St. John’s University’s Dr. M. T. Geoffrey Yeh Art Gallery
presents “African Influences on Contemporary Altars in the
Americas: An Exhibition of Altars and Ritual Offerings,” curated by
Prof. Liza Renia Papi. The exhibit focuses on altars functioning as
popular art forms while at the same time reflecting the perceptions
of individual artists that are responding to cultural adaptations
and innovations originating from the syncretism of Afro- Caribbean
beliefs and traditions. While all ritual offerings represent a
form of worship, plea to a spirit, ancestor or deity, many also
incorporate icons, symbols and expressions that are not necessarily
religious.
The altars are presented here as a means to pay homage through an
ornamental canonization that takes the form of an altar. This
homage is developed during the exhibition with the comparison
between the visual art altars and religious home altar, and
community altars that are worshiped in Brooklyn (Humbanda Altar);
Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Bahia- Brazil (Candomblé); Havana- Cuba
(Santeria and Virgen de Regla Altar); and from Puerto Rico (Home
Santeria Altars). Participating artists include: Nancy Azara,
Barbara Cannizzaro, George Crespo, Beate Echols, Dra. Oweena
Fogarty, Radiah Harper, Peter Kloehn, Carol LaBarbera, Izan
Petterle, Larry Racioppo, Vicent Salas, and Miriam Schaer.
On Exhibit
Wednesday, March 12 - Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Opening Reception
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- Reception Photo Gallery
- Carlos “Caco” de Oliveira Music and Dance Performance
- Video Part I: Low Quality / Hi Quality
- Video Part II: Low Quality / Hi Quality
- Carlos “Caco” de Oliveira Biography
Music and Performance
Carlos de Oliveira, performing “Filhos de Gandhi (Sons of Gandhi),”
based on a type of Candomble that came about in the 1940s inspired
on the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.
Location
Dr. M. T. Geoffrey Yeh Art Gallery
Sun Yat Sen Hall
St. John’s University
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
For information and directions call (718) 990-7476.
This exhibition is free of charge and accessible to the
handicapped.
Co-Sponsors
Committee for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS)
New York State Council on the Arts NYSCA