Tucked away in a refurbished gallery in the basement of the Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque is a splendid array of art, tools, jewelry, and other items that represent the native cultures of Papua New Guinea. The missionaries from Wartburg Seminary have had extensive interaction with the many different tribes of these islands in the South Pacific, north of Australia, since the early 20th century. A variety of artifacts that have been collected during mission visits were on display in the Dubuque Museum of Art’s lobby. These select artifacts focused on the artistic talents of the people of Papua New Guinea.

Image: Kundu Drum, local wood and snake or lizard skin, collection of the Papua New Guinea Museum, 20-1/180