Africa American women art staged at National Museum

Africa American month is being celebrated across the world. Here in Ethiopia in connection with American
by LEULSEGED WORKU
Black History Month, the U.S Embassy has sponsored an art exhibition entitled: “Arts of African American
Women 18th -21st Century” at the National Museum. The exhibition is organized by the curator Dr. Desta Meghoo. On the exhibition a collection of artistic accomplishments and contributions of African descendants in America from the late 1800's to present time were staged.

Opening the exhibition, US Deputy Chief of Mission, Peter H.Vrooman said that, Art is a bridge that brings two people together from different corner. According to him, apart from marking Africa American month, the exhibition will further forge the cultural relationship of Ethiopia and America.

On his part, Learned Dees, US Cultural Attache said that art is a manifestation of ones identity. As to him, despite the fact that Africa Americans had been carrying the yolk of slavery, they had been reflecting their internal feelings through their paintings.

Seconding the view of Peter H. Vrooman, Dees said that, “art is really a bridge that connect two generation into one spot. It has a power to communicate two generations that had never set eyes on each other for centuries.”

Observing the paintings of the late 19th and 20th century, one can tell the socio- cultural activities of those Africa Americans. They have the power to impart on viewers the then socio-economic and political activities of Africa Americans, Learned Dees added.

The Barnett Aden Collection is a unique compilation of art produced by two African Americans, Professor James V. Herring and Alonzo J.Aden. They had a mission to build a body of visual art representing African American historical and cultural contributions. In 1943 the Barnett Aden Gallery officially opened in a quite middle-class black neighbourhood in Washington D.C. not far from Howard University.