April
11
THE HIGH- AFRICAN ART & AFRICAN MASK/MASQUERADE: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
With a curatorial department devoted solely to African art since 2001, and a curatorial position endowed by Fred and Rita Richman, the High’s collection has grown to encompass the dynamic diversity of African art forms from ancient to contemporary. The heart of the collection are sculptures from west and central Africa created between 1850 and 1950, including a Baga sculpture from Guinea gifted in 1953 by Helena Rubenstein. Other significant gifts include more than 450 works from Fred and Rita Richman that form the core of the African collection. Major gifts from Dr. Bernard and Patricia Wagner starting in 2005 spotlight Yoruba art, including masks, figurative sculpture, beadwork, metalwork and ceramic arts.
People often think of African masks as wooden face coverings that hang on museum walls. Within their original communities, however, African masks performed in full costume to serve many vital functions. Music, song and dance are essential to their effectiveness. The diversity of creative expression of African masks and masquerades is unparalleled. Masquerades are used to transmit ancestral wisdom from generation to generation. Communal performances help promote social harmony by encouraging collaboration, rewarding individual accomplishments, and celebrating community achievements. Some masquerades use humor to provide social critique and discourage antisocial behavior. Many masquerades continue today – even within African Diaspora communities in Atlanta – forever reinvigorated and adapted to contemporary life. To highlight a group of generous recent gifts and Museum purchases, this show brings together dynamic works of art from western and central Africa, including several masquerades in full costume.
POSSE PHOTOS:
Layla, Isabel, and Lucy with Karen discussing the Dikenga structure of the gallery
Karen noting the Dikenga cycle of life
Lucy with cowrie shell necklace used for currency
Grandma
Laura and Leslie
Closeup of cowrie shell necklace
Dikenga– Birth, Prime of Life, Elder Status, Ancestral Realm
Items in Birth Section
Drawing
Sculptures
Items from Birth Section
Wood Mask
Birth Section sculptures
Tanisha, Laura, Lucy, Isabel, and Layla
Karen discussing sculptures
Sculptures from Cameroon
Sculptures from The Congo
Karen, Layla and Isabel looking at the reverse of a sculpture
Layla through the glass case with African sculptue
Karen
Photo of woman with Bundu Helmet Mask
Bundu Helmet Mask
Bundu Helmet Mask
African Sculptures
African Mask
African Sculpture
Grandma, Layla and Karen with tall African Mask
African Masks
Large African mask
Layla raising her hand, Grandma & Tanisha
Karen, Grandma & Layla
Lucy and Karen with large African Mask
Side view of African Mask
Layla & Grandma with African Mask
Bible
Seat
Items from Elder Realm
Items from Ancestral Realm
Item from Elder Realm
Items from Elder Realm
Headdress from Elder Realm
Mask from Elder Realm
Painting on hide
Lucy, Isabel, Layla and Grandma with Karen seeing masks in action on video
Closeup of video
Masks in video
Beaded Masks from Ancestral Realm
Sculptures from Ancestral Realm
Sculptures from Ancestral Realm
Nigerian art from Ancestral Realm
Mask from Ancestral realm
Wall of art from Elder Realm
Isabel, Layla & Lucy engaging with Karen
Laura, Isabel, Lucy, Layla, Leslie and Karen admiring piece made from bottle wrappers
Layla, Isabel and Lucy
Layla, Isabel and Lucy
Beaded Elephant Mask
ART
Karen & Layla
Stone Sculpture from The Congo
ART
Special African Mask Exhibition
Layla, Isabel, Lucy, Karen, Tanisha, Leslie and Grandma admiring masks
Large African Mask
Masks with porcupine quill tunics
Description of the Masks and Tunics
African Mask
Wonderful large wood African Mask
Mask with image of person wearing entire ceremonial outfit
Looking up at the Alligator Mask
Mask and photo of person in complete ceremonial outfit
Alligator Mask
Lucy, Layla and Isabel posing with large wood mask
Layla answering question
Group discussing black and white mask
Half of black and white mask
other half of black and white mask
Full black and white mask
Closeup of mask
Closeup of Mask
Closeup of Mask
Closeup of mask
Closeup of mask
Closeup of mask
Closeup of mask
Closeup of mask
Grandma & Layla
KIDS OPERA & ART POSSE 
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