Strange Event at RAFFMA is Source for New Exhibit

The mysterious fall of an ancient funeral mask from its display case is the inspiration for creative reactions to the event in a group exhibit of contemporary art. The exhibition will be held at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art at Cal State San Bernardino. “The Mysterious Burial Mask: Information and Evidence” began being on display Oct. 8 and will continue through Oct. 25 in RAFFMA’s The Dutton Family Gallery. A reception for the exhibition will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Artists for the show include Sophia Allison, Matthew Blair, Sapira Cheuk, Paul Evans, Kio Griffith, Micol Hebron, Siobhan Hebron, Tiernan Hebron, Jorge Mujica, A.E. Van Fleet and HK Zamani. This exhibition, conceived and curated by CSUSB M.F.A. student Andrew K. Thompson, was inspired by a strange occurrence that took place at RAFFMA on April 23, 2009. On that day, during an exhibition installation, between 2:45 and 3:02 p.m., the funerary mask mysteriously slid across the bottom of its display case, rolled over and fell face down on the floor. The vitrine that typically covered the mask was removed at that moment for cleaning. Video surveillance of the event shows staff members and volunteers putting final touches on the exhibition, a few hours before its opening. Activities were routine at best and there was no movement close to the mask. After the event, the museum staff conducted a series of tests, including checking for seismic activity to see if that could unlock the enigma, but each test proved inconclusive. Conservators have since repaired the mask. The incident has never been explained. Thompson relayed the story -- along with the small amount of information and evidence available about the strange occurrence -- to the curated group of artists and invited them to devise a creative response to the event. The exhibition will include the burial mask displayed alongside the contemporary artworks. General admission to the museum is free. Suggested donation is $5. Parking at Cal State San Bernardino is $5 per vehicle. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and is closed Friday and Sunday.