Art 489/689 Arts of African and African American Cultures (2 credits)

Dates: June 15 @ 6 PM -June 21 @ 12 PM, 1997

Times: MTWTHF

Location: 120A SH

This course will explore the history and aesthetics of the traditional and contemporary arts of several African cultures, including work s from South African Townships, Botswana, Ashanti, the Ivory Coast, and Benin. This artistic heritage was brought to America by the African slaves. We will trace the development of different strands of African American art and the works of contemporary masters Bearden, Lawrence, Hunt, Biggers and Ringgold, among others. The course will be primarily studio, with our work inspired by the motivations and forms of the art and artists we examine. Techniques demonstrated will include ceremonial staffs, coil basketry, printed cloth, copper tooling, masks, painting, assemblage’ sculpture, installation and collage’. Students will be encouraged to develop works using their own artistic media and vocabulary with the rich heritage of African and African American forms as their motivational jump-start. Teachers will find resources easily adapted for units in the K-12 setting. Class size limit 30. $25.00materials fee.