More Than An Object: Engaging the Broader Context of African Art TEASER

More Than an Object: Engaging the Broader Context of African Art
McKie Gallery

Exhibition Fast Facts

• 8th Annual Senior Capstone Exhibition
• 10 Students
• 27 objects from permanent collections
• Features never before seen African Masks
• Open Jan 29-Jun 8
• FREE & OPEN to ALL

More Than An Object attempts to resituate objects from across the African continent within the original cultural framework in which they were once part. The pieces on display in this exhibition were not created to be presented in a Western sense of the word “art.” Rather, these objects were made to interact within a broader creative interface, whether for ceremonial purpose, market intent or everyday applications.

 

Such a focus will highlight the ways in which African cultures actually use, perform, and produce art within the changing landscapes in which they live. More Than An Object demonstrates how functionality gives rise to form without losing sight of the crucial place aesthetics and artistic expression occupy within traditional-based cultures. By shifting focus to the broader context of African art, this exhibition seeks to engage the ways in which art and life are intimately connected on the continent.

 

More Than An Object: Engaging the Broader Context of African Art is the culminating work of the Fall 2018 Art & Architecture History Senior Capstone seminar taught by Dr. Jordan Fenton.

Capstone Participants 2018-19:

Caroline Bastian, Sarah Brown, Alexus Chavana, Shuting Chen, Mary Connor, Halsey Hill, Lauren Leibold, Amanda Messeri, Katie Moore, and Margaux Newell

 

While the exhibition will not be open to the public until January 29, here are some teaser pictures of the different pieces on display. Make sure to come see everything in person! Each piece has unique contextualization including photographs and video directly rom field studies as well as interesting comparative images of similar works found at museums all over the world.