FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Crocker Features Only West Coast Stop
of Exhibit Exploring African Art and Identity

March 3, 2005 – Sacramento, Calif. – Probing the influence of native materials and the role of artists in Africa , Material Differences:Art and Identity in Africa presents many of the best examples of African art that can be seen in North America . The exhibit makes its only West Coast stop at the Crocker Art Museum April 2 – June 19, 2005 .

Africa, with its vast, beautiful landscapes and stunning cultural diversity, has produced exquisite works of art in a variety of forms and materials. Drawn from private and public collections worldwide, Material Differences strives to make a connection between material and meaning in diverse African cultures.

“This show moves with unusual clarity,” writes the New York Times, “swinging between the primal and the sophisticated in ways that should appeal to viewers of all ages and levels of knowledge, from schoolchildren to the most seasoned.”

Frank Herreman, curator of Material Differences, which was first seen at the Museum for African Art in New York, writes that the show attempts to “demonstrate that in many cases each of the materials have intrinsic symbolic meaning which contributes to the significance of the artwork as a ritual object.”

Material Differences surveys the vital role art plays in the daily lives of African societies and examines how artists transform materials into highly meaningful objects. By looking at individual media such as wood, metal and clay, the exhibition aims to show the relation of material to the symbolic qualities of the finished artwork, highlighting artists’ techniques and various mediums. Material Differences offers a compelling look into cultures and art forms that is at once beautiful and intriguing in its diversity.

EXHIBITION-RELATED PROGRAMMING

Free Family Festival
Sunday, April 10, 11 AM – 3 PM
Enjoy music, dance, storytellers, a puppet show and hands-on art activities inspired by African culture. Free admission all day.

African Cinema Festival
14 films throughout April
Visit crockerartmuseum.org for a complete schedule. Fee: $5 members; $6 nonmembers.

Lecture – Material Differences: Past and Present
Thursday, April 14, 6:30 PM
Stanford Curator Manuel A. Jordon Perez, Ph.D. will discuss the exhibition within the context of present day Africa. Free with admission.

Tour & Tea
Thursday, May 5, 1 PM
Enjoy a tour of Material Differences followed by afternoon tea. Free with admission.

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The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of Californian, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday; Thursday until 9 p.m. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 264-5423 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

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Media Contact: LeAnne R. Ruzzamenti
Media: (916) 264-1963
Mobile : (916) 213-9402
Public: (916) 264-5423
216 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.crockerartmuseum.org