Fiber Friday: Whirling Return of the Ancestors

Mark and I went to the opening reception for "The Whirling Return of the Ancestors: Egungun Arts of the Yoruba in Africa and Beyond" last month at the Ruth Davis Design Gallery on campus. Mark took photos while I schmoozed with friends. As always, the people who come to these fabulous textile exhibits wear their own finery. No matter where you look there is something interesting to see.

The exhibit runs through April 8th and there are a number of special programs in conjunction with it which I've listed below the photographs. 

There is more in-depth information about the work in the exhibit and a short video on the gallery's website (click link above).

. . .

Captivated by the gallery's window display

Drop-dead drama inside the gallery

This exhibit was researched, organized, and curated by students in the fall 2017 Art History Curatorial Studies-Exhibition Practice class taught by Evjue-Bascom Professor Henry Drewal (below).

The opening included an evocative Yoruba language call-and-respone performance led by the gentleman below.

Lots of discussion about the items on display

Watching the videos of Egungun dancers on an almost wall-sized screen

Rumi (center) and Jim O'Brien talk with another gallery visitor. Rumi had a show of her own stunning artwork in a variety of media in the gallery at this same time last year.

Professor Drewal stayed in the gallery answering questions . . .

and more question about the exhibit.

Lots of great clothes — especially headgear — was in evidence on gallery-goers

A series of public programs will supplement the exhibition:
Email Will Porter, Events Coordinator of the African Studies Program, at events@africa.wisc.edu for questions about event times, locations, or other details.

· Thursday, March 1, 6-7 pm: Death, Culture & Coffee: Honoring ancestors in Madison
Room 1199 Nancy Nicholas Hall, School of Human Ecology, 1300 Linden Drive
Join the African Studies Program for coffee and conversation on the ways that we honor our own ancestors in Madison. Four local presenters will discuss some of the funerary practices and traditions observed within various communities in the Madison area. Light refreshments provided. Please feel welcome to arrive early and visit the gallery exhibition prior to attending to the presentation.

Presenters:
Karen Reppen, Death Awareness Educator
Elizabeth Humphries, Death Midwife
Bryan Foster, Foster Funeral Services
Shedd Farley, Linda and Gene Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability

· March 7, 2018: Lecture-demo about African American Second-Line funeral processions in New Orleans
· April 5-8, 2018: Performances by a troupe of Egúngún masqueraders, singers, and drummers from Ọ̀yọ́tunji Village, South Carolina, who will give workshops at UW-Madison, the Madison Children’s Museum, and a Madison public school
· April 6-7, 2018: Two-day Symposium on the theme Honoring Ancestors in Africa: Arts and Actions

Comments

[Peter/Outlaw]

Looks like a wonderful exhibit. Wish I lived closer.

[Linda Brazill]

Knowing your penchant for color and pattern I think you would indeed like this exhibit.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

What fun! I don't see how you can keep your hands off of those beautiful textiles.