Barbara Wavell

It all started in the 1970's when as a student of behavioral sciences at Rollins College Barbara Wavell began to acquire odd and curious carvings from around the world at local flea markets. Florida was a good place for it since many service men come here to retire bringing their exotic souvenirs with them. When she encountered that first carved storyboard and small squatting figure, she began to wonder about the people who produced them. This curiosity over the years has resulted in a large collection of Micronesian art and artifacts which have been displayed in three exhibits at local museums. She has published an article in Tribal Arts Magazine entitled: "From Sacred to Souvenir: The Squatting Figure Motif in Micronesian Art (Summer/Autumn) 2002 and produced an extensive catalog in conjunction with an exhibit at the Maitland Museum. The beautifully illustrated book entitled Arts and Crafts of Micronesia-Trading with Tradition has been the culmination of over twenty years of research and collecting. In 2013 Ms Wavell has published a second book in conjunction with Hera Ware Owen who was Director of the Palau Museum for 30 years. The book explores the life and art of one of Palau's most famous artists, Charles Gibbons and is filled with color illustrations of his meticulous water color images which provide a valuable historic record of Palau's early days. Ms. Wavell has a master's degree in cultural anthropology and is a member of the Pacific Arts Association and the Association of Social Anthropologists in Oceania.