Spring Semester 2000                                                          Art History 579 meets with ETD 501 Office
 

PROSEMINAR IN AFRICAN ART:Beads, Body and Soul: Art and Light in the Yoruba Universe

Meeting Times/Location:        Elvehjem L166, 5-7/8pm  (R). additional meetings: 3/8 (W) and 5/12 (F)
Professors:                                Henry Drewal                                           Sonya Clark
Offices:                                      Elvehjem 229                                            Human Ecology 227
Phone:                                        263-9362, 2340/1                                      262-4519, 262-2651
e-mail:                                        hjdrewal@facstaff.wisc.edu                     syclark@facstaff.wisc.edu
Office Hours:                            T 3:00-5-00 or by appointment                 R 1:00-3:00 or by appointment

website: hum.lss.wisc.edu/hjdrewal/Beads.html

Course Description

This special interdiscipinary seminar combines both art-historical research/writing and studio practice (beading). It considers the history, cultural contexts, chromatics, aesthetics, and significances of beaded art among the Yoruba of West Africa and the Yoruba Diaspora of the Black Atlantic. We will begin with who the Yoruba are -- history, cultural and artistic heritage, importance, etc. -- and where they are in Africa and the diaspora. Studio practice will begin with Yoruba beading techniques (students expected to bring their own materials) and expand to other styles/techniques used in Africa and beyond. Guest lecturers (artists and scholars) will present during the semester.

Course Procedures

Being a seminar, the course will be conducted in the following manner:

  1. Student to use email classlist for discussions/questions/comments.
  2. The instructors will make the initial presentations. Students are expected to prepare all reading/beading assignments, to participate in discussions about class lectures, guest lectures/demos throughout the semester, and readings.
  3. Students taking the course for 4 credits will be expected to write a longer paper, prepare additional beaded objects, or attend special events related to the Beads, Body and Soul exhibition and write reviews.
  4. Students should define a tentative paper topic and the scope of their beading projects for discussion with the instructors by the THIRD week of class.
  5. Readings in Kohler Art Library, Helen C. White, and Memorial Library should be consulted for choosing research topics.
  6. Slides on African art are available from the department's Slide Collection, others can be made from publications. Thomas Gombar, the Slide Librarian, will provide instructions and guidance on the making, use and loan of slides. Students can also produce slides using the Instructional Materials Center, Teacher Education Building, 225 N. Mills St. (263-4750) -- be sure to allow at least two weeks for production.
  7. At the end of the course, students will give presentations (10 minutes) on their research findings/art work and submit all work (beaded art objects; 10/15 typed pages of text, double-spaced, plus illustrations, notes, and bibliography) by the last class meetings, Thursday, May 11, and Friday May 12. Students will be expected to discuss and evaluate presentations for content, argumentation and performance style/effectiveness.
Course Requirements
  1. Required text: Beads, Body and Soul: Art and Light in the Yoruba Universe (cost is $30 -- available from the instructors)
  2. Other readings will be on reserve at Kohler Art Library.
  3. No unexcused absences (two absences and grade is lowered)
  4. All students expected to keep a weekly journal -- reflections on lectures, discussions, demonstrations, readings, performances, studio work, exhibition event (at least one), etc. -- to be submitted for review at mid-semester, and at the end of the semester.
  5. Art students (beadsmiths) will create beaded object(s) and write a short research paper (10) -- emphasis will be on the studio work.
  6. Art History students (wordsmiths) will write a research paper (15 pp) on a topic relevant to the course, as well as create a beaded object(s) during the semester -- emphasis will be on the written assignment.
  7. All students will present their final projects (10 minutes) at the end of the semester.
Course Evaluation

Evaluation will be based upon (a) preparation, attendance, and participation (in-class discussion, classlist responses to readings/lecturers, etc.) (10%); b) quality of the midterm project report (10%) (c) journal (10%),; (d) quality of the final presentation (10%), and e) quality of the final paper/beaded objects (60%)(weighted 40/20 or 20/40 for art/paper).
 

Before the start of class, students are expected to have read BB&S, pp.1-87, and write response in journal.
 
 

Week 1: 1/27

Due: BB&S, pp. 1-87.

Respond to reading in journal

Lecture: (Drewal) Yoruba: History, Culture, and Cosmos

Demo: (Clark) beaded stringing and netting

Exhibition: students expected to attend opening events of BB&S (1/28-30)

Week 2: 2/3

Lecture: (Drewal) Intro to Yoruba Beadwork

Demo: (Clark) backstitch embroidery one color and contour

Exhibiton: JOYFUL BLUES at Gallery of Design. Sunday February 6th, 1:30 pm-- Gallery Talk by Sonya Clark.

Week 3: 2/10

Due: Flash of the Spirit pp 3-100

Classlist response to readings, questions for RFT

Lecture: Robert Farris Thompson (l160-Elvehjem)

Gallery Tour: Robert Farris Thompson (2/12)

Discussion: Robert Farris Thompson (optional)

Week 4: 2/17

Due: Okediji reading

Lecture: Moyo Okedeji

Week 5: 2/24

Due: BB&S pp. 87-123

Demo: (Clark) color/finishes, maasos, beaded prayers, slides of work

Event: CLYDE MORGAN AFRO-BRAZILIAN DANCE PERFORMANCE at Music Hall 7 pm and 9 pm ($5)
 

Week 6: 3/2

Due: BB&S pp. 179-197, 1-page MIDTERM PROPOSALS
(submit via email classlist or 22 copies to class -- 1/3 paper and 2/3 studio or 2/3 paper and 1/3 studio)

Lecture:  Gallery talk Pravina Shukla, Bolaji Campbell, and Sonya Clark

Event: CHILDREN'S CARNIVAL at the Elvehjem Saturday, March 4, 1-3 pm

Week 7: 3/8 (W)

Due: read and comment on classmates proposals

Discussion about final proposals

3/9 (Th)--SHORT CLASS 5:30-6:30

Due: BB&S pp. 95-179

Lecture: Margaret Thompson Drewal

Week 8: 3/17--SPRING BREAK--NO CLASS

Week 9: 3/23

Due: BB&S pp. 199-223

Demo/Lecture: Manny Vega

Week 10: 3/30

Due: BB&S pp. 224-254,
        Walker reading: Olowe of Ise, pp.6-33

Lecture: Roslyn Walker

Week 11: 4/6

Due: BB&S pp. 255-275

Demo/Lecture: Felipe Garcia Villamil

Event: AFRO CUBAN ALLSTARS at the Civic Center, Friday, April 7, 8pm ($22)

Week 12: 4/13

Due: Readings in Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou, pp.266-285, 325-381

Lecture: Marilyn Houlberg

Demo: Gerti David

Week 13: 4/20 -- NO CLASS -- work on beading/paper

Week 14: 4/27

Due: Abiodun reading

Lecture: Rowland Abiodun

Week 15: 5/4

Due: High-Tesfagiorgis and Harris readings

Panel: dele jegede, Michael Harris, Bolaji Campbell, Frieda Tesfagiorgis

Event: Carlos Equis-Aguila performance at the Elvehjem, Saturday, May 6, 2:30-3:30 pm

Week 16: 5/11

DUE: FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS (PART 1)

5/12 -- FINAL PRESENTATIONS (PART 2)

GRAND FINALE -- CLOSING OF BB&S (WEEKEND EVENTS, 5/20-21)
 
 

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