The City of Lake Charles, Louisiana

Art of Africa: Objects from the Collection of Warren Robbins

The City of Lake Charles will host a new traveling exhibition, Art of Africa: Objects from the Collection of Warren Robbins, January 13- March 10. The exhibit highlights the private collection of the founder and former director of the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution. The show will open with a free reception 5:30-8 p.m. January 13 in the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan Street.  Refreshments will be served.

Art of Africa presents more than 60 objects including sculpture, textiles, beaded clothing and jewelry, which broadly represent the creativity and diversity of artistic expression of nearly 30 cultures of sub-Saharan Africa. The textiles and body ornaments in this exhibition, once worn by royalty and titled men and women, functioned as symbols of power and authority during special rituals and ceremonies. Often worn for rites of passage, these ornaments later signified social and marital status. Whether for personal or ceremonial use, body ornaments, tools, weapons and household objects in many African cultures are believed to contain the spiritual essence of their owners. Accompanied by music and photographs, the exhibition will illustrate the broader cultural context in which these art forms were created and used.

Art of Africa is of interest for any curriculum from social studies to art. An educational activity booklet will be provided for field trips. In the gallery, students will find African masks and headdresses; learn about royalty and symbolic garments, and uncover some interesting facts about African families and ancestors. In the guide, they learn new words, facts about the artworks and participate in fun activities. They can begin the activities while visiting the exhibition and complete the activities in the back of the guidebook in the classroom.  

The collection is on loan from the Center for Cross Cultural Communication, an interdisciplinary educational institute established by Warren Robbins. He was also the founding director emeritus of the National Museum of African Art, which is now a branch of the Smithsonian Institution. Art of Africa is organized for tour by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.

Historic City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.  For more information, please call 491-9147.