More than 100 works of art from West Africa was on display at the Riffe Gallery January 26 through March 25, 1995. The exhibition, produced by Kent State University School of Art Gallery, included carved wooden stools, masks and figures, as well as accessories such as staffs, jewelry and hats. The objects were displayed individually, in groupings and in vignettes complemented by photographs and explanatory labels. Items in Leadership Arts of West Africa, which ranged from embodiments of power to symbols of authority or emblems of achievement, have aesthetic and artistic purposes but also function in historical, religious, philosophical and political ways.

The items that were a part of Leadership Arts of West Africaare a rich resource for studying community values, traditions and organizations that structure society. In Africa, art forms that support the political system are used in a wide range of activities including political ritual or drama, decision making and law enforcement. At the same time, art symbolizes the importance of cooperation, shared beliefs and the responsibilities of the rulers and the ruled. The political structure and culture of a group often determine the type of political art employed. There are many kinds of traditional leaders in West Africa and a wide range of leadership art. The integration of these leadership systems and the meaning of their art is the major focus of the exhibition.

Items in the exhibition came from Ghana, Cameroon Grassfields, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

The Riffe Gallery, operated by the Ohio Arts Council, showcases the work of Ohio’s artists and the collections of the state’s museums and galleries. The Riffe Gallery is located in the Vern Riffe Center for the Government and the Arts, State and High Streets, Columbus, OH. Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 11-4 p.m., Thursday and Friday 11-7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11-4 p.m. Admission is free. For information or to schedule a tour call the Riffe Gallery at 614/644-9624.
# # #

[top]