Washington, DC — The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. officially unveils the Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection this month. The collection features pieces from the personal collection of Paul and Ruth Tishman purchased by the Walt Disney Company in 1984.
The collection was amassed during Paul and Ruth Tishmans' travels throughout Africa. Most of the pieces come from West and Central Africa and reflect the Tishmans' love of masks and figurines. The pieces varied in size, material, and time period.
One of the most striking pieces is a figure entitled "Crucifix," made of copper alloy. The piece dates from the 17th century of the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo. The "Crucifix" depicts the crucifixion of Christ and is said to reflect the influence of missionaries' arrival in the region two centuries earlier. Interestingly, like many pieces created in that period, the "Crucifix" depicts Christ with African features.
Another outstanding piece is an early 20th century four-faced helmet mask from the Akparabong in Nigeria. The magnificent piece is made of wood, skin, dye and iron. The four faces of the mask depict a man and his three wives.
There is also the "Rooster," an 18th century piece from the Edo peoples of the Benin Kingdom in Nigeria. The piece, made of copper alloy, is a large figure of a rooster with extensive and intricate surface patterns. The rooster was a symbol of religious and cultural importance in the region, according to exhibition materials.
Many other pieces in the collection have religious, cultural, and ceremonial significance for the groups from which they originate. Several pieces come from the Yoruba people of Benin and Nigeria. Several of these pieces were used in ceremonies to pay homage to different orishas or Yoruba gods. For those unfamiliar with some of the peoples and regions highlighted, the exhibition includes a "reading nook" with several adult and children's books on the art, peoples, and regions featured in the exhibition.
The exhibit opens Thursday, February 15 and lasts through September 7, 2008. Information on the exhibit can be found on the museum's website and in the press release issued for its opening.
