Muticultral Field Trip

Nicole Whaley

March 10, 2013

EDU-230

Ashley Calhoun

Multicultural Field Trip

The Newark Museum's African art collection ranks among the nation's oldest and most comprehensive, representing the breadth, diversity and vitality of artistic creativity throughout the continent.  Its holdings comprise nearly 4,000 objects of ritual, ceremonial and daily use, as well as popular urban and fine arts.  They include outstanding examples of masks and figural sculpture, textiles and dress, pottery, jewelry, furniture, photography and paintings.  The works range from historic artifacts, primarily dating to the late 19th and early 20th century, to examples of contemporary artistic creativity.  The continental scope of the collection—especially its inclusion of art from northern, eastern and southern African countries—is a particular strength.  Its holdings in these areas are unmatched today by most art museums, which historically focused on sculpture from west and central Africa in developing their collections.

The African art collection dates to the 1920s, when the Museum acquired several important early collections.  Among these are works from southern Cameroon collected by the missionary Herbert W. Grieg, examples of Yoruba art work collected by businessman Walter Dormitzer and objects from northeastern Congo and Kenya collected by the explorer Delia Akeley.  The museum's founder, John Cotton Dana, made two trips to North Africa in 1924 and 1929 and made substantial purchases, forming the nucleus of the African textile collection.  Along with its collecting program, the Museum also demonstrated an early commitment to exhibiting African art. The Museum's African holdings were first exhibited in 1926, when the museum opened in its new building, and the focus of a special exhibition in 1928.

The African gallery showcases works from important art-producing cultures, including the Yoruba of Nigeria and the Asante of Ghana.  Among the highlights are a towering Epa...