IDB Exhibit Marries Ancient With Modern Honduras The exhibition "Honduras: Ancient and Modern Trails" at the IDB Cultural Center marries ancient history and its faceless craftsmen, with the highly individualistic artists of modern Honduras. Thatís pretty much the way this exhibition breaks down: Itís composed of a selection of pre-Hispanic sculptures and reliefs from the ancient city of Copan, once a center of Mayan culture. There are also a series of ceramic pieces created by the ancient Lenca peoples of Honduras, alongside similar works by anthropologist-designer Alessandra Foletti, 20th-century paintings by acknowledged Honduran master Pablo Zelaya Sierra, and contemporary artists such as Xenia Mejia and Byron Lombardo Mejia. In addition, viewers can see an eclectic, if not miscellaneous groupof works and objects, which includes wooden trunks handcrafted by community artisans. All of the sculptures and handcrafted works were created under the unique auspices of the government-sponsored Program of Recovery and Promotion of Indigenous and Traditional Craft Production of Honduras and the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History. The pieces were made using ancient techniques practiced by the Lenca people, which are still preserved and taught today . The pre-Hispanic Mayan sculptures are awesome and not a little chillingóthey have a strange, intimidating beauty about them. The works of Pablo Zelaya Sierra are particularly haunting. The poetic smoothness and stillness of the depictions of peasant lives, and the turbulent strokes of the violent painting "Brother Against Brother," speak to his creative genius. The works of modern artists such as Xenia Mejia and Byron Lombardo Mejia are stark and pessimistic in their approach, taking as their subjects the devastating effects of Hurricane Mitch on the island and apocalyptic horrors, respectively. "Honduras: Ancient and Modern Trails" continues at the IDB Cultural Center, 1300 New York Ave. through Aug. 24. For information, call (202) 623-3774. óGary Tischler