For millennia, people have been fascinated by ancient Egypt, particularly by its people’s relationship to death. In “Journey to the Beyond: Ancient Egyptians in the Pursuit of Eternity,” Egyptian artifacts make their long anticipated return this fall to RAFFMA at Cal State San Bernardino.

The exhibition will be on display Oct. 8, 2016-July 31, 2017, with an opening reception Friday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. A special members-only preview and tour will be held 6-7 p.m.

Often seen as obsessed with death, ancient Egyptians loved life and believed in getting it back in the Beyond. Egyptians accepted death only as a precondition, believing through death they would live again, this time forever. By building up hope for the afterlife and preparing for the journey to reach it, they could cope with the unavoidable by denying the finality of death.

Their pursuit of the eternal existence and provisioning for the “Journey to the Beyond” is the story of this exhibition. It presents, in a new context, objects from RAFFMA’s permanent collection and on loan from Dr. Benson Harer.

RAFFMA is returning to full capacity this fall after nearly two years due to a complete museum remodel. During this long-term project, the gallery floors were refinished and old, stationary walls were replaced with new, state of the art moveable walls. These allow for the space to be customized for each exhibition. With the reopening, museum staff is working on introducing more engaging elements to RAFFMA, including audio tours, interactive kiosks and new exciting programs.

About RAFFMA 

The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art is a nationally recognized museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The only accredited art museum in San Bernardino, RAFFMA has accumulated a permanent collection of nearly 1,200 objects focusing on Egyptian antiquities, ceramics and contemporary art. Located at Cal State San Bernardino, RAFFMA houses the largest permanent and public display of Egyptian art in Southern California.

In the 2016-2017 school year, RAFFMA will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on the CSUSB campus.

General admission to the museum is free. Suggested donation is $3. Parking at Cal State San Bernardino is $6 per vehicle and $3 on weekends.

The museum is open Monday-Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and is closed Friday and Sunday. For more information, call (909) 537-7373 or visit the RAFFMA website.