School programs

Fall 2013Summer 2014

Smithsonian National Museum of African Art

The arts can take you places!

Museum Info
National Museum of African Art 950 Independence Avenue sw Washington, D.C. 20560-0708

Contents
Museum Resources Classroom Resources Teacher Resources

2 8 10 11

MAILING ADDRESS
Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African Art P.O. Box 37012 MRC 0708 Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Online Resources Map of Africa Did You Know? Classroom Poster

12 inside back cover centerfold

HOURS + ADMISSION
10 a.m.5:30 p.m. daily Closed December 25 Free admission

TELEPHONE NUMBERS
202.633.4600 202.357.4879 Fax 202.633.0030 Museum Store

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N
OBJECT PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANKO KHOURY UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE; PHOTOGRAPHS BY DEBORAH STOKES UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE

Buses may drop off and pick up groups on Independence Avenue or on Jefferson Drive between the Smithsonian Institution Building (known as the Castle) and the Arts and Industries Building. Due to limited parking, Metrorail is a good transportation option; take the Blue or Orange Line to the Smithsonian Station.

ACC E S S I B I L I T Y
The museum is fully accessible. Parking for the disabled is available on Jefferson Drive near the Freer Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution Building. Sign language, oral, and cued-speech interpreters are available by calling 202.633.4633 (voice) at least two weeks before your visit.

A childs first inspiration through the arts can be a life-changing experience. . . . Learning through the arts reinforces critical academic skills in reading, language arts and math and provides students with the skills to creatively solve problems.
First Lady Michelle Obama May 2009

FOOD
The museum does not have a restaurant or a place to store bag lunches. For information about food services at the Smithsonian Institution, inquire at the Information Desk or call 202.633.1000.

africa.si.edu

This year follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

The primary mission of the Education Department of the National Museum of African Art is to strengthen global arts and humanities education. Our programs strive to increase understanding of our worlds cultural and artistic traditions through the lens of Africa and its diasporas. Inspiring stories await you at the National Museum of African Art. Discover early cultural expressions rooted in our collection that spans six centuries from ancient Mali and Nigeria to present-

day Africa. Interact with modern artists who chronicle the contem-

porary world and our place in it. We offer hands-on and interactive activities. Our educators help support teachers in meeting national education standards of learning while fostering themes of diversity and commonality across cultures and continents. Each year thousands of students participate in exciting educational programs in our museum, on our website, and in their classrooms. Our School Programs 201314 is a summary of museum resources, activities, and new media opportunities that provide useful information and ideas for engaging students. Introduce your students to the richness and diversity of works of art in selected exhibitions and collections at the National Museum of African Art.
Deborah Stokes Curator for Education K12 and Teacher Programs

You cannot fully understand your own life without knowing and thinking beyond your life, your own neighborhood, and even your own nation.
Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Director National Museum of African Art

the arts can take you places!

Museum Resources
EXHIBITIONS

Pictures, Peoples and Places

Africa ReViewed: The Photographic Legacy of Eliot Elisofon
NOVEMBER 21, 2013AUGUST 24, 2014

Connect the Arts with Science!

Earth Matters: Land as Material and Metaphor in the Arts of Africa
THROUGH FEBRUARY 23, 2014

Explore the fertile ground in Earth Matters where art and science take root! Earth Matters is comprised of more than 100 works of art from more than 25 of Africas 55 nations and organized into six sections: Material Earth, Power of the Earth, Imagining the Underground, Strategies of the Surface, Art as Environmental Action, and Earth Works, three site-specific works installed in collaboration with Smithsonian Gardens. What do art and science have in common? Artists and scientists are both keen observers of the world around them. Teachers can engage their students in understanding basic art and environmental science through the arts and meet objectives in both subject areas.
Fang artist, Gabon Reliquary guardian head (detail) 19th century Wood, copper alloy, resin National Museum of African Art, gift of Lawrence Gussman, 70-21-23 Merneptah, son of Ramses II, carved in pink granite on the lid of his sarcophagus Thebes, Egypt Photograph by Eliot Elisofon, 1947 Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

As a photographer for Life magazine, Eliot Elisofon traveled extensively throughout Africa where he photographed the continents diverse peoples, animals, and natural environments between the 1940s and 1970s. Integrate photography into a range of arts and academic curricula. Help students engage with the medium of photography and gain knowledge and skills through portraiture and identity, landscape and place, and culture and history.

