Taking A Look At
The Local Art Scene.

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An African Adventure

SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

the Detroit Institute of Arts
(DIA) decided to showcase
(DIA)
African art from private collec-
tions, enthusiasts in the Jewish
community volunteered some of their favorite
pieces.
"African Form and Imagery: Detroit Col-
lects," which runs through Jan. 5, 1997, and
presents more than 70 objects from private
owners in the area, also features three-di-
mensional works held by the museum.
Former state Sen. Jack Faxon has one of
the largest collections represented in the ex-
hibit. "I had been collecting Western art and
started to view works from Africa," Faxon said.
"I thought they were an inspiration and visu-
ally important, and I liked the variety."
Faxon shows 12 pieces — sculpture, masks,
furniture — and considers a seated female fig-
ure with children among his most
prized.
"It's a masterpiece of carving," he
Nagaady-A-
said. "I found it through a New York
Mwaash Mask
dealer."
Oscar and Dede Feldman have
seen African art in its actual setting
with a trip to Kenya and have ac-
quired works, including masks and
sculpture, through dealers closer
cotta vessel are among her favorites.
to home.
"My
late husband and I liked the forms
"I was excited about the depth and
and
learning
about their place in his-
variety of the objects and materials,"
tory," she said. "The carvings have
said Mrs. Feldman, who gives slide
great beauty, and it's nice to share that
talks in public schools as a DIA vol-
with everyone."
unteer. "They were not created as
Donald Morris, who has been an art
dealer specializing in African art since
Caryatid
1970, showcases a mask at the DIA.
Stool
"Besides being of great quality, this
kind of mask is very rare," said Morris,
who has found most of his works through
European dealers. He recalls a similar
exhibition in 1976, which marked the
formation of the museum's Division of
African, Oceanic and New World Cul-
tures.
decorative
objects.
Laura and Jim Sherman loaned a tobacco
They were made for a
mortar
to the exhibition. The Shermans found
purpose."
At the museum, the the piece during a trip to New York, where
go to scout various types of works for their
works of art fall into they
personal collection.
four categories accord-
"I thought the lines were exquisite and the
ing to the functions
they serve: otherworld- workmanship outstanding," Jim Sherman
said. `The woman's body becomes the mortar
ly practices, opposition where
the tobacco is crushed."
to negative forces, life
Mrs.
Sherman believes the African style
transitions and indica-
shows character and warmth.
tion of status.
"We put all our African art on one table, and
African art has
effect is very powerful and visually excit-
brought Sophie Pearl- the
ing," she said. ❑
stein much pleasure.
Two masks and a terra
/;t "African Form and Imagery: Detroit Col-
lects" continues at the DIA through Janu-
Ashanti
ary 5, 1997. (313) 833-7900.
Comb

An untitled abstract painting by Melville Price, an ab-
stract expressionist who worked closely with Jackson
Pollock, is among the featured works as the former Art-
space gallery reopens under the name Artspace II.
The art resale tradition continues with the addi-
tion of antiques, lamps and lighting fixtures. Paintings,
drawings, prints and sculpture from the 17th through
20th centuries are offered. Artspace II is now at 303 E.
Maple, Birmingham. (810) 258-1540.

Melville Price:

Untitled,

1944-46.

Topsy-Turvy

Light-hearted images for sum-
mer — like "Man in a Check
Suit" by Louise Kruger — make
up "Topsy-Turvy on Townsend"
at the Robert Kidd Gallery.
Scheduled through Sept. 7,
more than 50 artists exhibit
works such as wooden sculp-
tures of somersaulting figures
and paintings of playful chil-
dren. The talents of Larry.
Rivers, Gary Kulak, William
Nichols, Helen Frankenthaler,
Marshall Fredericks, Oscar
Lakeman and Ron Isaacs come
together at 107 Townsend,
Birmingham. (810) 642-3909.

Louise
Kruger: Man

in a Check
Suit.

Suzanne Chessler is a freelance writer who compiles and writes our

"Hanging Around" Fine Arts pages. If you have information about art hap-
penings you wish to have considered for our fine-arts section, including
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