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African Arts Market opens today at the DAC
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Photo by JERRY McBRIDE/Herald
Alaji Juwara, an African arts dealer from Zambia, holds a 150 year-old colonial flag from Ghana on Monday while setting up for the African Arts Market at the Durango Arts Center.
Click image to enlarge
JERRY McBRIDE/Herald
A beaded crown from Nigeria is among the many authentic works of art that will be displayed and sold during the African Arts Market, which begins today and continues through Nov. 14.
JERRY McBRIDE/Herald
A beaded crown from Nigeria is among the many authentic works of art that will be displayed and sold during the African Arts Market, which begins today and continues through Nov. 14.
JERRY McBRIDE/Herald
A spiritual protection hunting garment worn by men during nighttime hunts in Ghana. Juwara estimates the garment is more than 100 years old.
If you go
All events are free, unless otherwise noted. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, call 259-2606.
Today: Exhibit opens in the Barbara Conrad Gallery, Durango Arts Center, silent auction benefit of canvases by local artists begins.
Wednesday: 7 p.m., “African Art: Function and Meaning” by Joshua Fisher, visiting instructor of art history from Fort Lewis College.
Thursday: 7 p.m., Engineers Without Borders project in Yua, Ghana, 2009, by photojournalist Kate Dorrell.
Friday: 5-7 p.m., reception to welcome and meet the artists; 6-7:30 p.m., drumming workshop with Akeem Ayanniyi, a ninth-generation Yoruba talking drummer (cost is $20).
Nov. 10: 7 p.m., “Citizen Journalism in Africa and Beyond” by Andrew McGregor, photographer and founder of The Tiziano Project.
Nov. 11: 7 p.m., “The Devil Came on Horseback,” a film about the Darfur crisis by Annie Sundberg and Rikki Stern.
Nov.12: 7 p.m., “Make All Children Smile in Zimbabwe,” by Judy Duke.
Nov. 14: 3 p.m., silent auction benefit ends; 5 p.m., gallery closes.
Over the next 12 days, Durango's cultural hub will do its part to dispel Africa's image as "The Dark Continent" through the work of several artists, a film, lectures and workshops. The market, which is both an exhibit and an actual bazaar of African art, comes to us through the substantial efforts of Nancy Conrad, a former DAC employee who organized the event on a purely volunteer basis.
"There have been many international cultural shows at the DAC over the years, but this is the first that involves so many countries," Conrad said.
The African Arts Market will transcend a typical themed exhibit because, in addition to countless works of African art, there will be African artists on hand throughout its run. Nigerian silversmith Moussa Albaka, an international award winner who specializes in Tuareg jewelry, and Alaji Juwara, who originally is from Zambia and brings items from Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Zaire, both will be in Durango for the duration of the market.
In addition, Guinea's Mamadou Bah will appear today at the DAC with baskets and artwork from Ghana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. And ninth-generation Nigerian drummer Akeem Ayanniyi will spend Thursday and Friday at the market, and his stay includes a Yoruba talking drum workshop on Friday evening.
All four men spend a great deal of time in the Southwest - Ayanniyi now is based in Santa Fe and Bah owns a store in Albuquerque, which is how Conrad was able to lure them to Durango. She met the artists through her longtime friend and former DAC employee Mary Puller, who now lives in Tucson, Ariz.
"She and I have always been passionate about arts education and especially different cultures, and she got me in touch with them, one thing led to another, and here we are," Conrad said.
The artists' presence will be augmented with African photography by Durango's Suzi Moore McGregor and internationally renowned photographers Phil Borges and Nick Brandt, each of whom traveled the continent extensively for their images. The photos displayed are on loan from Open Shutter Gallery.
Several guest speakers and the film "The Devil Came on Horseback" are evidence of Conrad's dedication to arts education.
On Wednesday, Fort Lewis College art history professor Joshua Fisher will give a general presentation about African art.
Thursday's featured speaker is Kate Dorrell, who will speak about her work with Engineers without Borders in Yua, Ghana, and on Nov. 10, Andrew McGregor, president of The Tiziano Project, will visit from Los Angeles. McGregor founded the organization to promote online citizen journalism in regions neglected by major media outlets.
Conrad said in addition to the scheduled organized lectures and events, she and the DAC staff and visiting artists will be available to host customized activities and field trips for school classes.
Local artists also are involved in the African Arts Market. Beginning today and ending Nov. 14, a silent auction with small canvases by 30 artists will be up for bid, with proceeds donated to the DAC and several nonprofit groups including The Tiziano Project, Engineers without Borders, Make All Children Smile, Global Grassroots and Pride and Purpose.
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