Back to press releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For centuries, African beadwork has “spoken” in a visually coded language to convey thoughts about personal relationships, family ties, wealth, religious beliefs, and social and political standing. Between the Beads: Reading African Beadwork is an exploration of this practice that will be presented at the Harn Museum of Art beginning Nov. 12.

The exhibition illuminates the historical and cultural contexts of bead use, meaning and production, showing how beads of many materials, colors, sizes and shapes have embellished the human body and have been used in sculptural displays.

Showcasing approximately 100 works, Between the Beads includes personal adornment, masks and sculpture by the Yoruba, Asante, Ndebele and Zulu peoples, among others. Works on display date from the 7th century through the 20th century and were drawn from private collections and the museum’s extensive collection of African art.

The exhibition is the result of collaboration between Susan Cooksey, curator of African art, and Dr. Victoria Rovine, assistant professor of art history at the University of Florida. Students in Rovine’s Clothing and Textiles in Africa class conducted research about the objects in the exhibition. Their interpretive text will be featured in the museum wall panels in the exhibition and also on the exhibition Web site at www.harn.ufl.edu/beadwork. The Web site was developed in association with the University of Florida Digital Library Center; Lourdes Santamaria-Wheeler, digital production supervisor; Katerie Gladdys, assistant professor of digital media; and Katherine McGonigle, digital media graduate student and Harn Museum intern.

“This exhibition presented an opportunity for the museum to weave itself into the academic fabric of the university,” said Cooksey. “We are proud of the museum’s partnerships with University of Florida faculty and students, which bring more depth and a different perspective to the exhibitions.”

Cooksey, who organized the exhibition, will present a gallery talk on Dec. 7 at 3 p.m., decoding the meanings of the works on display.

Between the Beads will be on display until spring 2009. The exhibition is made possible by a gift from a generous donor with additional support from the Dr. Madelyn M. Lockhart Endowment for Focus Exhibitions.

Admission to the Harn Museum of Art is free. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu. Additional information about the exhibition can be found at www.harn.ufl.edu/beadwork.

Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
The Harn Museum of Art at SW 34th St. and Hull Rd. is one of the largest university art museums in the country with nearly 7,000 works in its collection focusing on African, Asian, modern and contemporary art and photography. The museum enhances the activities of the University of Florida and serves a culturally diverse audience through educational programming. Admission is free. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free on weekends. The Camellia Court Café is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum and café are open until 9 p.m. Thursdays for Museum Nights during the UF Academic calendar due to the generous support of UF Student Government. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.

Media contacts:
Tami Wroath, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
352.392.9826 x116
twroath@harn.ufl.edu