January 2009

1. Update

As you may well know, we closed our 41 Perry Street location at the end of May 2008. We were quite touched by your patronage, support and good wishes. Some of you stayed right up to the minute when we closed the doors. You are without doubt, the world's best customers.

We have taken time out to create this Internet presence, so that we can connect or reconnect with you, and you can continue to shop, while we canvas for a new location. You will find that our art objects are of the same quality as those you used to purchase in the Gallery.

We carry only museum quality African works of art.

Our telephone number remains the same (212) 229-0899

Our e-mail address is africanart@ashionegallery.com

We very much appreciate your business.

2. Community Events Relevant to Africa

If you are planning a trip to New York, check these out!

A. Museum of Natural History

Central Park West and 79th Street

New York, NY 10024-5192

(212) 769-7375

www.amnh.org

1)The butterfly conservatory- The butterflies are back!

Now Open.

2.) Wild Ocean-This new Imax film follows the epic struggles of an amazing array of Sea life off the coast of South Africa.

Now Playing

B. Museum for African Art:

P(718) 784-7700

F (718) 784-7718

Temporary Office

36-01 43rd Ave at 36th Street

Long Island City, New York 11101

www.africanart.org

Published Statement:

"The Museum for African Art is the center for discovering the arts of Africa, from classic to contemporary"

Check out the Museum's just ended, future planned and inaugural exhibitions.

C. Metropolitan Museum (212) 535-7710

Fifth Avenue and 83rd Street, New York, New York

www.metmuseum.org

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas current exhibit:

1) Illuminated Gospel, Late 14th to early 15th century Ethiopia

2) Parchment (vellum). wood (acacia). tempera. ink Height 16 1/2" (41.9 cm) Rogers Fund. 1998 (1998.66)

Other highlights that may be of interest:

3) Collection highlights

View selected highlights from the permanent collection

4) Collection Database

Search selected records from the Museums collection of the arts of Africa including the photograph Study Collection

5) Introduction to Arts of Africa

Read about the curatorial department and its permanent collection.

6) About the Robert Goldwater lirary

This non circulating research library is dedicated to the documentation of the visual arts of sub-Saharan Africa, and,

7) About the photograph study collection. The photograph study collection.

D. Brooklyn Museum (718) 638-5000

200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York

www.brooklynmuseum.org

1) Exhibit

Brooklyn museum reportedly maintains a world renowned permanent collection of African Art, said to be always worth a visit. You can contact them for additional information.

E. Museum Listings

1) Museums or notable institutions wishing to be listed on these pages can contact us. The museums or (notable) institutions should have an established African art department or be planning an African art exhibit. Sorry, only e-mailed listings accepted. 

3. Future Plans

We are canvasing Manhattan for a new location and plan to re-open Spring 2009. We will keep you informed of our progress on these pages. The good news is that now, you can shop 24/7! You no longer have to contend with those restrictive Gallery hours.

So then, let the shopping begin! Shop, shop, shop and then shop some more!!

4. Your Stories About Africa

(This unbelievable African sign was taken from our jewelry section. See if you can find it on our bracelet page and be the one to buy it!)

We would like to hear your stories about Africa - stories of its peoples, cultures, terrain, sea life, wild life, different foods, friendships, etc. We only wish to hear the positive and may be heart warming memories (you do not have to look far for negative stories, and those are not the focus of our customers!).

Perhaps you are a "been to" and had an unbelievable experience with wildlife, canoes on the Zambezi river, forged a life long friendship, and ate the most delicious dishes, perhaps you want so badly to go back again, and so on.

We may share your experiences here with other Ashione-yans.

Only e-mailed stories accepted. All submissions become the property of Ashione Gallery and affiliates, will not be returned and may be used by Ashione Gallery and affiliates media world wide. By e-mailing your story, you give us permission to edit, print, publish and /or republish it at our discretion, now or in the future. We reserve the right to use only stories that we select.

Can you imagine that we could print all your wonderful stories here to be enjoyed by one and all! Would it not be thousands if not millions of exhilarating stories about amazing you and beautiful Africa!! We cannot wait to hear from you!!!

