figure stepped up to the drum (tam-tam). With a small wooden
club he began to methodically beat on the lip of the face. A stylized face which had
been carved to represent an ancestor. A narrow slit in the front of the drum allows
the ancestor to once more have a voice.

Next came four dancers, covered from head to toe in a custom costume made from dry
leaves. Their faces covered with brightly painted wooden masks, topped with plumes
of chicken feathers. Towards the centre of the room the dancers slowly made their
way, planting their feet rhythmically on the floor as they moved as one. The dancers
planted their feet on the floor as they slowly advanced towards the center of the
room, moving as one.

In their centre were five more dancers, stomping their feet, clapping their hands
and chanting in a monotone. They were dressed in the full regalia of their secret
society. \'Dressed\' being a misnoma.

Shock registered on the Sydney matron's faces. The five mature Ambrym men were
dressed only with a wide bark belt slung over their hips and a simple Nambas penis
sheath barely covering the essential part of their manhood. The dancers,
concentrating on their sacred dance were unaware of the sensation they were causing.

Well formed buttocks gleamed, as they jiggled up and down to the rhythm of the drum.
During the ancient times any woman who gazed upon these dancers would have to be
killed. Fortunately the Ambrym society has beyond this practice. Still no woman is
permitted to make physical contact with any of the dancers.

\"When the dancers first entered the room it was rather difficult to know where to
look,\" one of the woman guests explained to me later. \"I haven't seen that much bare
bottom since my four children were babies,\" she laughed.

With few modern communication devices in a land of over 153 distinct cultures and
languages, life in the tropical islands of Vanuatu moves at a different pace. Night
activities are conducted in the glow of fire light. The distant horizon is lit from
the glow of a live volcano. Water seldom comes from a tap and the grocery store is
the local garden, faithfully tended by the villagers. A specially chosen tree
provides the dugout canoe that is used to traverse the deep ocean waters to catch
fish.

Pigs are the wealth of the village, the top teeth being knocked out in order to get
the bottom teeth to grow into the highly valued curled pig tusks.

With an oral tradition handed down from generation to generation, dance, song,
carvings and sand drawings teach the new generation the stories of their ancient
culture and traditions. Still in some places the villagers live the way their
ancestors have always lived.

The chiefs are beginning to be aware of the educational needs of these remote
islands. Many of the younger generation have lost the ability to understand the
mystic language of the unique carved gongs. Chiefs have realized that education is
the only way of the future if their ancient culture is to be preserved. This is seen
in the decision to share their sacred art with the rest of the world.

The art world has been set on its ears with the release of this secret and sacred
art. The public was not aware that there were wonderful secrets that are tucked away
in the \'Must See\' Travel Adventure Destination of the South Pacific, just 3 hours
flight from Australia.

In 2006 Vanuatu was voted the Happiest Country on Earth. Still this ancient society
is searching for the benefits of the modern civilization. Many villagers live on
under 1$ per day. This has led to a horrendous statistics in this tropical island
paradise.

26% of the children never go to school
Only 55.8% of the kids will get to year 6
Only 18.2% will continue to high school.

In 2007 the Vanuatu government admitted that it did not have the resources to meet
the needs of education in the nation. So many issues appear to be the priority in
front of education.

YouMe Support Foundation and its Child Trust Fund is one of the few foundations
assisting these children. Children who will never see the inside of a high school
classroom without outside assistance.

YouMe Support Foundation is offering an innovative world first Blue Moon Opportunity
that will make a difference in the lives of these children. It is an opportunity
that can make a difference in your life. An opportunity you can't afford to miss.


Web Site: http://winaresort.com

Contact Details: YouMe Support Foundation
PO.Box 5101, Vanuatu
Fax:678 26551
Email:admin@youmesupport.org

Port Vila
VANUATU.