In picking objects for this exhibit, my goal was to choose pieces that were not only beautiful works of art, but pieces that would also help the Western viewer understand the African people not as an exotic ‘otherworldly' culture, but as people who like ourselves, use their religious beliefs and rituals to help create some meaning and understanding in the world we live in. Since my interest is in medical anthropology, I decided to focus on pieces that are used in healing. This means not only healing the body, but healing the spirit and maintaining the welfare and harmony of the whole society as well.

In the West, we may get a new dress to celebrate Easter or gifts to celebrate Christmas whereas in Africa they may dance a certain mask to celebrate the harvest at the end of the growing season. We visit the graves of our ancestors and hang their pictures on our walls. The Baule may have an image of a spirit spouse to remind them of their relationship with their ancestors. When a Christian is sick, she may pray for healing, when a Yoruba is sick, she may go to a diviner priest to seek help. Our rituals may seem different on the surface, but they are very similar. My objective in this exhibit is to recognize the similarities while celebrating the differences. Just as the Christmas tree or Hanukkah candles have a different significance for each of us, these pieces of art have meanings that are unique to each of the individuals in African societies.

Perhaps the most compelling reason for viewing these works of art is for their beauty and workmanship. I chose each of these pieces because I thought they were exquisitely made, beautiful works of art that can be appreciated even without any knowledge of their use or background. And while it is true that Africans use them to help create harmony and healing, they also appreciate them for their as beautifully crafted works of art.

I hope you enjoy the exhibit. I welcome any comments or feedback. Most of the photos have links to larger images so click on them for a closeup. Click on my name to e-mail me.