Friday, April 24, 2009

Out of Africa





















Some images that are floating my boat right now, that are ringing my chimes, shaking my tree...

Michel Huet's lush photographs from his 1978 book, The Dance, Art and Ritual of Africa. Imagine living in a culture where art is not a walled off esoteric thing, but the integral, spiritual core of daily living...

6 comments:

Brad Gailey said...

The items shown in your post are ritualistic. Do you feel that the work you have been doing for the 'Painting on Velvet' exhibition is ritualistic? Or symbolic? Or both? And on a lighter side, where is that icon of velvet, Elvis the matador?

Brad

artslice said...

So dynamic and love the bold fabrics... lots o'contrast. My fave is the mother-child masks. Cool post, thanks for sharing!

Sarah said...

Looking at Brad's comment, I think the places to find art as a way of life would be places of worship. Maybe it is the unfamiliarity of these artifacts that makes them seem so much more exciting than the kind of ritualistic things I may find at home. I think that there is such an exuberant celebration of life that whatever the reason for the production of these items-so what?! I love the masks- and those skirts!

martha miller said...

hi brad! isn't all artmaking a ritual of sorts? we show up and we do it, over and over...
hey, elvis may find his way onto my velvat, ya never know! :*)

martha miller said...

hi brenda!

i know, huh? what colors!!! i also LOVE the mother child costumes! verrry cool.

martha miller said...

hi sarah!

thanks for dropping in! i think you hit the nail on the head - "exuberant celebration," yes!