African Sculpture at Albuquerque Museum of Art & History

Thursday, 29 June 2006 10:12

Albuquerque, NM - It’s an intimate glimpse into one of the finest collections of African art in the country.  The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History is one of only five select museums in the United States to host the exhibition Resonance from the Past: African Sculpture from the New Orleans Museum of Art until August 13.

The exhibition presents the best African sculpture from the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA).  Many of the objects have never before been exhibited outside of the City of New Orleans.  The variety of pieces is impressive.  Among the sculpted artworks, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, are masks, figurative sculpture, musical instruments, ceramics, textiles and intricate beadwork costumes.  Notable works include an elegant wooden door carved by a Baule artist from the Ivory Coast, a Yoruba masquerade costume made from a collage of fabrics and bright beadwork and an elaborate collection of masks.

In 1953 NOMA received its first African artwork from an anonymous donor, a rare late 18th century Benin bronze Head of an Oba. The collection was greatly enhanced in 1977 when the Museum received a significant donation; 140 magnificent African works bequeathed by collector Victor K. Kiam.  Many of those works are on display in Resonance from the Past.  After leaving Albuquerque the exhibition will travel to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C.

This is the first major exhibition of African art ever staged in New Mexico.  The Albuquerque Museum is collaborating with the Albuquerque Museum Foundation, The Albuquerque Chapter of The Links, Inc., and the University of New Mexico to assure this exhibition reaches a statewide audience.  The partnership will result in ongoing educational programs, an African Art Teachers’ Institute, Regional Teachers’ Workshops and a traveling outreach exhibit.

This exhibition was organized and previously exhibited at the Museum of African Art in New York and curated by Frank Herreman, Curator at the Museum for African Art.

Visit The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History at : http://www.albuquerquemuseum.com/index.html