SPECIAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH EXHIBIT BRINGS WORK FORM U.K ARTIST JAMES MORRISFebruary 6, 2009
Butabu: Adobe Architecture of West Africa Photographs by James Morris
Opens February 6 at 6:30 PM; exhibited through Feb 28
The Baobab Cultural Center Black History Month exhibition will feature a minimum of 25 works by James Morris from his highly acclaimed series - Butabu: Adobe Architecture of West Africa.
The black and white images are timeless in composition and invite the viewer on a virtual journey to Africa. The texture and form of the structures immortalize the glorious history of Medieval West Africa. Multi-century-old buildings in Agadez, Niger, or in Djenne, Timbuktu, and Sanga in Mali, or the Gidan dan Hausa architectural forms in Kano, Nigeria, or the houses of the chief of Tangasoko village in Burkina Faso, enlighten the viewer on what the African built environment looked like when slaves were being captured prior to transportation to the Caribbean, Americas and Europe. The change of environment must have been astonishing for these folks.
This exhibition should ignite a sense of awe and pride in any person of African Heritage. The surface texture, shadows and lighting of each image conjures a strong desire to (re)connect with Africa, enticing the view to touch and feel the grain from which these structures rise. Africa's story remains deeply rooted in these living structures made of earth and embellished with timeless philosophies expressed as geometric forms and relief art that adorns some of the buildings.
This is a must-see exhibition for schools, colleges and the general public interested in the humanities, social issues, and African history. Architects are bound to be inspired by the uniqueness the designs. Lovers of photography will be tickled by the quality and the dimensions of the images. The images are worthy of being shown in the Image City of the World, Rochester.
The Baobab will host group tours and talks at the center during the month of February to facilitate interpretation of the vernacular aspects of earthen architecture. For more information on James Morris and Butabu - visit http://www.jamesmorris.info/subchapter.php?id=14.