Source: The National - Wednesday October 25, 2006
http://www.thenational.com.pg/102506/nation31.htm

PAPUA New Guinea’s unique art and culture that has fascinated people the world over could disappear if not supported and safeguarded, PNG Ambassador to the United States Evan Paki has warned.
Speaking in San Francisco last week on the first anniversary of the opening of the de Young Museum, where an array of PNG art are on display, Mr Paki called on leaders in the American art community to support, preserve and promote PNG art.

“The challenge is to preserve and safeguard what we have, because if we as a nation do not meet that challenge, and if you, those who love and appreciate our country’s art do not support us in this endevour, our limited available talents might disappear without passing on their talents to the next generation of artistes,” Mr Paki said in his speech.
New York-based American enterpreneur John Friede and his wife Marcia have some 400 pieces of PNG artifacts, which will be donated to the de Young Museum. Their collection – known as the Jolika collection – is worth about US$100 million. Theirs is the largest collection of art in the world in private hands.

Mr Paki praised the Friede family for supporting and promoting PNG art in America. The Friede also sponsored a trip for two Papua New Guineans – Michael Kisombo and Teddy Balangu – to visit the US on a fellowship programme.
The de Young Museum is situated on s small hill over looking the Golden Gate Bridge. The museum, damaged recently during an earthquake, was rebuilt and the new structure is designed to withstand earthquakes.

Wow!!! Collection worth about US$100 million?? Massive amount of money! Good to see our art and culture being promoted in other parts of the world..pulim sampla turis kam.

I'm wondering how those collection were obtained...i know some of the stuff were taken out without consent. They were either bought with tobacco or axe.

Yes, thats possible. The artefacts exchanged for tobacco and axes...the people who gave it up at the time didnt realise the potential value of what they held. But would they have been as well preserved if they hadnt taken them all the way there?