Warriors guard museum

The first people in more than 2,000 years to see one of the soldiers were a pair of Chinese farmers.

Now, a Newport Beach foundation is helping thousands have the chance to view them.

Each Friday night, 400 guests at the Bowers Museum will receive free tickets to the one of the most talked-about exhibitions in decades: “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor.”

The free admissions come from the foundation arm of fixed income management firm PIMCO.

The company gave the Bowers a $100,000 sponsorship to extend its normal hours on Friday nights and distribute the free tickets.

“We knew that it was going to be costly for people to see it, so we earmarked our sponsorship for people who normally wouldn’t be able to go,” PIMCO Foundation board member Mark Porterfield said.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art featured the famous terra cotta statues in 1998; a similar show in England became an overnight sensation.

Just before the exhibition’s debut earlier this month, Porterfield surprised PIMCO employees by installing a replica of one of the figures in the company’s lobby.

The show has become the talk of Southern California and beyond; with only 250 people per hour allowed into it, “Terra Cotta Warriors” is already filling to capacity.

“It is a major tribute to the Bowers Museum — and almost unbelievable — that the terra cotta warriors will make their first U.S. stop right here in Orange County,” Porterfield said.

“This is one of the world’s most important exhibitions, and we wanted to make sure anyone interested in seeing it is given the opportunity.”

“We are so thankful for the PIMCO Foundation’s generous support, and helping the Bowers reach a wider constituency,” Bowers Vice President Inez Wolins said.

The museum will stay open until 8 on Friday nights, and it also will offer a film series and an Asian-inspired menu at its restaurant, Tangata.

Tonight’s film will be “The First Emperor,” a 40-minute documentary based on the latest research on the monarch Qin Shi Huang, who ordered thousands of figures to be built to protect him for eternity.

They were discovered in his massive mausoleum complex, in what was considered one of the century’s most notable archaeological discoveries.

Every figure has a distinctive appearance; no two are exactly alike, according to museum officials.

The collection of figures has been known as the Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World since their discovery in 1974.

Twenty of the warriors are on view at the Bowers, in addition to artifacts ranging from weapons to musical instruments to production models of bronze carriages.

The exhibition is timed with the launch of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

All involved with the exhibit credit Anne Shih, a member of the museum’s board, for more than 10 years’ work negotiating with Asian governments on several shows.

“She can do anything,” Porterfield said.

Museum president Peter Keller described the warriors as “emissaries of goodwill.”

“While the world’s focus will be on China, the Bowers Museum will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these marvelous cultural attractions and help uncover the legacy of the First Emperor right here at home,” he said.

IF YOU GO

WHO: Bowers Museum

WHAT: “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor”

WHEN: Through Oct. 12

WHERE: 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana

COST: Free tickets distributed Friday nights; $25-27 for adults; $19-21 for students, seniors; kids younger than 6 get in free.

INFO: (714) 567-3600 or www.bowers.org

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.