Sam and Myrna Myers were an American couple who made Paris their permanent home in the 1960s, and from there they amassed a huge collection of Asian art, organizing more than 5,000 pieces into such categories as Buddhism, Noh theater, Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, and jade pieces that date back to the Neolithic era. Their collection was first shown to the public back in late 2016 in Montreal, and now From the Lands of Asia: The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection makes its way to the Kimbell.
Some of the pieces are from Korea, Mongolia, or Uzbekistan (including some colorful robes worn by the merchants in that part of central Asia). However, the collection focuses on China and Japan and contains a multitude of porcelain pieces, some of which were shipped on boats that sunk and spent several hundred years on the ocean floor before being recovered and purchased by the Myerses. In addition to the carvings, the show also has a dazzling array of silk garments for a range of Chinese people from different walks of life, as well as Japanese kimonos and samurai clothes. If you’re interested in the decorative arts, this show at the Kimbell will be indispensable.
From the Lands of Asia: The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection runs Sun thru Aug 19 at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, FW. Tickets are $14-18. Call 817-332-8451.
