A fine Eastern Pende Panya-Gombe African mask. Coll.: David Norden
Smithsonian Washington news
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New discoveries about African art Smithsonian unveils intriguing finds in
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Where Gods and Mortals Meet: Continuity and Renewal in Urhobo Art at NMFA-Smithsonian Washington.
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read also:
Out of Africa Treasures
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read also on same subject: La Smithsonian a 25 ans (French)
Never-before-seen and rarely seen piecesIn celebration of the 25th anniversary of its affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of African Art will present a major new exhibit entitled "Treasures." It will feature over 70 objects from the museum's permanent collection as well as private collections across the United States, including never-before-seen and rarely seen pieces. The selected objects exemplify the highest aesthetic and technical achievement. |
National Museum of African Art
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Female figure (sika blawa)Formerly in the Hubert Goldet collection, this figure exemplifies Baule aesthetics.
Luba
Stool
Distinctive in style, this stool also retains its surface acquired through use, unlike many pieces that were polished by their European collectors.
Read also:
La Smithsonian a 25 ans ( in French) English version below.
United States Department of State (Washington, DC)
August 12, 2004
By Brian Kaper Washington, DC
One of the most important U.S. institutions in the preservation of African culture and history will reach a milestone on August 13, as the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art enters its 25th year. The museum's silver anniversary will be observed through a series of planned festivities and new attractions in the coming months.
The celebration will begin with a "Community Day" on September 18. Visitors will be given the chance to sample unique African foods, and entertainment will include native music, dance and games. Various storytellers will also be on hand to bring a sense of African culture to revelers.
Sharon Patton, director of the National Museum of African Art, is looking forward to the events that will mark the museum's anniversary. Among the highlights for the commemoration will be the opening of the newest exhibit, "Treasures." The showcase is scheduled to premier November 19, and will include sculptures and masks.
"[The National Museum of African Art] will be using the exhibition 'Treasure' as a kickoff for the anniversary. There will be 74 sculptures on display, including some 50 from private collectors. Several pieces have never before been seen, and for some it will be the first such showing in seventeen years," she said.
In keeping with the anniversary's chronological namesake, an exhibition comprised of silver artifacts, including jewelry and sculptures, titled "The Art of the Personal Object," will open to the public at a later date. A film series, showcasing Africa, is also planned.
The upcoming features will be the latest in a history of vibrant exhibits at the African Art Museum. Beginning in 1979, when the museum was integrated into the Smithsonian, the National Museum of African Art has showcased master Yoruba carver Olowe of Nigeria; Ethiopian icons from the 17th through 19th centuries; and Sue Williamson's acclaimed exhibit, "Last Supper Revisited."
Patton feels that the marriage of the National Museum of African Art with the Smithsonian has made it possible for the museum to host some of these exceptional exhibits.
"This alliance has led to a recognition of African contributions to art and history. This recognition has allowed us to gain access to works owned by private collectors. Pieces owned by collectors are sometimes items that may not have been seen by the public in 10 or 20 years, or not seen in the United States at all," Patton said.
Although the facility will be celebrating its 25 years as a member of the Smithsonian, it has only been located on the National Mall since 1987. Prior to the passage of the 1979 Congressional act to add the Museum of African Art to the Smithsonian, it was based in a Capitol Hill townhouse formerly owned by abolitionist Frederick Douglass, known then as the Center for Cross Cultural Communication.
Patton said her staff is continuing to work on ways to improve the museum. Under consideration are an expansion of the museum's website, as well as ways of further utilizing technology to enhance programming. Recent renovations have also been completed to allow patrons a better viewing experience of the exhibits.
Patton summed up the thought process that has allowed the museum to become one of the world's premier facilities dedicated to African art and culture. "We need to preserve the past to understand the present and to help us move into the future."
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov )
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Tribal Arts of Africa
Author: Jean-Baptiste Bacquart
Male figure (nkisi nkondi)