VISIT
http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/earthmatters/material.html.

THE EARTH MATTERS FAMILY GUIDE IS AVAILABLE AT

http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/earthmatters/EMfamilyguide.pdf.

JOIN OUR EARTH MATTERS ONLINE COMMUNITY

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NMAfA Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/siafricanart/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/nmafa Blog: http://earthmatters2013.wordpress.com/

the arts can take you places!

Focus on ways that his creative methods have evolved from documentary style and narrative elements to raw graffiti-style drawing. Students interested in photography and themes that explore the complex human psyche will be intrigued by Ballens work. The exhibition also includes a video collaboration for the song I Fink U Freaky with the South African rap group Die Antwoord.

above Roger Ballen b. 1950, New York Banner, from the Asylum series 2009 Archival pigment print 90 x 90 cm (35 3/8 x 35 3/8 in.) Collection of the artist below Senufo artist, Cte dIvoire Poro society mask (detail) Wood Late 19th to early 20 century 36 x 17.2 x 10.5 cm (14 3/16 x 6 3/4 x 4 1/8 in.) Gift of Walt Disney World Co., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, 2005-6-50

Explore World Arts and Cultures

Walt DisneyTishman African Art Collection Highlights
THROUGH MAY 25, 2014 GRADES: K12

Focus on questions of history and different approaches to the human ideal by considering messages of power and status conveyed through form, expression, and material.

right Samuel Narh Nartey Ga peoples, Ghana Nokia cell phone coffin 2007 Wood, paint, cloth 180.3 x 58.4 x 36.8 cm (71 x 23 x 14 1/2 in.) Anonymous donor, 2009-3-1

Imagine Form and Function

African Mosaic: Selections from the Permanent Collection
ONGOING

Reflect on Definitions of the Visionary

Lines, Marks, and Drawings: Through the Lens of Roger Ballen
THROUGH JULY 20, 2014 GRADES: HIGH SCHOOL (INTENSE IMAGES AND LANGUAGE)

Learn about design and the form and function of objects in the permanent collection by exploring the exhibition and drawing in the gallery with your students. Drawing materials available upon request.
SIX ACTIVITIES FOR USE IN THE CLASSROOM OR AT HOME CAN BE FOUND AT
http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/ africanvision/athome.html.

Photographer Roger Ballen uses drawing and photography in surprising ways.

PLAN A FIELD TRIP

All school programs are FREE of charge and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. You are not registered until you receive a confirmation of your request from the museum. Pre-registration is required for all school programs. Please make reservations as far in advance of the requested date and time as possible. Our February programs are especially popular during Black History month.
TO BOOK A TOUR, CONTACT
Frank Esposito at 202.633.4633 or email EspositoF@si.edu.

Upon Arrival
Present your confirmation slip to the staff member at the Information Desk. It is your proof of a scheduled tour or workshop. Your guide will meet your group at the Information Desk.

FOR WORKSHOPS, CONTACT

Deborah Stokes at 202.633.4632 or email StokesD@si.edu.

Chaperones
One adult chaperone (over 21 years old) must accompany every 15 high school students and every 10 students in elementary through junior high school. Failure to provide sufficient chaperones or to maintain order may result in the group being asked to leave the museum.

Running Late?
If a group is late, the activity will be modified to fit within the program time. Due to the large number of program requests we receive during the school year, cancellations must be made one week prior by phone.
CALL
202.633.4633

PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANK ESPOSITO

Cancellations
If you need to cancel your program, please notify the museum as soon as possible. Cancellations must be made by phone no less than one week prior to your scheduled program.
CALL
202.633.4633 or 202.633.4632

SPECIAL PROGRAMS
NOVEMBER 2, 2013MAY 24, 2014 DATE BY ARRANGEMENT 10:30 A.M.12 P.M.

