July 18
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Make a grand entrance! West African artists have a long tradition of producing beautiful doors and locks for granaries, shrines, homes, and royal palaces. Of equal interest are the beautiful doors and door frames that adorn homes and buildings along East Africa’s Indian Ocean coast, typical of Swahili architecture. Join us to discover the beauty and symbolism this rare form of art and architecture. Then, create your own personal version using cardboard and other materials for embellishment!
This workshop is presented as part of the museum’s series of Workshop Wednesdays. Every first Wednesday of the month, stop by the museum for drop-in classes from trained teachers. Stay for as little or as long as you like to complete your masterpiece. All skill levels and ages welcome; participants under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No registration is required, but please remember that these events are first-come, first-served. Visit here for a full list of upcoming workshops.
Bagomoyo, Tanzania
Door
19th century
Wood, metal
247 × 147.3 × 19.1 cm (97 1/4 × 58 × 7 1/2 in.)
Gift of Rod and Nancy E. MacDonald, 2013-3-1
c. 1875–c. 1938, b. Efon-Alaiye, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Worked in Ise, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Door (ilekun)
Early 20th century
Medium: Wood, pigment
102 x 68 x 8.5 cm (40 3/16 x 26 3/4 x 3 3/8 in.)
Gift of Dr. Nicholas Zervas, 76-41-2
Free and open to the public.
