What allows one person to see what nobody else can see?
That's one of the questions that will be asked as Squamish celebrates International Women's Day this Tuesday (Mar. 9) at the Squamish Public Library.
The library is hosting a viewing off Signs of Time, a documentary on the life and times of Marija Gimbutas, one of the most influential and controversial archeologists of the 20th century, with a discussion following the film.
Gimbuta, born and raised in Lithuania, found evidence in the earliest strata of European civilization of cultures where women were honoured, goddesses were worshipped, nature was revered and war was unknown.
The documentary, narrated by Olympia Dukakis, traces Gimbutas's life story, the high regard in which she was held in the early part of her career and the controversy that erupted when she dared to interpret her findings about the goddess-centred cultures of early Europe.
If her findings are correct, then peace, reverence for the earth and the honouring of life are the underpinnings of European civilization - a radically different view from the images of kings, warriors and conquering gods.
Gimbutas became a major influence on the feminist spirituality movement as well as on artists, poets, philosophers and social thinkers.
The viewing will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday (Mar. 9) at the Squamish Public Library on Second Avenue. Admission is by donation, with proceeds from the evening going towards the purchase of the video of Signs of Time for the library.