Music
Sounds of Africa
MAXIMUM 25 PARTICIPANTS ELEMENTARYMIDDLE SCHOOL

GALLERY LESSONS

This engaging and interactive program introduces African culture through the distinct sounds, dynamic beats, and polyrhythms of African music and percussion instruments. Award-winning Ugandan musician and educator Daniel Ssuuna uses drums (long drum, main drum/ rhythm, big drum/beat), cordophones (bow lyre), idiophones (xylophone, shekere), and the lamellophone (mbira/thumb piano) to demonstrate musical sounds, patterns, repetitions, and rhythms. Students participate in a group performance with a variety of musical instruments at the end of the program!
PHOTOGRAPH BY LAURIE MCGLAUGHLIN

Jambo!
10:30 A.M. 1 HOUR MAXIMUM 40 PARTICIPANTS

Discover the National Museum of African Art with us! Bring your students to tour one of our exciting exhibitions and learn about the museums unique architecture. Were underground! Examine objects and ideas through a variety of age-appropriate activities. Our guides use imaginative strategies to help students learn focused looking, and they tailor their tour to the needs of specific themes, grades, and ages. Touchable objects available upon request. Please choose from our exhibitions listed on pages 23. Tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO PREPARE FOR YOUR CLASS TRIP
africa.si.edu

TO SCHEDULE A TOUR, CONTACT

Frank Esposito at 202.633.4633 or email EspositoF@si.edu.

the arts can take you places!

Confirmation of your tour reservation, which serves as your official registration, will be emailed to you along with related educational materials.

Language Arts
Stories that Move Us
MAXIMUM 40 PARTICIPANTS PRE KMIDDLE SCHOOL

interactive storytelling experience is seasoned with rhythm, sounds, and movement to ignite the imagination and take the listeners on an exciting journey. A program designed especially for Head Start and Pre K is available upon request.

Building community through rich tales, storyteller Diane Macklin animates tales from different regions of the African continent. This dynamic,

Africa Book Club

Africa Book Club is designed to excite reading readiness while it underscores the contributions of diverse populations in an increasingly global world. Materials include
printed passports for each student, stickers to be awarded upon completion

PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER CUTTS

The Africa Book Club passports you gave to our first graders served as the foundation of a home-reading initiative. We had great success and we owe you a very big thank you for giving us the idea and the tools to get rolling!
John Eaton Elementary School Washington, D.C.

of assigned goals,
booklist, ideas for activities, and strate-

gies for incorporating recommended books into classroom lesson plans, cross-disciplinary connections, and reading at home with family,
storytelling podcasts

THIS PA SSPORT BELONGS TO

(africa.si.edu/radio_africa/index.html), including

passport

The Leopards Drum by Jessica Souhami (Francis Lincoln Ltd, 1995) as read by Johnnetta Betsch Cole. Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott (Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1972) as read by Diane Macklin.

the arts can take you places!

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VISUAL ARTS

Studio Art Workshops

10:30 A.M. AND 1:30 P.M. 2 HOURS MAXIMUM 30 PARTICIPANTS ELEMENTARYHIGH SCHOOL

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Studio art workshops inspired by museum exhibitions and customized for school curricula are available to school groups during the week. Workshops introduce students to the historical origin and social significance of themes, including:
Woven Treasures: Explore the

A book for every student

The teacher of each classroom that successfully completes the ABC activities will receive books to distribute to students so they can start their own home libraries. A personalized bookplate for each child is included.

textile arts and cultures of Africa Choose one: Asante Adinkra Stamped Cloth, Ghana Fon Story Cloth, Republic of Benin Yoruba Indigo-dyed Adire, Nigeria Kuba Grass Cloth, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 Asante Kente Weaving, Ghana Senufo Korhogo Cloth, Cte dIvoire

The Art of African Masquerade Ndebele Dolls of South Africa Beadwork of Africa

Classroom Resources
VIDEOCONFERENCE
Experience an innovative way to visit the museum without leaving your classroom! Using videoconferencing technology, elementary through high school students can enjoy an interactive program designed to cover core curriculum requirements. To learn more and schedule a tour, visit the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) and click on Content Provider Programs. The National Museum of African Art is listed in the drop down menu. To schedule a videoconference, you must join CILC. Tour descriptions and pre- and post-lessons are available on the CILC website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM, CONTACT
Deborah Stokes at 202.633.4632 or email StokesD@si.edu.

new!

Earth Matters: Hand-built Pottery

TO REQUEST A WORKSHOP, CONTACT

Deborah Stokes at 202.633.4632 or email StokesD@si.edu.

Come Draw with Us!

