Robert Goldwater Library blog

Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Gallery of Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific

The Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Gallery of Africa, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific, opening on April 5, 2008, will be the first permanent home for the Royal Ontario Museum's collections from these regions in over 30 years.

From ROM's site:

This gallery reflects the ROM’s vast and diverse collections that represent the artistic and cultural traditions of indigenous peoples from Africa, the American continents, the Asia-Pacific region and Oceania. This is the first permanent home for these collections in over 30 years, with many of the 1,400 artifacts on display for the first time.

Ranging from large and dramatic ceremonial masks and colourful robes to archaeological objects such as ceramics and basketry, the collections were gathered from the late 19th century to the present and represent some of the Museum’s founding collections. The artifacts reveal aspects of everyday life, clothing, commerce, ceremony and art of indigenous cultures from around the world. Divided into four geographic areas, this gallery is rich with symbols of heritage and identity that continue to have meaning today.

ROM's site also features a number of behind-the-scenes photographs of the installation.

Pictured above: Diablada dance mask (papier-mâché), Bolivia, c. 1955. [source]

TIME LINES: New Perspectives on Contemporary and Traditional African Art

Museum for African Art 2008 Lecture Series
TIME LINES: New Perspectives on Contemporary and Traditional African Art

Slicing Through Time: CT Scanning of Malian Antiquities

February 28, 2008
6pm - 8pm

Little is knows about the great 12th-15th century figurative terra cotta sculptures from the Inland Niger Delta of Mali. Belgian radiologist Marc Ghysels will demonstrate how noninvasive CT scanning can shed light on Malian antiquities as well as on other works of African art.

The presentation shows how CT scans can reveal details about materials, processes of production, and restoration. Dr. Ghysels is joined by Kristina Van Dyke, Associate Curator for Collections at the Menil Collection, Houston.

Hip Hop Africa: Global Currents, New Media
March 28, 2008
6pm - 8pm

Conceptual artist, writer and musician Paul D. Miller/DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid moderates an all-star panel discussion on African hip hop and music videos. Professors Jesse Shipley (Bard College) and Michael Ralph (New York University) join Shaheen Ariefdien of the pioneering South African rap group Prophets of da City and filmaker Ben Herson to discuss the emergence and current state of hip hop in African nations.

Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art
April 22, 2008
6pm - 8pm

Coiled basketry from Africa and the Lowcountry of South Carolina reveal links between Africa and the United States going back to the 17th Century. Henrietta Snype, renowned basket maker from South Carolina, joins Enid Schildkrout and Dale Rosengarten, co-curators of the Grass Roots exhibition in a discussion presentation of America's longest surviving African art form -- basket making. Stunning new video of contemporary basket makers, by Dana Sardet, will be debuted in this presentation.

Lectures will take place at 19 University Place, Room 102, between E. 8th & Waverly (venue change).  Note that all non-NYU guests must present photo ID at the security desk.

TIME LINES: New Perspectives on Contemporary and Traditional African Art  is co-sponsored by the Museum for African Art and Institute of African-American Affairs at New York University.

TIME LINES is supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Museum for African Art website

Authors' profiles

Ross Day (seen here in an earlier photo) is the head of the Robert Goldwater Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Joy Garnett is the library's manager and blog-meister. Check out her growing web empire at http://joygarnett.com

Erika Hauser is a Senior Library Associate who enjoys dual citizenship between the Robert Goldwater and Thomas J. Watson Libraries.