A Brave New World

August 9, 2010 - April 24, 2011 (new opening and closing dates)
Sublevel 1
The National Museum of African Art celebrates its 2008 acquisition of the mesmerizing, video-based artwork Brave New World II with a small, focused installation of contemporary works from its permanent collection that examines the theme of travel. In this new world, grainy film footage of dancers performing in a restaurant in Bali join stencils of body builders and prints named after Bob Dylan tunes to give vision to the very real, global experiences of African artists.

Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art

June 23, 2010 - November 28, 2010
Sublevel 2
By tracing the story of the beautiful coiled basket on two continents, Grass Roots demonstrates the enduring contribution of African peoples and cultures to American life in southeastern United States. On view are approximately 200 objects, including baskets made in Africa and the American South, African sculptures, paintings from the Charleston Renaissance, and historic photos and videos. The exhibition also reveals how a simple farm tool, once used for processing rice, has become an important tool for making coiled baskets in the South.

Videos (running continuously)

Exhibition Catalogue: $35 (paper); $60 (cloth) Related publication and video

The Healing Power of Art: Works of art by Haitian children after the earthquake

June 17, 2010 - January 9, 2011 (new closing date)
Ripley Center, Concourse
Soon after the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake, First Lady of Haiti Elisabeth D. Preval called on Haitian artist Philippe Dodard and his fellow artists, as well as psychologists, educators, and politicians, to create a safe place for children to express their feelings through art. Featured are nearly 100 paintings and drawings created by Haiti's young people at Plas Timoun (The Children's Place), arts centers housed in converted buses at two locations in Port-au-Prince. In addition, the exhibition includes the film Thirty Five Long Seconds: Haiti's Deadly Earthquake (18 min) and two short videos -- one is about Plas Timoun and the other is about a visit to Haiti by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden and a professor at Northern Virginia Community College.

Free brochure

The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection Highlights

May 18, 2009 - September 18, 2011 (new closing date)
Sublevel 1
On view are 60 objects and 4 in the lobby from this comprehensive 525-piece collection of African art representing 20 African countries and 75 peoples and covers 5 centuries of African art, including most major styles ranging from a highly abstract Cameroon mask to a naturalistic carved wooden male figure from Madagascar. Many of the works inspired such 20th-century artists as Picasso and Juan Gris.

Catalogue: $39.95 (paper)

Free family guide

See related articles in the February 2007 Smithsonian magazine: pp. 29-30, 32.

Ceramics at the National Museum of African Art

- Indefinitely
Sublevel 3
Drawn from the museum's extensive collection of 140 ceramic works, on view are 14 vessels representing various regions of the African continent, including five objects that have never been exhibited in the museum. The vessels are representative of master potters, primarily women who display their dexterity by hand-building a variety of vessels. A few pieces from an important group of 85 vessels from Central Africa are on display, along with a beer container from the Chewa of Malawi, a water vessel from the Yoruba of Nigeria, and water and oil containers from the Berber of Algeria.

Pavilion Sculptures (rotating)

- Indefinitely
Pavilion
Note: Objects on display in the Pavilion are rotated constantly.

The following are examples of objects that have been displayed:

• Pair of Figures (mid-20th century): Senufo peoples, Cote d'Ivoire. Wood.
• Medicine Staff (18th century to 19th century): Edo peoples, Benin Kingdom, Nigeria. Iron.
• Vessel (early to late 20th century): Nsei peoples, Bamessing Chiefdom near Bamenda Grassfields region, Cameroon. Terracotta.
• Door with Lock (20th century): Nuna peoples, Burkina Faso. Wood and iron.
• Reduced Angled Spouted Black (1990): Magdalene Odundo. Ceramic.