Art @ Happy Hour features Gallery Talk

VMFA Educator Gives Talk on African Art 
at Museum's Art @ Happy Hour

Karen Getty, docent and tour services coordinator from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, gave a gallery talk at Piedmont Arts' Art @ Happy Hour on Friday night. 

Getty's talk focused on the museum's exhibit, "Fortune, Courage, Love: Arts of Africa's Akan and Kuba Kingdoms from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts."

From jewelry to textiles to ceremonial objects, the items represented in this exhibition tell the story of royal life in West Africa during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

"The arts of Africa are varied," Getty told guests. "When people think of African art, they often think of masks, but the arts of Africa are much more diverse. In African culture, a mask wouldn't just be the piece worn on the face, but the entire outfit, from top to bottom, worn by a king or queen."

Getty mentioned that all African art can be traced back to the cultures' reverence for the human form and the importance of fertility. 

"Kente cloths and jewelry decorate the body; seats and stools support the body; fertility figures accentuate the most important features of the body: the face, the hair, the umbilical cord. Everything relates back to the human form."

African Art is also full of symbolizism. Objects are often covered in designs, which represent admirable traits, important objects or a person's position in society. 

"Many golden stools of the Akan kingdom feature elephants at the base," said Getty. "What does an elephant represent? Elephants are big, strong, they never forget and they are calm unless provoked. All admirable traits for a king."

During her hour-long discussion, Getty touched on many of the objects found in "Fortune, Courage, Love" and gave valuable insight into the history and culture of West Africa. 

"Fortune, Courage, Love" will be on display at Piedmont Arts through March 5, 2016. The community is invited to tour the exhibit to learn more about African culture and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' African collection. 

Piedmont Arts is open Tuesday – Friday from 10 am – 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm. Admission is always free.