Traditional African masks at the heart of Kate Badoe’s paintings
Release Date: 10/11/2007. Expired: 12/1/2007
The tradition of image making from Africa will be featured in an exhibit of works by Kate Badoe in the East Wing Gallery of The Renaissance Center in Dickson Oct. 31-Dec. 1.
A Cookeville resident, Badoe draws from African image making, most commonly represented in carved masks, in creating ink drawings, oil and acrylic paintings and sculptural forms.
An opening reception for Badoe’s exhibit will be 6-7:30 p.m. Friday. Nov. 2.
“Picasso stated that when he was first experimenting with Cubism, one of his largest inspirations came from African masks,” said Armon Means, curator for The Renaissance Center. “Artists such as William DeKooning and Robert Rauschenberg also used the masks as a reference in their work.”
African-born Badoe worked as an art curator and sales promoter in Accra, Ghana, while also creating her own art. She continues to draw inspiration from her experiences and African heritage to create pieces that utilize geometry, pattern, form and traditional African art in contemporary ways.
“One of the most noted things about African art – images, masks and carvings – is their long-standing popularity and usage within the art world,” Means said. “This idea is also seen in its recent growth as adornment on the walls of modern homes for those wishing to show their ‘worldly’ and diverse tastes. Though throughout all of this, what frequently lay hidden is the fact that this art-making is not for pure decoration – that there is a history to the craft and art of creating these objects.”
Viewers note that Badoe’s growth as an artist in America has infused her work with bright colors and bold shapes. She combines African art with geometry to create complex patterns, yet conveys the harmonious link between cultures with simple images.
Badoe has shown her work extensively and her understanding of her media and reference can clearly be seen in the pieces.
“At a time where cultures are often used simply for their aesthetic possibilities, it is refreshing to see an artist working out of a tradition to speak to and about her culture while using it to simultaneously delight and educate the audience,” Means said.
For more information on The Renaissance Center’s exhibition of works by Kate Badoe, contact Means at (615) 740-5565 or armon.means@rcenter.org, or visit the center’s website at www.rcenter.org.
The galleries of The Renaissance Center are open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Admission to exhibits and receptions is always free.
The Renaissance Center is a fine arts education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.
Visit the Visual Arts Gallery page for more about the gallery.