The first devoted to the art of the vast South Seas island groups in the Bismarck Archipelago, this book features stunning, ephemeral creations made with natural materials such as plant fiber, light woods, bark cloth, and tree pith--among the most colorful of the Pacific Island arts. An inspiration to the German Expressionists and the Surrealists, these pieces combine color, fragility, and a sense of temporal purpose. Essays explore the art history of the region and set the beautifully photographed works in cultural context.--