Threads of Africa: A Celebration of Art, Nature, and People

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2017 | NOON
EAST BUILDING AND MUSEUM PARK
The North Carolina Museum of Art will unveil the newly reinstalled African art gallery in our East Building with a daylong celebration of African art, nature, music, and culture! The Museum Park comes alive with music and dance performances, drum-making workshops, collaborative community art activities, food, African cultural activities, and more! Walk the new gallery and experience conversations with experts and storytellers, and participate in a collaborative art project with artist Maya Freelon Asante.
The day concludes with a free concert by world-renowned West African artist Angélique Kidjo (ticket required, SOLD OUT).
Drop-in activities
Noon-5 pm
Collaborative kinetic sculpture building with artist Maya Freelon Asante
Museum Park
Visitors may help create tissue-paper quilts under the guidance of award-winning Durham artist Maya Freelon Asante. The collaborative installation will remain on display on the Museum campus.
Hands-on cultural connections
African art gallery
Experts answer questions and discuss cultural connections between ancient and modern art. Artists include Ibrahim Said, an Egyptian ceramicist; Amponsah Opuku, a North Carolina Central University student and descendant of Ghanaian royalty, who discusses kuba cloth with samples visitors can touch; and Brand Africa Group from Fayetteville, showcasing kente cloth and discussing the meanings behind the color and pattern symbolism.
Storytelling, culinary demonstrations, art making
Throughout the galleries and Museum Park
• Storytelling with Braima Moiwai, a West African storyteller and artist who has been performing for more than 30 years
• Culinary stations with Chef Kabui and The Palace International Restaurant to highlight traditional and modern takes on African foods
• Art making inspired by the African collection, including a project inspired by the Dutch Wax process and an exploration of color and pattern in African kente cloth with artists Candy Carver and Nadjib Assani
North Carolina Zoo station with African animals
Museum Park
Zoo representatives bring a collection of African insects and animals, including a ball python, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, African giant millipede, and African hedgehog for visitors to see and touch.
Drum making with Magic of African Rhythms
Noon-3 pm
Food (11:30 AM-3:30 PM)
For more information: bit.ly/2f8F7Ay