5. Ashione-yan Kids. Children's corner for Africa, from all over the world.

We all know that most children have a special affinity for Africa, sometimes it appears more so than many adults. Some even study in school, and we are always reminded of that childlike drawing of Africa on a sandy beach in New York (pl. see our Benefit's page)!

During our time at Greenwich (West) Village, children were always pulling their parent(s) into the Gallery and then either proceeded to explain to them the objects they were familiar with, be fascinated by others or asked endless questions of everything else! Many times, those visits ended in frustration for the adults because the children would refuse to leave.

We met this one mega star (everyone knows and adores her!) from that mega hit television series, Sex and the city, who made it a habit of always visiting with her son (and she visited often!), who would promptly leave her side for "captivated"

 explorations. He too had problems leaving! And speaking of a "Head start", what a wonderful beginning for this youngster!

We are reserving this CORNER for children who wish to e- mail us their positive experiences and or thoughts about Africa.

We reserve same rights as in Ashione-yan, #4.

6. Book Review

Tracing Memory

A glossary of graphic signs and symbols in African Art and Culture by Clementine M. Faik - Nzuji, published by the Canadian Museum of Civilization Canadian Museum of Civilization 100 Laurier Street P.O. Box 3100, Station B Hull, Quebec J8X 4H2 (800) 555-5621 We are very grateful to have found this book by way of a gift from a customer. This book affords one yet another avenue of gleaning information about Africa's past. Africa's sub Saharan oral history, migratory factors, natural and man made disasters and even the secrecy of many of its cultures, make it impossible for one to obtain complete and accurate information from one single source.

In the author's own words:

"This Glossary is intended as a contribution to the general understanding of signs and symbols. It is a systematic inventory of African graphic signs which provides the reader with an easily accessible means of gauging the creative force of analogy in thought and perception that they manifest. For the peoples who continue to use these sign-symbols, they represent a gift from God - tools to disclose hidden truths. This Glossary permits a more informed reading of these signs and it may also help to promote a new way of looking at Africa, its cultures and its spirituality".

As with oral history, sub Saharan Africans used signs and symbols to promote or preserve ideas. These signs or symbols could be seen on masks, statues, domiciles, furniture, textiles, vessels, bronzes, and even on jewelry. It is fascinating to read the assigned meanings to these signs and symbols and pages 106 and 107 are good examples.

On page 106, he showed us the Kpelli - Kpelli mask covered with the abstract sign- symbols. He also gave us an explanation of the symbol of the crowning bird. He explained the meaning of the spiral, which is a recurring sign in many African artifacts we see today. On page 107 he went on to explain the double Chevron symbol, which is another recurring theme (many Kuba cloths bear this symbol). As wonderful as this book is, we found some limitations. The author could have used the idea of the Kpelli - Kpelli mask (page 106) to fully explain what the abstract sign-symbols were saying of the mask, instead of which readers are left to find the meanings by going through the entire book. We also found the book somewhat disjointed and not cohesive enough.

But overall, we strongly recommend this book for your library. If you own or hope to own an African artifact, you might just find it useful as a reference to decipher some signs - symbols. Happy Reading!!!

7. Tim Russet R.I.P.

Tim Russet passed on in 2008. He was a beloved American journalist that gave the world an intelligent perspective on current world events. He particularly touched us, because his was one show we could relax with 2:00am Monday morning (that was our Sunday, after work hours!), without feeling any negative under currents if the subject of Africa or its peoples came up. He reported fairly, even if thoroughly and drew one into that huge humor that was his! Yes, we laughed right along with him!! We all lost a fantastic, one-of-a kind journalist.

Dear Tim, we so loved and miss you.

You were taken from us too soon.

R.I.P.

8. Philanthropists Wanted

We are seeking philanthropists willing to assist us in the implementation of meaningful art and music projects in Africa. Your most passionate and better philanthropic efforts are yet to come!!

9. Advertisements

Advertise Here with Us. We have the most discerning customers! Please contact us for advertising rates.

10. Press Inquiries

Media may contact us at africanart@ashionegallery.com

Thank you for your visit, and many more thanks for your business. We update our website often and include new and exciting merchandise and information. So... stop on by, again and again!!!