Maya News Updates 2016, No. 3: New Maya Exhibit in the Netherlands - At the Drents Museum, Assen - Photographs from the Official Opening on February 27, 2016

The exhibit "Maya's - Heersers van het Regenwoud" ("Maya's - Rulers of the Rain Forest") was opened officially on February 27, 2016, during a reception well-visited by a host of foreign and local guests, fronted by the organizers and those associated with the lending institutions (for example the Museo Nacional de Etnología e Arqueología, Guatemala, and the Fundación La Ruta Maya). Here I post a series of photographs made before and during the reception, providing (among others) an overview of the reception and of some of the key note speakers (most prominently by José Luis Chea Urruela, minister of the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes in Guatemala, and Jacques Tichelaar, Commissaris van de Koning in Drenthe/Commissary to the King in Drenthe). A next Maya News Updates will show some of the objects being shown at the exhibit, followed by a short review later this week.

1. Drents Museum - at the "group" entrance, early arrival before the crowd gets in and the line gets long with invited guests (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)

2. Drents Museum - at the "group" entrance, city weapon of Assen set in the center within the Latin phrase "Mvsevm Drenthia," i.e., Drenths Museum/Museum Drenthe (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)

3. Drents Museum - at the "group" entrance, center of the Guatemalan flag paired with its shadow on the wall at the entrance (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)

4. Drents Museum - at the reception area, in front of the book store, people meeting, Sol y Luna band playing in background, early arrival before the more guests gets in (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016).

5. Drents Museum - guest and staff member near to the entrance of the exhibit, large poster for the exhibit on the wall (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)

6. Drents Museum - overview of the reception area, photographed from the stairs (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)

7. Drents Museum - overview of the reception area, photographed from the stairs (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)

8. Drents Museum - José Luis Chea Urruela, minister of the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes in Guatemala, during his speech (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)

9. Drents Museum - (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)

10. Drents Museum - Jacques Tichelaar, Commissaris van de Koning in Drenthe/Commissary to the King in Drenthe, during his speech (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)

11. Drents Museum - Foreign guests and dignitaries are invited into the exhibit (photograph Erik Boot/MNU 2016)
For an alternative overview of the reception and the opening of February 27, 2016, posted by the Asser Courant, check their website here.