At Home in Africa

Design, Beauty and Pleasing Irregularity in Domestic Settings

Thursday, August 28 – Saturday, October 4, 2014

Opening Reception: Thursday, August 28 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm.
African attire encouraged!

At Home in Africa is an exhibition that features the inspirational and creative design, pattern and form found in a wide variety of traditional handcrafted objects from African homes of the past 130 years, covering over 70 ethnic groups from 30 countries.

The 300-plus objects bring the variety of life in African homes to the forefront, spotlighting the handcrafted beauty apparent in everyday objects. The designs of these objects feature amazing diversity in technique and creativity. An appreciation of the daily rhythms of life are paired with an intent to provide inspiration to designers of all types—graphic, fashion, interior, jewelry—and an up-close example of the reason so many African works are such a part of global design influence.

Free and Open to the Public

Sat., Sep. 13 | Teachers' Day
Lectures, lesson plans, ideas for incorporating African history into curriculum

Sat., Sep. 20 | Sparx Gallery Hop
Sample African snacks, take your picture in authentic wraps and hats

Sat., Sep. 27 | Community Day
Noon – 3 p.m. | For the whole family: craft demonstrations, performances, fashion show

Visit athomeinafrica.org for more information.

---

At Home in Africa Corollary Events

Additional CSU campus events celebrating the ideas and issues of  "At Home in Africa: Design, Beauty, and Pleasing Irregularity in Domestic Settings include

Wednesday, September 3, 2014, 4:00 – 5:00 pm || "Making Waves from Cleveland to Uganda"
Levin College of Urban Affairs, Glickman-Miller Hall, Dively Community Room

More than 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. Earth is covered with water, but only 3% is freshwater, and .3% of that is available to drink. The Great Lakes Region is water-rich holding 20% of the earth's fresh surface water; something forgotten or unknown, even in the region itself.

This story is about one woman from Cleveland, Ohio, who is determined to share the water wealth of the Great Lakes with people in need. She learned about children at a rural orphan school walking miles daily to haul dirty water in Uganda. She knew she had to do something.

Turning passion into action over two years, she returns to fulfill the promise to bring the students life through access to safe water.

 Join CSU alumna Erin Huber '09, ‘11, Levin College of Urban Affairs Distinguished Alumna 2012, for a riveting presentation on this powerful story of determination and hope.  Reception afterwards at the "Making Waves" Photography Exhibit opening - 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. – the Campbell Galleries, directly across from the Dively Community Room.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014, 4:00 – 6:00 pm || "Making Waves Photography by Laura Watilo Blake | Opening Reception"
Levin College of Urban Affairs, Glickman-Miller Hall, Thomas Campbell Gallery

Water is life. It quenches our thirst and energizes the food we grow, but only a small percentage is drinkable. The Making Waves photography exhibit features the work of photojournalist Laura Watilo Blake, who spent two years working with the local nonprofit organization Drink Local, Drink Tap to help raise awareness about water issues both here and abroad. Blake documented life in a small Ugandan village and the efforts to bring safe drinking water to the community. The resulting collection will be on display through September 30, 2014. 

Friday, September 26, 2014, 7:30 pm || "Echoes of Africa" World Music Concert
Music and Communications Building, Drinko Auditorium, Cleveland State University

Echoes of Africa will feature traditional African drumming interspersed with jazz works inspired by African themes including compositions by Duke Ellington, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson and others. This concert will be accompanied by projected artworks featured in the At Home in Africa Exhibition being shown at CSU.

Featuring CSU faculty members Leo Coach (piano), Bill Ranson (percussion and drumset), John Perrine (saxophone) as well as CSU student Aidan Plank (bass). This core ensemble will be joined by special guest drummers throughout the concert.