Armed with a camera, the hubby, 3 all knowing teenagers and 2 eager little ones we arrive at Centennial Olympic Park for unique finds and to explore design inspirations at "The National Black Arts Festival 2011"
Textile Inspirations were in abundance, from the brown,gold, and taupe earth tones colors of the mud cloth, or the intricate details in the Kuba cloth patterns.
The NBAF typically presents the work of artists from the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and Latin America.
My Favorite find of all!! A pair of BENIN, BRONZE LEOPARDS, Nigeria
(asking price $25,000 for the pair)
The extraordinary bronzes of the Benin kingdom in what is now Nigeria exhibit a virtuosity and sophistication of style that has astonished the Western world since they were visited in the 15th Century. Their work was brought to Europe following a punitive expedition by the British in 1897, causing a great sensation. The people of Benin, called Bini, are descended from the Ife, also known for their remarkable bronzes. Almost all Benin art was created to honor the king , or Oba, who has reigned, with his ancestors, from the 15th century. Styles have changed over the years. Although similar to many older works, these are all 20th C. pieces. Each is still sculpted by hand, then cast in bronze by the lost wax process.
All in all we had a blast and the whole family cant wait for next year!
Soon I will share what I made with fabrics from the festival! Stay tuned!
To Find out more about the National Black Arts Festival follow this link
Listen to that wealth of historical knowledge! Love it.. great photos, too!
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