EXPERIENCE AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN ART
AT THE NASHER MUSEUM OF ART
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
photo by Duke Photography.
By Sherri Holmes
DURHAM, NC - In order to truly appreciate a people, a culture, a spirit, you should visit
an art museum. If you want to view amazing African and African American art, you can
find it at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University in Durham, NC.
Since the Nasher Museum opened in 2005, it has had a commitment to works
by artists of African descent. This is in stark contrast to most mainstream art museums.
The Center of the Future of Museums, issued a report that “paints a troubling picture of
the ‘probable future’ — a future in which, if trends continue in their current grooves,
museum audiences (will be) radically less diverse than the American public.” Despite
industry acknowledgement of this issue, many museums continue to ignore the African
American community. But the Nasher Museum has a different approach.
“We are dedicated to exhibiting and collecting works by artists of African descent,”
said Trevor Schoonmaker, Chief Curator at the Nasher Museum. “Our goal is to position
this work within a diverse, global context of contemporary art. In this way, we feel we
can be both artistically and socially impactful, as well as be a leader among museums in
the United States. This is one of several things we do, but it is a priority for us. Durham
is a very fitting community for this work, as the population is about 40 percent African
American and there are numerous scholars who specialize in the field in
the area.”
Each year the Nasher Museum has an exhibition that features African or African
American art. Currently, the Museum is presenting Sound Vision: Contemporary Art
from the Collection. This exhibition, on view until August 3, features paintings, works
on paper, photography, video, installation and sculpture.
The Nasher Museum hosts programs that will appeal to visitors of all backgrounds.
On July 24 at 7 pm the Nasher will present the film, Half of a Yellow Sun, a drama
that takes place in Nigeria’s Biafran War. Admission is free. Other programs include
lectures, receptions, performances, family activities and exhibition tours.
As a part of Duke University, an important mission of the Nasher Museum is to
educate Duke students as well as those from area schools. Students’ ability to see their
images and experiences reflected in art at the Museum will help them build a sense of
pride, foster an interest in the arts as well as encourage a new generation of diverse
artists.
More than 100,000 people visit the Nasher Museum of Art each year. If you love
African and African American art, you should definitely be one of them.
Sherri Holmes is the Director of the Triangle Friends of African American Arts.
She may be reached at [email protected]
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Sound Vision exhibition at the Nasher Museum
by Peter Paul Geoffrion.
Photo by Paul Geoffrion “The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born”
by Njideka Akunyili
from Sound Vision exhibition.
SPECTACULAR MAGAZINE | July 2014 | www.spectacularmag.com