July 2009

Artful Animals

African Creations Run Wild at the Smithsonian

By Janice L. Kaplan

If you think you know African animals--through mass media images of safaris, Hollywood’s popular animated films or theme park rides--think again. This summer, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art opens “Artful Animals,” a new family exhibition of artworks presenting the animals of Africa in a new light, dispelling myths and stereotypes and showing the way they are represented in community performances, paintings and textiles by traditional and contemporary African artists. The exhibition is accompanied by both free and ticketed activities offered at the National Museum of African Art, as well as the National Postal Museum, National Zoological Park, National Museum of Natural History and Discovery Theater. Programming is sponsored by the Smithsonian School Programming Fund.

“Artful Animals” opens July 1, just in time for the holiday weekend, and continues through February 21, 2010. It features 125 works of art including paintings, etchings, textiles, masks and sculptures made of wood, glass beads, iron and copper alloy. Contemporary works by such well-known African artists as David Koloane, Pilipili Mulongoy and Bruce Onobrakpeya are also included.

“Too many people don’t recognize that Africa is a continent [comprising] 54 distinct countries, a land mass greater than three times the size of the United States, with a hugely diverse population that speaks more than 1,000 languages,” says museum educator Deborah Stokes. “Our staff overhears students and even teachers in our galleries using terms such as ‘primitive’ and ‘jungle’ with references to Tarzan and The Lion King. ‘Artful Animals’ will serve to correct rudimentary notions that Africans live with wild animals and that Africa is an untamed place.”

Educational AND Fun

“This exhibition has a serious purpose--to inform and educate,” says Johnnetta Betsch Cole, the distinguished leader, renowned scholar, anthropologist and trailblazer in education who is the museum’s new director. “At the same time, it’s a whole lot of fun. Who can resist a slit gong in the form of a buffalo, a pink shark mask, a fantasy coffin in the shape of an elephant or a hat made out of pangolin skin? Most importantly, ‘Artful Animals’ reaches young museum-goers and school groups who are dearly important to this museum.”

In addition to buffaloes, sharks, elephants and pangolins, visitors will find artworks featuring apes, antelopes, beetles, birds, butterflies, chameleons, crocodiles, dogs, hippos, hyenas, land snails, leopards, lions, mudfish, pigs, snakes, scorpions, spiders, turtles and warthogs. Visitors won’t find kangaroos; there aren’t any in Africa. And they won’t find zebras; they don’t appear in traditional African art, according to curator Bryna Freyer. They won’t find giraffes either, says Freyer, adding, “We couldn’t import the rock engravings where they appear.”

Not all of the animals depicted in the works of art are easy to identify. For instance, “the gontogo or gomintogo from the Dogon peoples has been described as a deer, an antelope no longer found in the area, a rhinoceros and a mantis,” says Freyer. It is also difficult to identify some animal masks when they are displayed without their costumes, dances and music.

In other cases, animals are combined into one composite figure with multiple powers. “Few objects are so generally identified with African art as the Bamana chi wara crest mask,” says Freyer. “Often described as an antelope, it is actually a composite of antelope, aardvark and pangolin.”

There are no real bears in Africa but teddy bears have recently appeared, notably in South Africa. On display are teddies made of South African mohair, a bear inspired by the designs of the Ndebele peoples and an embroidered bear from a women’s craft cooperative.

Around the Smithsonian

By inviting other Smithsonian museums and Discovery Theater to participate in the programming, the National Museum of African Art’s goal was not only to present African animals as works of art, but also to explore this theme through anthropology, history, science and the performing arts.

The National Zoo, for instance, has produced signs that highlight zoo animals featured in “Artful Animals.” The National Postal Museum will highlight displayed stamps from its international collection representing African animals; these have been used as important symbols for a number of countries across the continent. The National Museum of Natural History has developed activity carts that relate to the exhibition. One activity focuses on communication, while the other looks at elephants. (As many museum-goers know, the National Museum of Natural History’s rotunda is home to the largest African elephant on display anywhere in the world.)

In addition, the National Museum of African Art has developed a number of activities, tours and hands-on stations. A guide for people who are blind or have low vision has been created with tactile graphics and Braille to make the exhibition more accessible.

Family-Friendly Labels and Family Guide

“Artful Animals” features exhibition labels written especially for young visitors and an activity guide, available at all four museums, that further engages family audiences.
“All of us at the Smithsonian are excited about the exhibitions and public programs that make up this family-focused project,” says Roberta Gasbarre, director of the Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater. “In addition to visiting the National Museum of African Art, visitors can see African animals in miniature at the National Postal Museum, place animals in the broader context of a country and a people at the Natural History Museum and see the real deal at the National Zoo. Discovery Theater gets to add music, dance and storytelling to the mix.”

Animal Activities

In conjunction with “Artful Animals,” many programs are planned throughout the summer and fall. Here is a sampling. For a full listing, visit Africa.si.edu.

July 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 and 30, 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3 p.m.
National Postal Museum
Participate in drop-in activities for families or groups of campers. Look for “Artful Animals” examples in the stamp vaults, collect favorite animal stamps from around the world and create stories from the stamps. Special programming on July 23 features Discovery Theater performers.

July 8, 15, 22 and 29, 10:30 a.m. to noon
National Museum of African Art
Enjoy interactive storytelling performances by Diane Macklin followed by short art workshop. For ages 6 and up and their adult friends.

July 11, 1 to 3 p.m.
National Museum of African Art
Learn about symbols in “Artful Animals,” and create a mask to take home in this family workshop for ages 7 and up and their adult friends. Register by calling 202-633-4633.

July 23, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
National Zoo
Join the National Zoo and Discovery Theater for a Sunset Serenade performance of Soul in Motion, with participatory drum and dance at the band shell on the green. Make take-home rubbings.

August 1, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
National Postal Museum
At “Animals R Us! Family Day,” participants will enjoy presentations on how animals can make important points about a country and its people. Look for “Artful Animals” examples in the stamp vaults, collect favorite animal stamps from around the world and create stamps.

August 3-8, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
National Museum of African Art
“Artful Animals” is the focus of “ArtWrite N Africa,” a weeklong writing camp for teens. Student writings will be featured in a book and on the museum’s website. Reservations are required. Call 202-633-4640.

August 7, 10:15, 11, 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
National Museum of African Art
In a program for ages 3 to 8, a storyteller shares tales about the animals, then children go into the gallery to look for their favorites. This performance/exhibit visit is a Discovery Theater “Meet the Museum” program. Tickets are required. Order online at discoverytheater.org, or call 202-633-3030.

September 30,10:15 and 11:30 a.m.
National Museum of Natural History Baird Auditorium
Soul in Motion Drummers and Dancers celebrate Mother Africa in this dance concert with audience participation that begins with a multimedia presentation. Afterward, docents in the African Voices and Mammal halls welcome visitors. School groups are welcome. Tickets required. Order online at discoverytheater.org, or call 202-633-3030.

November 14, 2 p.m.
National Museum of African Art
Multidisciplinary artists Tosha Grantham, Ernesto Mercer and Nekima Smith present a gallery performance titled “Nnandi and the Hunter’s Shirt,” drawing upon themes in the exhibition.

“Artful Animals”

July 1, 2009 through February 21, 2010
National Museum of African Art
950 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C.
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
202-633-1000, Africa.si.edu

Complementary programs:

Janice L. Kaplan is a writer and communications consultant for nonprofits including museums, arts groups, human services organizations and foundations.