DATE AND TIME BY ARRANGEMENT 2 HOURS MAXIMUM 25 PARTICIPANTS MIDDLE SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL

Draw inspiration from original works of art! Students sit in front of original works of art in the museum's galleries and explore line, form, and texture. They are encouraged to experiment with individual drawing styles and approaches. All materials are supplied.
TO REQUEST A MORNING OR AFTERNOON SESSION, CONTACT
Deborah Stokes at 202.633.4632 or email StokesD@si.edu.

Workshops by Request
Are you interested in scheduling a workshop for your active Ksixth graders or group from home school? We can design a program to support your specific teaching needs.
CONTACT
Deborah Stokes at 202.633.4632 or email StokesD@si.edu.

It always helps the students learn when they have a different voice teaching them. The interactivity of the videoconference kept them totally attentive. . . . The program corresponded perfectly with what our 6th grade is studying. I was so happy to find this program. The fact that it was free made it possible. Thank you so much for such a wonderful, valuable program!
Pennwood Middle School Yardley, Pennsylvania

CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS
Teaching materials and resources, offered for many of the museums major exhibitions, are designed to broaden and deepen both teacher and student engagement with the arts. Intended for use by K12 teachers, these resources emphasize students active exploration of selected cultures and encourage ongoing dialogues about the meaning of art in their lives. Consult with the museums staff about ways to include African art in your curriculum.
TEACHING MATERIALS + RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE AT
http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/resources.html

CONTACT
Deborah Stokes at 202.633.4632 or email StokesD@si.edu.

the arts can take you places!

O B J E C T S I N YO U R CLASSROOM
Learn how our Education Teaching Collection can be part of your classroom. Our one-of-a-kind lending library of objects provides unique hands-on experiences.
CONTACT
Deborah Stokes at 202.633.4632 or email StokesD@si.edu.

All workshops can be adapted for local curricula. Workshops include an introduction to African art, hands-on activities, content experts, and lesson plans. The participating organization is responsible for organizing and registering teachers.
CONTACT
Deborah Stokes at 202.633.4632 or email StokesD@si.edu to discuss your staff development needs.

O U T R E A C H I N T O YO U R CLASSROOM
DATE AND TIME BY ARRANGEMENT ONE CLASS ONLY PER PROGRAM 1 HOUR ELEMENTARYHIGH SCHOOL

WA R R E N M . R O B B I N S LIBRARY
The museum library has more than 40,000 books on African art, history, and culture as well as childrens literature, curriculum materials, and videos. The library is open by appointment only.
ONLINE CATALOGUE AVAILABLE AT
www.siris.si.edu

Museum representatives travel to classrooms, where they introduce students to a variety of African arts (e.g., masks, dress, textiles) or focus on a single African country, such as Mali, Ghana, or Nigeria. Students have a hands-on opportunity to handle objects from the museums teaching collection. Please submit your request at least one month in advance. The program site must be within twenty miles of the museum.
CONTACT
Frank Esposito at 202.633.4633 or email EspositoF@si.edu for further detail and schedule.

CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

202.633.4680

E L I OT E L I S O F O N P H OTO G R A P H I C ARCHIVES
The photographic archives is a research and reference center with over 300,000 still photographic images documenting the arts, peoples, and history of Africa over the past 120 years. The archives is open by appointment only.

Teacher Resources
PROFESSIONAL D E V E LO P M E N T
MINIMUM 10 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM 25 PARTICIPANTS

ONLINE CATALOGUE AVAILABLE AT

http://sirismm.si.edu/siris/eepatop.htm

CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

202.633.4690

VISIT OUR MUSEUM S TO R E !

Our museum store has award-winning childrens books, musical instruments, and other teaching aides to enhance learning in your classroom.

The National Museum of African Art offers a variety of teacher workshops that can be customized to meet staff development needs and schedules.

Online Resources
CURRICULAR RESOURCES
Theres a medieval horseman on the National Mall! Learn more about this ancient work from Mali and other curriculum resources developed for use in the classroom.
VISIT
africa.si.edu/exhibits/resources.html

F I L M LOA N S
DVD and videotapes in VHS format are available for loans of up to three weeks throughout the year. Please allow two weeks for delivery and limit your request to two items. You are responsible for paying the return postage.
LIST OF TITLES AVAILABLE ONLINE AT
http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/resources.html

CONTACT
Frank Esposito at 202.633.4633 or email EspositoF@si.edu for information and to request a video.

