Earthly Vessels: African Ceramics
Exhibition
Exhibition Overview
Earthly Vessels: African Ceramics
Nancy Mahaney, curator
South Balcony, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
The development of African ceramic traditions in agricultural and pastoral societies has yielded a diversity of vessels with unique forms, functions, and symbolic meanings. Vessels are not just containers for food, water and other necessities of life; they also symbolize life itself from creation to culmination. Drawn from the Spencer’s collection by Nancy Mahaney, SMA Curator of Arts & Cultures of the Americas, Africa, and Oceania, this exhibition of African ceramics will explore the form, function, and meanings of ceramic vessels from across the continent.
Exhibition images
Works of art
unrecorded Makonde artist
mid 1900s
unrecorded Azande artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Azande artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Hawazma artist
1983–1984
unrecorded Hawazma artist
1983–1984
unrecorded Zulu artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Zulu artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Zulu artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Zulu artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Zulu artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Zulu artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Sotho artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Ganda artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Teso artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Wushi artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Nsei artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Igbo artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Igbo artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Igbo artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Nupe artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Bamana artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Bamana artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Kassena artist
mid 1900s
unrecorded Lobi artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Lobi artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Frafra artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Matakam artist
1925–1990
unrecorded Zulu artist
circa 2007
Events
Resources
Audio
Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 202
Nov-2009
I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. African ceramic traditions have yielded a wide range of vessels with unique forms, functions, and symbolic meanings. A current Spencer exhibition, Earthly Vessels: African Ceramics, shows how they are not just containers for food, water and other vital necessities, but also symbolize life itself from creation to culmination. Selected from a promised anonymous gift to the museum and organized by Spencer curator Nancy Mahaney, this exhibition investigates the form, function, and meanings of ceramic vessels from across the African continent. The section Clay, Vessel, Shard presents the life cycle of the vessel from the physical molding of the clay into a durable container, to its transformation into a cultural symbol through ritual use, to its ritual destruction, which completes the cycle as the vessel is returned to the earth or recycled to create a new one. The section From Market to Museum presents the transformation of cultural objects into museum artifacts. And a segment of the exhibition inviting dialogue asks visitors to consider and comment on the museum’s transformative role. From the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.
Episode 205
Nov-2009, Robin L. Bang
I’m David Cateforis with another art minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. Melody and rhythm are integral aspects of Igbo life in Nigeria. Ceramic pot drums or udu drums, like the one you’re hearing, play an important role in Igbo music ? much as string instruments do in Western classical music. A current Spencer exhibition, Earthly Vessels: African Ceramics, examines the cultural significance and symbolic meanings associated with the pottery of Africa. Udu drums are made from clay dug by Igbo women from secret locations strictly off-limits to men. Before the clay is fired, artistic elements are added through such techniques as freehand incising, burnishing, or combing. The completed drum resembles a water jug or pot. The exhibition includes a short film by Eugene Skeef that illustrates the steps involved in making the drum, such as the coiling of the clay and the decoration of the surface, and the use of drums in song. With thanks to Robin L. Bang for her text and Dylan Bassett for his music, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.
Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 202
Nov-2009
I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. African ceramic traditions have yielded a wide range of vessels with unique forms, functions, and symbolic meanings. A current Spencer exhibition, Earthly Vessels: African Ceramics, shows how they are not just containers for food, water and other vital necessities, but also symbolize life itself from creation to culmination. Selected from a promised anonymous gift to the museum and organized by Spencer curator Nancy Mahaney, this exhibition investigates the form, function, and meanings of ceramic vessels from across the African continent. The section Clay, Vessel, Shard presents the life cycle of the vessel from the physical molding of the clay into a durable container, to its transformation into a cultural symbol through ritual use, to its ritual destruction, which completes the cycle as the vessel is returned to the earth or recycled to create a new one. The section From Market to Museum presents the transformation of cultural objects into museum artifacts. And a segment of the exhibition inviting dialogue asks visitors to consider and comment on the museum’s transformative role. From the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.
Episode 205
Nov-2009, Robin L. Bang
I’m David Cateforis with another art minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. Melody and rhythm are integral aspects of Igbo life in Nigeria. Ceramic pot drums or udu drums, like the one you’re hearing, play an important role in Igbo music ? much as string instruments do in Western classical music. A current Spencer exhibition, Earthly Vessels: African Ceramics, examines the cultural significance and symbolic meanings associated with the pottery of Africa. Udu drums are made from clay dug by Igbo women from secret locations strictly off-limits to men. Before the clay is fired, artistic elements are added through such techniques as freehand incising, burnishing, or combing. The completed drum resembles a water jug or pot. The exhibition includes a short film by Eugene Skeef that illustrates the steps involved in making the drum, such as the coiling of the clay and the decoration of the surface, and the use of drums in song. With thanks to Robin L. Bang for her text and Dylan Bassett for his music, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.