For Hearth and Altar: African Ceramic

Wednesday, 11 January 2006 18:12

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.-An extraordinary collection of ceramic vessels that reflect the intimate connection between pottery and daily life across the African continent will be displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago this winter. The exhibition, For Hearth and Altar: African Ceramics from the Keith Achepohl Collection, on view in Regenstein Hall, presents 125 exquisite pieces of hand-wrought African ceramics. For Hearth and Altar will be the first public viewing of private collector Keith Achepohl's extensive collection of terracotta vessels from Africa-approximately half of which are promised gifts to the Art Institute. The exhibition brings attention to the beauty of functional pottery as it extends across domestic and ritual spheres. Chicago native Keith Achepohl--who has collected African pottery for more than 20 years. Focusing on the aesthetic accomplishment of each work, Achepohl assembled a collection that displays the extraordinary range and artistry of African ceramics. The Achepohl collection includes examples of hand-built pottery from across the African continent-from cultures such as the Bamana, Maninka, and the Somono of Mali; the Berber of Northern Africa; the Jerma of Niger; the Mafa of west-central Cameroon; and the Zulu of South Africa. The majority of works date to the 20th century, though a small group of archaeological ceramics is also included. The art of pottery has been widely practiced in Africa since the first centuries A.D. Even today the essential elements of a potter's work--the forming, embellishing, and firing of clay--link us to our distant ancestors. Basic processes and techniques have changed little over time and have been passed down from generation to generation. African potters have long engaged in their craft as a form of visual expression, creating a wide range of unique and often surprising ceramic wares for uses that span domestic and ritual spheres. Made of terracotta and fired in the open, African pottery is functional. The vessels are created to transport and store grain or water, to prepare food or medicines, to safeguard valued possessions, or to honor or facility communication with spirits or ancestors. The unique qualities of each piece allows one to appreciate the intimacy and individuality of the potter's touch.

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