Overview

Every piece of African woodcarving has an embellished surface, whether it is dyed, pigmented, refurbished, or encrusted with sacrificial matter. Surfaces is the first book to present a detailed study of what happens to African wood sculpture from its creation to its ritual use and ""retirement."" The six essays by distinguished African art historians investigate cultural practices associated with surface decoration, the practitioners responsible for the applications, and the reasons for the use of specific materials. Luxurious color and black-and-white photographs embellish the text and illustrate the power and potency of African sculpture. A comprehensive listing of colorings and raw materials is also included. For students, museum professionals, and collectors, this book will become an important reference which inspires new appreciations of African art and artistry.

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9780253352514

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This book demonstrates without question that the surface of African wood sculpture is a site of intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic deliberation. Z. S. Strother, University of California, Los Angeles This volume has something for everyone interested in African art. It includes a series of scholarly essays with extensive bibliographies, a gallery of objects, and a valuable guide to local materials and substances. It will be a welcome addition in the academy and in museums, and it will certainly be of interest to collectors and enthusiasts of African art. --African Studies Review, Vol. 53, No. 2, September 2010 Surfaces This ... Is a book which eloquently illustrates its theme and has many stimulating passages. - Journal of Art Historiography

This book demonstrates without question that the surface of African wood sculpture is a site of intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic deliberation. Z. S. Strother, University of California, Los Angeles

Author Information

Leonard Kahan is a certified appraiser of African art and curator for the permanent collection of African art at Queensborough College, CUNY. Donna Page specializes in restoring African wood sculpture. She has curated the exhibition Surfaces at the Museum of the SMA Fathers in Tenafly, New Jersey. Pascal James Imperato is Distinguished Service Professor at SUNY Downstate., Vol. 43, no. 3, 2010

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