Charlotte, North Carolina – McColl Center for Visual Art will present this vibrant exhibit which explores the vitality and diversity of contemporary design from across the continent of Africa.  On exhibit November 17 – January 6, 2007.

Originally organized by Samuel Sidibé, Director of the Mali National Museum of Bamako and AFAA/Afrique en Créations for the Biennale de Design de Saint-Étienne in 2004, Design Made in Africa now travels across the globe to highlight African contemporary creativity in the world of design.

The exhibition, co-curated by Michel Bouisson and Céline Savoye, began with a call for entries that concluded with the creation of a beautiful exhibition featuring 30 designers from 14 countries – each with their own traditions, culture and stories to tell.  Savoye commented on the nature of design in Africa,

“In this exhibition, we are a long way from the design of new services or virtual space, which are current Western occupations.  Here there are solid, tangible objects born of sweat and elbow grease. Wood, metal, leather, fiber, woven plastic... The fact that the objects are generally made by the artists themselves highlights their creative commitment and their deep-rooted attachment to the finished products.  This is their strength.  Being a designer in Africa means often being linked to communal organizations or cooperatives, a way of pooling craftsmen of talent and ancestral know-how.  This is another of the design objects’ values that subtly haunts the finished products.”

Design Made in Africa challenges viewers to expand and reconsider their preconceived notions and images of Africa – to move beyond the expected.  Images of traditional African sculpture, ritual objects, textiles and crafts are a part of the common vernacular, but the objects featured in Design Made in Africa range from the fusing of traditional techniques with modern materials to simple, minimalist objects purposely divorced from cultural ties.  The breadth and range of objects is as creative and complex as the individuals who designed them.

McColl Center for Visual Art is advancing creativity through artist residencies, exhibitions and other educational programs about contemporary art.  The Center provides transforming experiences for visual artists, individuals who visit the Center and our broader community.

Visit : www.mccollcenter.org for more information.