A Sense of Africa - Celebrating the origin of all science, art and culture

Why Africa? We think we are so far away from Africa, but in reality we have a strong connection to this land. It is one of the oldest continents and at the same time one of the new emerging worlds.  The birthplace of the human race,  Africa is in our blood.  Africa is the origin of all science, art and culture.

With the world changing at such a fast pace, we want to be aware of the threat of losing this land and everything that inhabits it. And we want to show that we have the potential to be part of building a sustainable future. In this month-long exhibit we will offer a glimpse of African culture through the eyes of  Emmanuel Ofori and Shirley Parker-Bemjamin and will celebrate people’s inherent connection to African land, emphasizing the importance of the endangered wildlife that inhabits it.  We want to show the relationship between humanity and nature, and offer an insight into the natural and cultural tapestries of the continent.

Shirley Parker-Benjamin is an interdisciplinary artist creating work across the genres of sculptural mixed media, assemblage and installation. In her work, she explores the intersection between ancestral, spiritual metaphysical African/African Diasporic traditions and the feminine. She integrates found objects, natural materials, metals, minerals, pigments, beadwork and fiber to create the work.

Mixed media artist Emmanuel Ofori is on a mission to create beauty from what Western culture has deemed 'undesirable.' As an African American immigrant from Ghana, his art is a cathartic embrace of his African culture and a protest to Westernization in the world of art and beauty.  By working with inexpensive materials (such as plywood and broom bristles) that are traditionally hidden or deemed 'less than' in Western society, Emmanuel Ofori is able to reclaim and elevate his place in the art world. By combining African motifs, symbols, fabrics and patterns with Western imagery and ideas, Emmanuel illustrates the bridging of the gap between both worlds.

Exhibition opens on Saturday, October 14, 2023

Meet the Artists on Saturday, October 28,  2023  5-7pm

On display through November 5, 2023