Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 January 2002 — Page 22
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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25,2002
Exhibit takes rare look at Malian art
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Seeks to harness positive life force NEW YORK (AP) — For the Bamana people of West Africa, the power of nature is tapped by kicking up the dust and making noise, bringing along brightly painted puppets and awe-inspiring masks to harness positive energy, rein in chaos and keep evil at bay. Through almost lOOobjectsand photos and a half dozen videos, “Bamana: The Art of Existence in Mali,” at the Museum for African Art in SoHo, takes an unprecedented look at a Malian art, culture and religion that in many ways is a paradigm for other West African traditions. “Basically, they believe that everything contains a force — nyama,” said Frank Herreman, who co-organized the show with photographer Catherine de Clippel and anthropologist-filmmaker JeanPaul Colleyn. “Nyama is in everything and if you have nyama in you and you can spread it out you become an important person. If you can manage the nyama which is in the things around you, you become a very powerful person indeed. “The real art of living is mastering the forces that are in nature,” Herreman said, explaining that for the Bamana, art, culture, society and religion are intertwined. ‘The show goes from the public to the secret. When you come into the exhibition, it's like stepping into a village in the Bamana region,” a
large multi-ethnic area of southwestern Mali. The exhibit allows visitors to catch a glimpse of the Bamana artistic language through ritualistic and practical objects, most from the 19th and 20th century but some as old as the 15th century. “You see some ceramics, you see the iron staffs, which are carried by leaders. Then you go into the social organizations and you see that young boys’ and girls’ organizations exist to create a social tolerance in the community,” he said. “And there are the organizers of the puppet theater.” Gallery by gallery, visitors delve deeper into the spiritual world of the Bamana, where replacing negative with positive forces is paramount. Wooden puppets painted in brilliant reds and blues dramatize local social issues and are carried through the village as part of a social-spiritual drama in which participants move, dance, kick up dust, make noises and create short skits. One puppet from the 1960s (a time when African nations were gaining independence), shows what is likely an image of French President Charles de Gaulle with his head in a chicken’s feathery tail. Today, similar puppets are more likely to illustrate problems such as AIDS. “One thing you should never forget is that these masks and theater are very close and they have to make a dramatic appearance. If you’re a Roman Catholic you have churches and the churches contain
statues of saints that are used to help inspire,” Herreman said. “But what happens when suddenly that spirit becomes alive? That’s what a mask does. It’s like a saint but it dances and moves. It goes through the community and you ’ re not quite sure what it’s going to do. That’s very important.” Nyama, or life force, is also activated through the mastering of secret knowledge that the Bamana find in initiation societies. Consequently, all art works created for ritual purposes contain nyama. Sculptures of shapely women introduce the Bamana to sexuality and fertility. Bulky wooden masks of hyenas or paint-speckled lions help the elderly come to terms with death. A powerful form believed to sustain energies of huge force under enormous pressure is found in the boliw, an intimidating sculptural form vaguely resembling a buffalo. It is molded from vegetation and soil and coated with layers of blood, hair and other organic substances. The show ends with a display of elegant antelope headpieces—Ciwara — worn strapped to the head as part of an elaborate costume in agricultural rituals. They are often made in pairs, with male and female versions. “They’re about learning how to manage the land. ThisCi-wara is in a way a supernatural being that is incarnated as an animal to teach you how to survive.” The show, composed of works on loan from various U.S. collections, is on view through March 3.
Museum founder and artist to speak at Purdue
Jan. 25 Jazz on the Avenue Madame Walker Theatre Center 6:30 to 10 p.m. $5; $7 buffet Experience an evening that combines all the melodious medleys of live jazz with the tantalizing tastes of great food. Jan. 26 Indiana Pacers vs. Seattle SuperSonics Conseco Fieldhouse 8 p.m. $10 - $45 Watch the Pacers pound the court when they hoop it up against the Seattle SuperSonics.
Jan. 26 USHRA Monster Jam Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome 7:30 p.m. $16 In advance; $5 children 2 • 12; free under 2 Come and get your fill of spills, thrills, flips and overall demolition derby destruction during this monster truck extravaganza. Jan. 26 Family Day Indiana Historical Society 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free Enjoy a day of laughter and togetherness with this entertaining family program that highlights Hoosier comedians and cartoon-
ists. Jan. 28 Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards Luncheon The Westin Hotel 11:30 a.m. $35 During this awards presentation, . help Mayor Bart Peterson honor , organizations that embrace diversity through their education, communication and leadership activities. Information provided by Indianapolis Downtown Inc. For more information or a calendar of events, call 237-2222 or visit www. indydt. com.
ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS
Blue Moon Sunday Blue Moon Sunday will start at 8 p.m. every Sunday at the Madame Walker Theatre Building, 617 Indiana Ave. (downtown) 4th Floor. Open-mic poetry with poets, musicians, artists from around the country, and a featured artist every week. Cost $5, with live jazz, refreshments available, cash bar. You must be 18 and older to be admitted. Hosted by Damon McDade.
