For centuries the Maisin
tribe of Papua New Guinea has maintained
a traditional lifestyle and managed
their material resources and their
heritage wisely. They are now burdened with
an outbreak of illness and disease
that threatens their existence. They
produce Tapa Cloth (bark cloth) to
help to buy medicine to protect the
tribe from future outbreaks. I took
part in a cultural and artistic exchange
with the Maisin people to support their
stand against outside corporate interests
that seek to undermine their traditional
lifestyle. I have documented this
tribe over the course of ten years.
The photographs in the exhibition
are representative of the way of life
of the traditional people of the Papua
New Guinea coastal area near Collingwood
Bay.
Lonnie Graham (Photographer,
Professor of Pennsylvania State
University)