BUY
ART FOR YOUR SWEETHEART!
MUSEUM OF AFRICAN CULTURE CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH AFRICAN
CULTURAL EVENTS AND FUNDRAISER
Released 1/31/05
Portland, Maine, January 31, 2005 ---- Bring your Valentine, family and
friends to hear the beat of an African drum and see the works of talented
artists.
Join The Museum of African Culture on Sunday, February 13 from 2-4 p.m. for its
Annual Fundraiser and celebration of Black History month. Unique works of art by
30 Contemporary Artists will be on display and for sale at the Space Gallery,
538 Congress Street, Portland.
Sponsored by Boston’s famous Hamill Gallery, each unique piece of art is
priced at $200. The goal is to raise at least $6,000 to benefit the museum’s
education and programming. Of course, cash donations are always welcome!
Artists, musicians and performers will gather together to help support and honor
one of Portland's most unique cultural institutions. The Fundraiser will include
a traditional African cultural celebration with African foods, drumming and a
Nigerian masquerade by Oscar Mokeme, the Museum Director.
With the celebration of Black History month, it is important to realize this
cultural treasure in Portland. The Museum of African Culture (MAC) is the only
museum in northern New England devoted exclusively to Sub-Saharan African arts.
It is a non-profit organization created to educate others about the lives and
beliefs of Sub-Saharan African people. The Museum is one of the smallest in
Maine; but houses one of the best collections of tribal masks in the world.
Through the use of art, dance, music and other humanistic traditions, the Museum
serves to interpret and preserve a unique collection of over 1,500 pieces of
African artifacts and bring the spiritual and cultural teachings of this ancient
land to Maine.
This summer, through a generous grant by the Hannaford Charitable Foundation,
the Museum opened an Educational Resource Center for scholars and the general
public. The Center is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. Resources include books, video documentaries, music, and an exciting series
of educational “Touch Kits” designed for interactive learning.
Children young and old can experience these treasures that previously they could
only read about. Here they can see everyday items meant to be touched, used and
appreciated for their use. Through handling, these items become real objects,
not just abstract objects from a far away land.
In the Museum, Mainer’s have the unique opportunity to experience touching and
experiencing this different world learning about different cultures and
different ways of life.
Mokeme states, “When, I see Africa, I see something that has art and has power
that speaks to all people, not just Africans.”
Through his teachings, Mokeme lets each of us touch another world and discover
who we are in the process. Through his masquerade performance, Mokeme brings the
masks to life. The sites, sounds and smells of Africa will come alive at this
event and in the Museum with the artifacts, masks, touch kits, incense and music
of Africa.
In just six years, the Museum has created a substantial tour and event program
reaching an audience of over a million through its public programming. The 1,500
pieces in the collection of the Museum range from large scale, elaborately
carved wooden masks to smaller scale figures, bronze sculptures, textiles,
ceramics, bone, ivory and other unique objects. A magnet for cultural diversity,
the art and artifacts contained in the Museum have much to teach not only about
Africa but also about all individuals as human beings as we celebrate cultural
diversity.
Mokeme conducts teacher workshops in African art, humanities, and cultural
diversity at the Museum, onsite at various schools and companies as well as
private sessions. As a local teacher recently observed about Mokeme, “Words
cannot describe the positive impact you have made on our students. Thank you for
taking the time not only to share your culture with the students but for also
opening their minds and challenging them to find the voice within.”
Come buy some art for your sweetheart and discover another world! The Museum
needs community funding in order to continue its mission. You’ll touch an
ancient culture with many lessons for us to learn about ourselves in our modern
world!
General & Event Information:
The Museum of African Culture is a not for profit organization. For information,
please call the Museum of African Culture (207) 871-7188, or contact africart@maine.rr.com.
The Museum of African Culture is located at 122 Spring Street, between High
Street and Park Street. Parking is available in the lot at the corner of High
and Spring Streets.
Date: February 13, 2005
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Place: Space Gallery, 538 Congress Street, Portland
Cost: $10 admission fee for the Event. Children under 10 are free; Children
10-16 are $5.
found at http://business.mainetoday.com/newsdirect/release.html?id=1477#
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