Undetermined artist, Inland Niger Delta regions, Mali Equestrian figure (detail) Possibly 13th to 15th century Terracotta 70.5 cm (27 1/2 in.) Museum purchase, 86-12-2

the arts can take you places!

11

Contemporary Africa

Canary Islands (Spain) Morocco

Tunisia

Algeria Western Sahara Mauritania Cape Verde Mali The Gambia GuineaGuinea Bissau Bissagos Island Sierra Leone Liberia
EQUATOR

Libya

Egypt

Niger Chad

Sudan Eritrea Djibouti

Senegal

Burkina Faso Benin Ghana Cte D'ivoire Togo

Nigeria

Cameroon

Central African Republic

South Sudan

Ethiopia Somalia

Equatorial Guinea Sn Tom and Principe Gabon

Uganda Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kenya Rwanda Burundi Seychelles

Cabinda (Angola)

Tanzania The Comoros Angola Zambia Malawi Madagascar Mauritius Runion (France) Swaziland South Africa Lesotho

Atlantic Ocean

Zimbabwe Namibia Botswana

Mozambique

Indian Ocean

Did You Know?

The National Museum of African Art is 96 percent underground! EXPLORE
the Smithsonian Institution Building (known as the Castle), the

architecture of the Quadrangle, and the Enid A. Haupt Garden as part of your field trip experience!

LEARN about the Quad complex that also includes the Arthur M. Sackler
Gallery, the S. Dillon Ripley Center, and the Haupt Garden, which serves as the roof of the African and Asian art museums. The Quadrangle was designed by architect Jean-Paul Carlhian of the firm Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson, and Abbott.

DISCOVER other activities on our webpage africa.si.edu.

950 Independence Avenue SW Washington, D.C. 20560-0708 Address Service Requested

PRST STD US Postage PAID Smithsonian Institution G-94

Official Business Penalty for Private Use, $300

Looking and Interpreting

What forms and shapes do you see in Erosion? What textures and patterns do you see? What symbols do you see? Draw a few of them. How do you use symbols to communicate? Create a symbol. Compose a story to explain it to your classmates.

El Anatsui b. 1944, Ghana Erosion 1992 Wood, paint, wood chips, sawdust H: 297.2 cm (117 in.) National Museum of African Art, museum purchase, 96-36-1

Thinking and Connecting

Research adinkra symbols and their meanings. Anatsui often creates symbols or uses signs and symbols from African languages in his works of art. What valuable message is he communicating?

PULL-OUT POSTER

EL ANATSUI (b. 1944, Ghana) is an internationally celebrated

artist, creating wood and metal sculptures, ceramics, paintings,

prints, and drawings. He is best known for his shimmering

metal tapestries. Throughout his distinguished forty-year

career as both sculptor and teacher (professor of sculpture

and departmental head at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka),

El Anatsui has addressed a vast range of social, political, and

historical concerns, while employing an equally assorted

range of media and processes. Making use of tools as diverse

as chainsaws, welding torches, and power tools, the artist

shows his resourcefulness by turning to his surrounding

environment for materials.

Both brutal and delicate, Erosion was carved with a chain-

saw at the Earth Summit workshop in Brazil in 1992. Anatsui

is focusing on multiple themes of environmentalism, loss

of communities, extinction of languages, and erosion of

cultures. The spiraling design of the towering sculpture (9 ft.

9 in.) has rough jagged edges and scorched or pyro-etched

signs and symbols. Some of these are linked to the adinkra

symbols of the Asante peoples of Ghana, which are stamped

on prestige cloth and worn on special occasions and at state

ceremonies. Each symbol represents a wise truth or principle

found in well-known sayings and proverbs.

Consider the idea of art as a visual language.

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

Visual arts

Theater

Language arts

Social studies

Geography

For more information on integrating arts in your schools curriculum, contact Deborah

Stokes at 202.633.4632 or email StokesD@si.edu. Or visit our website for more Teacher

Resources, africa.si.edu/exhibits/resources.html.

El Anatsui carving Erosion in Brazil, 1992. Photograph by Miguel Rio Branco