A Friday Visit with Jim Korkis: The Art Galleries of Epcot’s World Showcase
By Dave Shute
Welcome back to Fridays with Jim Korkis! Jim, the dean of Disney historians and author of Jim’s Gems in The easy Guide, writes about Walt Disney World history every Friday on yourfirstvisit.net.
THE ART GALLERIES OF WORLD SHOWCASE
By Jim Korkis
There are six art galleries in Epcot’s World Showcase, which allow Disney World guests the opportunity to more closely experience other cultures.
While each pavilion is staffed by cast members from that particular country along with merchandise as well as food and beverage locations that are representative of each country, the purpose of Epcot was to be educational and give greater understanding of America’s international neighbors and their histories.
Each of the six art galleries was designed to be of museum quality and to preserve the genuine artifacts from light, heat and humidity. The collections usually rotate out after three years based on the assumption that it takes an average guest about three to five years to return for a visit to Walt Disney World. In addition, the items on exhibit are generally on limited loan from private collections or the country itself.
“The galleries at Epcot represent a very, very important part of what I think the theme park experience is all about,” stated Van Romans, Director Exhibit Development Walt Disney Imagineering in 1989.
“Guests expect the rides. They expect restaurants and merchandising spaces. But they don’t expect to see absolutely wonderful historical things from other countries being shown. They are very surprised. These galleries are intimate and unique and hold some wonderful treasures.
“We worked closely with the Cultural Ministries in each country and I think that the United States and, in particular, Florida should be very proud that these collections are right within their grasp to be able to enjoy.
“The whole gallery program emphasizes these treasures. The material is all real. It is directly from their culture, directly from their history. We are the jewel box of the parks.”
The American Heritage Gallery is located inside the American Adventure building. Currently, it houses a private collection called “Re-discovering America: Family Treasures” from the Kinsey Collection. Art and artifacts pay homage to African Americans who helped build and transform a nation.
The Gol Stave Church Gallery is the smallest of the galleries because it is housed in a replica of a stave church. The gallery has previously featured an exhibit devoted to “The Vikings: Conquerors of the Seas” but with the transformation of the pavilion, it now showcases “Creating the World of Frozen” about the research in Norway that led to the making of the popular animated feature film.
The Gallery of the Whispering Willow is adjacent to the waiting area for Reflections of China to give guests a chance to experience it before the next showing of the film. The former “Tomb Warriors Guardian Spirits of Ancient China” collection has been largely (but not entirely) superseded with material about Shanghai Disney.
The Bijutsu-kan Gallery is inside the castle at the rear of the Japan pavilion. The latest exhibit is devoted to “Kawaii – Japan’s Cute Culture”. Kawaii is rooted in Japan’s Shinto past and has become a fundamental part of Japanese culture including food, fashion and architecture.
The Mayan Ceremonial Hall Gallery is located inside the pyramid in the Mexico pavilion. “Animalés Fantásticos Spirits in Wood” celebrates a modern Mexican folk art where in Mexican villages surrounding the city of Oaxaca gifted artisans create woodcarvings of animals, humans and mythical creatures.
The Gallery of Arts and History is connected to the Fez House in the Morocco pavilion. “Moroccan Style: The Art of Personal Adornment” presents how the craftsmanship of Moroccan decorative arts are a visual representation of cultural identity.
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Thanks, Jim! Come back next Friday for more from Jim Korkis!
In the meantime, check out his books, including Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never You Never Knew, which reprints much material first written for this site, and The Vault of Walt: Volume 4, and his contributions to The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit, all published by Theme Park Press.
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