Media Advisory

The University at Buffalo will unveil its recently donated multimillion-dollar collection of archaeological and ethnographic objects -- from 6,000 year-old anthropomorphic figurines from Europe and the Near East , to ceremonial African dolls from the mid-20th century -- at a premiere public opening from 1 to 5 p.m. today (Sunday, March 28), at the university's Anderson Gallery, One Martha Jackson Place in Buffalo.

The 1,100-piece collection, which includes artifacts from Asia, ancient Mesopotamia, South America and Europe, was donated by Annette Cravens, a 1968 UB master of social work graduate. Cravens, whose latest gift continues a family legacy of philanthropy to UB, donated her lifelong collection of historic artifacts.

The public and the media are invited to view Cravens' extensive collection at the opening of "Cravens World: The Human Aesthetic." The exhibit is an illustration of Cravens' belief that firsthand contact with these artifacts provides a tangible connection to the aesthetic sensibilities of other people, sparking appreciation, inspiration and understanding. Mehrdad Hadighi, UB professor and chair of architecture, together with Christopher Romano and Jose Chang, all from the UB School of Architecture and Planning, responsible for the concept and design of Cravens World.

On-site media contact: Mary Cochrane, UB Office of Development Communications, 881-1703.

The opening of the exhibit includes hands-on activities created by UB's Sarah A. Robert, PhD, and master's students in UB's Graduate School of Education's Department of Learning and Instruction, all presently New York State certified social studies teachers.

The four students taking part in the presentation and their activities are: Eric Yarwood -- archaeological work, specifically cataloguing objects/constructing hypotheses about artifacts form and function; Tiffany Rockwood -- mask-making/creating likeness of the self, human aesthetics; Christy Guzman -- creating one's own currency for trade/the purpose and forms of currency or money; and Mark Goff -- organizing collections/the use or purpose of weapons.

All the activities are intended to engage visitors in historical thinking and reflective inquiry, with an emphasis on experiential learning, hands-on learning or "doing."