Elephant mask
Early 20th century
Cloth, glass beads, plant fiber
National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, museum purchase, 2001-9-2
Celebrate World Elephant Day at the National Museum of African Art! This annual international event seeks to raise awareness of the urgent plight of African elephants. The World Wildlife Fund lists this species as “vulnerable,” or at a high risk of endangerment in the wild.
The African elephant is the largest animal walking the Earth, with herds wandering 37 countries in Africa. Come celebrate these magnificent animals and explore the elephant, its ivory, and its meaning in African culture through a variety of art, activities, tours, and more!
All day
- Engaging art carts
- “Elfies” with a Cameroonian beaded elephant mask
- Gallery hunts for elephants in African art
- Hands-on objects, including an Asante stool
- Measurement games—are you taller than an elephant ear?
10:30 a.m., 2 p.m.
- Docent-led collections tour
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Guided storytelling for all ages
11:45 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m.
- Docent ivory object talk
12:10 p.m., 1:10 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 3:10 p.m., 4:10 p.m.
- Screening of Kids Battling for a World with Elephants
Free and open to the public
