The Stanley Museum of Art Mellon Research team share updates on their latest research of the museum's African Art collection on 11/9/2024.
Mellon-funded members of the research team include:
Dr. Peju Layiwola | Mellon Curatorial Fellow
Fernanda Campos | Mellon Curatorial Assistant for Provenance Research
Abbey Minor | Mellon Graduate Assistant.
Time Stamps:
00:00: Start
00:47: Land acknowledgement
02:48: Opening remarks by Curator of African Art, Dr. Cory Gundlach
06:25: Presentation by Fernanda Campos
30:00: Presentation by Abigail Minor
51:55: Presentation by Dr. Peju Layiwola
1:17:15: Q&A Session
Between 1979 and 1990, Claude (“Max”) and Elizabeth (“Betty”) Stanley of Muscatine, Iowa, gifted nearly 600 historical African objects to the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art. The Stanley Collection of African Art is recognized globally for its impressive artistic quality and has been published widely in support of higher education initiatives throughout North America. Comprised primarily of sculpture from Sub-Saharan Africa made during the late 19th and early 20th century, the historical origins of the Stanley Museum of Art’s African collection — like many others — also overlaps with the period of European colonization. When and how did African objects at the Stanley Museum of Art leave the continent within this context? Who and what was involved? Where did the transactions occur and why? What ethical implications surround the objects now?
The search for answers to these questions lies at the core of provenance research, which is a priority for many museums with collections associated with colonial contexts. With a $400,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and consistent with the original educational mission established by Max and Betty Stanley for their African art collection, the Stanley Museum of Art is now leading a two-year project for provenance research focused primarily on The Stanley Collection of African Art.
LEARN MORE
Stanley Museum of Art: https://stanleymuseum.uiowa.edu/
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