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Expressions of African Culture: Fact Sheet

Dates: Through April 24, 2010

What you can expect to see: The exhibit presents a wealth of unique items from three regions of Africa – Sub-Saharan West Africa, Coastal West Africa and Central West Africa. Pieces range from carved wooden ceremonial masks covered in antelope skin to wrought iron money and spans in time from the 5th Century B.C. to the 20th Century A.D. The approximately 250 pieces include bronze, ivory and stone figures; heavily beaded crowns, thrones, stools and clothing; carved wooden statuary; wrought iron shrines and figures; ivory dance wands, harps and trumpets. Most pieces never before seen in public.

Collection: Private collection of Dana and Laurie Mitchell of Memphis.

Sponsors: Simmons First National Bank, Entergy, Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel, The Sarah Creasy Endowment Fund for The Arts & Science Center, The Entergy Endowment Fund for The Arts & Science Center, Arkansas Humanities Council, Arkansas Arts Council and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Adella, Adella the Storyteller: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6

Who: Adella Gautier – or Adella, Adella the Storyteller – will bring African animals to life, make history real, turn ancestors into wise friends, and open the imaginations and hearts of all her listeners. An international performer, Gautier is based in New Orleans where she is the associate artistic director of Junebug Productions.

Free School Performances: All 5th grade students in Jefferson County are invited to tour the exhibit, enjoy Adella’s performance and take part in a mask-making activity provided by Historic Arkansas Museum on Feb. 1-2. Adella's performance will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Free Public Performance: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, all residents are invited to the Center to hear Adella, tour the exhibits and make a mask to take home.

Open Houses and Gallery Talks: Feb. 2, 12 and 21

African-American Advisory Committee Open House: 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2: The Center’s African-American Advisory Committee will host an Open House, including a presentation by Adella, Adella the Storyteller, to introduce the community to its activities.

Gallery Talk 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12: Dr. Joanna Edwards, professor emeritus in humanities and art history from UAPB and with a doctorate in the history of art (Africa, Mesoamerica and Oceania) from Indiana University where she studied under Dr. Roy Sieber, internationally known expert on the history of African art, will discuss the culture and history of the art in the exhibit.

Open House 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21: Dana and Laurie Mitchell will discuss their collection.

African Drum Ballet: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27

Who: Zinse Agginie, a native of West Africa and now of Arkansas, uses African percussion to teach drumming technique, storytelling and movement. On yearly trips to Africa, he purchases intricately carved wooden bases with drum heads made of goat skin.

Free Public Performance: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, all residents are invited to the Center to enjoy and interact with Zinse during and after his performance and tour the Center’s exhibits. Zinse's performance will begin at 1:30 p.m.

School Workshops: Zinse will work with students from Oak Park Elementary and teach African Drum Ballet during spring 2010.

African Cooking Classes

Jamie McAfee with the Pine Bluff Country Club and visiting chefs will lead a series of cooking classes about foods from Africa.

Life Mask Classes:

Children’s Class 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20

Adult Class 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 18, 25

Create a mask of your own face and decorate it under the direction of UAPB art educator Husny Dahlan. Life Masks capture the person’s likeness and allow a unique presence and beauty to be physically, emotionally and energetically expressed through a work of art.