For more information e-mail [email protected] or call 925-9525. School music festivals The annual District Solo and Ensemble Festivals will begin Saturday and continue on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 49 host sites throughout the state. The festival has 36,000 events entered this year involving some73,000young musicians representing 1,417 different school
programs as either a solo or ensemble performance before ajudge for evaluation and division rating recognition. The festival is sponsored by the ! Indiana State School Music Asso- ! ciation Inc. (ISSMA). The goal of ! this festival is to provide motivation and evaluation for school musicians as they perform in various i group categories designed according to level of difficulty.
Horoscopes Soul Vibrations
Special to The Recorder WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Margaret Burroughs, founder of the DuSable Museum of AfricanAmerican History in Chicago, will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Purdue’s Black Cultural Center. Renee Thomas, Black Cultural Center director, said Burroughs
also is a respected poet, artist, author, educator and civic leader. “Dr. Burroughs has been recognized by universities and cultural organizations worldwide,” Thomas said. “She is the recipient of six honorary degrees and more than 60 honors and awards. The BCC program is a tribute to her work as an artist, as well as a celebration of her institutional creations, esper • t;«, ■ ha*'
daily the DuSable Museum.” Burroughs was honored by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 as one of 10 outstanding Black artists in the country. Several of Burroughs’ original lithocuts and pen and ink prints will be on display at the Black Cultural Center throughout February.
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Clowes Memorial Hall 2001/2002 Performing Arts Series
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Through Feb. 1 ARIES You need to be with someone this week who does not place too many demands on you, and who is creative, intelligent, a good conversationalist, and highly spiritual. Perhaps you should be out looking for that person this week with eyes wide open! Soul Affirmation: My mood is enhanced by the company I keep. Lucky Numbers: 1,8, 11 TAURUS Work calls and you’ re not completely happy with current divisions of labor. Do more than your part as a member of the team and you’ll be glad that you did. Your reward will come from someone who also did more than their part. Soul Affirmation: Generosity of spirit brings generosity to me. Lucky Numbers: 3, 26,45 GEMINI Business looks good this week as you discover a new way of increasing exposure to your product. Even if the product is you. Let hope and optimism lead me into new beginnings and fresh starts. All vibes are good. Go! Soul Affirmation: When I feel good about myself, the world feels good to me. Lucky Numbers: 1, 39,51 CANCER Everybody should be in a good mood this week, and you’ll want to join friends or family in sharing food and feelings. You may be asked to change your opinion about something you believe in. Make the change. It will enhance your spiritual growth. Soul Affirmation: Clinging to the old will inhibit my growth this week. Lucky Numbers: 18, 23,40
LEO If you seem spaced out this week don’t worry about it. Fill your mind with a vision of love for the entire planet. Use your gifts to assist others in seeing the world as you do, in glorious color. Check the details on paperwork that you have to do, dreamer. Soul Affirmation: Emptiness inside creates the space that I can fill with love. Lucky Numbers: 12, 17, 38 VIRGO . Early morning vibrations could cause you to slow down. That’s good, because slowing down is just what you need. Remember to think of the positive. Reject the negative and you’ll have a wonderful week. Soul Affirmation: The slowness of my week gives me time to refresh my energy. Lucky Numbers: 11,43, 54 LIBRA Rev up your engines. This is a fine week for making progress with projects that you’ve got in the works. Your energy is high and your mind is clear. Use every advantage this week to finish up your works. Soul Affirmation: High energy and clear mind gives me the winning edge. Lucky Numbers: 7, 26, 39 SCORPIO A spirit of rivalry may have you envious this week. Forget about competition. Celebrate your uniqueness and know that no one really ever competes with you in the matter most essential — your good feelings about yourself. Soul Affirmation: My love for myself is the most important love for me to win. Lucky Numbers: 2, 16,45
SAGITTARIUS Confusion exists over some ! question, and every time you think ! you’ve got the answer, circum- : stances will change and new infor- : mation will come to your attention. Don’t worry, things are going to clear up and work out. Take it easy. !; Soul Affirmation: Worry will only create more worry. I stop all worry. Lucky Numbers: 7, 23, 37 CAPRICORN Communications flow smoothly this week and your intuition is high. A wild idea for money making could come to you, but you should let it walk on by. Stick to your current plan and use your imagination for ways to streamline your work. Soul Affirmation: Slow and steady is an enjoyable way to go. ' Lucky Numbers: 28, 34,41 AQUARIUS Creative mental energy makes this a banner week for you. An ambition that you thought you had left behind years ago suddenly resurfaces, and you’ll see similarities between what you are doing now and what you dreamed of back then. Enjoy. Soul Affirmation: I enjoy living ; in my dream. Lucky Numbers: 31, 44, 54 PISCES Give your busy brain a rest and work your body this week. It’s a great week for physical activity that can loosen up muscles and relieve tensions. You’ll receive some practical advice from a distant relative. Soul Affirmation: I let my mind go slack and tighten up my body Lucky Numbers: 12, 23, 34
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