Take a peek at the Cabinet of Curiosities Exhibition at the Hamill Gallery website.
The Hamill Gallery has a large selection of Fante flags. See more here.
Bobbi and Tim Hamill have pulled together objects from the gallery .... from their homes .... from their travels.
There's a quirkiness that really appeals to me about this exhibition. It's a bit like a mad hatter's tea party in Africa. Bamana puppets sitting down to tea with a Senufo hornbill ..... the table decked with kuba cloth.
I love it! Go and have a look and tell me what you think. Website here.
"I collect African Art because of its power, beauty, magic and craftsmanship. My viewpoint is as an artist, not as an anthropologist. I choose pieces based on formal visual criteria, some knowledge of the tribal traditions, how well I feel the piece succeeds in what it attempts and whether the work gives me an inner sense of satisfaction, pleasure and mystery. It is certainly not necessary to fully understand African art to enjoy it with a sense of wonder and awe." - Tim Hamill, Director, Hamill Gallery of African Art, Boston
What a great exhibition. So much to see. I love how the exhibits are in those box displays and crates rather than behind glass. Particularly like the bark cloths in the last shot.
ReplyDeleteStrange finding the Hamill gallery on your blog, Tim was my art teacher in secondary school in the 80's!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I knew he had a gallery, but its been soooo many years. I like the humor in this exhibition!
This is facinating art to me. I live in the midwest of USA and you don't get opportunity to see such things. Marvelous collection.
ReplyDeleteWonderful stuff Robyn! Ta-Dah!
ReplyDeleteThis art is powerful and mysterious indeed. I am just in awe that I can see all of this stunning art from around the world from right here in my little town. I love it!
power beauty and MAGIC, yes!
ReplyDelete...I'm already a frequent visitor to Hamill :-)
ReplyDelete...and never cease to be amazed and inspired by what I see!
Please explain more about the Fante flags. They're amazing.
ReplyDeletewonderful and inspiring for sure..
ReplyDeletemakes me think "asymmetrical repetition"
Absolutely love this couple's offbeat sense of humor. I'm very taken with the teaparty attended by the banana puppets and the Senufo hornbill. I also like the juxtaposition of the shelf unit and the objects contained within; it makes a wonderful and curious sculpture. Thanks for this view into their collection! I'm refreshed by this vision.
ReplyDeleteI just love those quirky little figures and those fantastic shelving units and boxes to stand them in.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous gallery, and I just love, love the "tea party"! I find African art so intriguing, just seems to carry something sacred from each artist. Thanks again Robyn for sharing such wonders!
ReplyDeleteNever mind about my earlier comments on the flags - I just clicked on the link (duh). My artist friend just got back from Ghana so I promptly sent the link off to her. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI also love quirky, and odd and unique and different-- esp. arranged together-- so much more interesting-- love the ta-da! effect too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvellous way to showcase your finds! The tea party is wonderful!
ReplyDeletethere's something fascinating about groups of similar-but-different objects
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting collection. The display is evocative of a walk-in cabinet with treasures in every nook and cranny.
ReplyDeletei especially like the bark cloth
ReplyDeleteAren't these the most amazing displays?They allow one's mind to wander down interesting paths and ponder the interpretation made by others.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, there is a Mad Hatter's party feel!! It's a party I'd definitely want to get invited to :) Great fun Robyn - playful, powerful, grand wonder!! xox K
ReplyDeleteThose spears are beautiful and fierce. Like!
ReplyDeletetadah...perfect expression for these images! captivating and strong, with just the right whimsicalness ... ta dah!
ReplyDeleteHumor is so under-appreciated as a component of art. But so necessary for so many things.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robyn!
(and thanks for all the recent comments at the croft. I'm almost at the "almost done" point of the make-a-studio adventure.)
Beautiful images. I agree with you. African art does have wonderful power. I also like the carvings on stones from ancient civilisations. Mesmorising.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so interesting - must be a great experience to visit this exhibition, truly full of curiosities! Thanks for taking us there! I had never seen kuba and bark clothes before - they look SO beautiful! How many talented people there've been and are in this enormous world of different cultures and beauties! If I could just see those artists (maybe not by profession, but by soul) that have made the Bamana puppets! Oh, and the Tea Party looks really funny - they all look so solemn...:)
ReplyDeleteRobyn, what a great exhibition! The works do have a certain quirkiness, coupled with that sense of being powerful, magical objects. "The mad hatter's tea party in Africa" is a wonderful description!
ReplyDeleteMagnificent exhibition....very inspiring images !
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing collections...
ReplyDeleteeach time I visit Robyn Im aware of more research I can do following up your links...what a treat to be thus connected by you.
Appreciated your feedback a great deal today...
merci!
Sophie
Wonderfully interesting exhibition. I love the flags.
ReplyDelete