African Art

A male with a weapon or animal (commonly a horse) is produced to show honor to departed ancestors. Animals are rarely sculpted for the purpose of showing the inward or outward beauty of the animal, but to give status to the person. Even today, many in Africa would consider the ownership of a horse to be of greater status than the ownership of an automobile. Showing a person with a horse would then be giving great honor to them. Sometimes people are shown with animals that are not really used; possibly even mythical. The purpose is to show the power given to one who rides such an animal, and the wealth that they must have. 

As women achieve significance through their children, men will often be honored in warfare. The one who goes to battle must have physical, emotional and spiritual energy to survive and to conquer. Thus we have the emphasis on weapons and the spoils of war in many African works.  See some African Figurines.

Wednesday’s African Recipe

Candied Yams from West Africa

 INGREDIENTS:

• 6 Med. Yams
• 1 Tsp. Nutmeg
• 1 Tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 8 Tbsp. Margarine
• 2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

Step #1 - Peel yams and slice lengthwise.

Step #2 - Place yams in a large pot , cover with water, and bring to a boil.

Step #3 - Drain half of the water and put yams and remaining water in a large pan or skillet.

Step #4 - Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg.

Step #5 - Bring to boil and cook approximately 3 minutes

Step #6 - Add the remainder of the nutmeg, cinnamon, sugar, and the vanilla extract.

Step #7 - Spoon mixture all over the yams and let simmer for 15 minutes until the yams have absorbed all the syrup.

Step #8 - Remove from heat until ready to serve.

There is little question about the central place of art in our lives and of its importance to our well-being. Civilizations throughout the ages have venerated art whether for its form, its function or its spiritual significance.
Modern art movements have swept over the landscape, and the primary role of art in our lives has, in modern times, shifted away from being one of function. Yet the relevance of art and the richness that art brings to our existence is stronger today than it ever was. And so artists continue to create and the rest of us continue to seek out art.

Today we are faced with a breathtaking array of artistic expression - from literal, realistic renderings, to abstraction; from the legacies of early art movements to the highly personal and individualistic styles, subjects and techniques of contemporary and cutting edge artists. A feast and also quite a job for the viewer. Knowing about art now seems to be a skill requiring specially gained expertise, or at least a great deal of exposure. And if we add to this diversity of artistic expression, the existence of an organized “art market”, and the complexities of the modern marketplace, we can see why buying and collecting art can often be a daunting task.

The idea that collecting Black Art is an activity reserved for the wealthy is just not true today. Every one of us can participate in the pleasure, the beauty, the stimulation, the inspiration, and even the profit of viewing, buying and collecting art. For many of us, there is so much more to gain from mining the rich depths of an artistic tradition of Black Art that has for so long been overlooked - the art of Black America and the African Diaspora.

 I found this great article that I think blog readers would like to see that pertains to the origins of African art.

 The origins of African art lie long before recorded history. African rock art in the Sahara in Niger preserves 6000-year-old carvings. The earliest known sculptures are from the Nok culture of Nigeria , made around 500 BCE. Along with sub-Saharan Africa , the cultural arts of the western tribes, ancient Egyptian artifacts, and indigenous southern crafts also contributed greatly to African art. Often depicting the abundance of surrounding nature, the art was often abstract interpretations of animals, plant life, or natural designs and shapes.

 More complex methods of producing art were developed in sub-Saharan Africa around the 10th century, some of the most notable advancements include the bronze work of Igbo Ukwu and the terracottas and metalworks of Ile Ife Bronze and brass castings, often ornamented with ivory and precious stones, became highly prestigious in much of West Africa, sometimes being limited to the work of court artisans and identified with royalty, as with the Benin Bronzes.

 African art article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia