The Brigham City Museum frequently hosts exhibits of textile art, but the display opening Tuesday will be a bit more exotic than the museum's popular quilt shows.
"Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African American Identity" fills the museum with colorful fabric created in Ghana and Togo.
"I thought it would be appealing for our population, exploring the exotic West African culture," said Sara Lundberg, director of the museum. "It's also universal -- it's about creating a piece of art that is also useful as a symbol of personal identification."
Kente, the best known of African textiles, is made by the Asante peoples of Ghana, and the Ewe people who come from Ghana and Togo.
The artistic cloth is colorful and vibrant, Lundberg said, adding, "In the patterns themselves, the contrast is really bold."
Originally the cloth of kings, kente is now comparable to Western cultures' evening gown or tux, and is worn wrapped around the body for special occasions.
Kente is also incorporated into drums, shields and fans. In the U.S., strips of kente are sewn into academic or liturgical robes, or made into hats, ties, and bags.
Weaving an exhibit
The exhibit features 31 pieces of kente, with photos and text panels.
"The panels talk about the history of it ... and how it spread across African culture, then to African-American culture and became a symbol here," said Lundberg. "So it's a history exhibit, as well as art and anthropology."
Kente is made in strips, and then sewn together to make larger pieces of fabric. Looms used for weaving the cloth will also be on display.
"The looms are pretty big," said Lundberg, estimating the size at about 8 feet long and 5 feet tall.
The exhibit also includes market stalls, showing how the cloth would be displayed and sold in Ghana, with other objects that give insight into the culture of the Asante and Ewe people.
"I think this will kind of highlight a culture that a lot of people don't know about," said Lundberg.
Programming
"Wrapped in Pride" is a traveling exhibit made possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities' NEH on the Road initiative. The exhibit comes with grants to develop programs at the museums.
* On Tuesday, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., teachers are invited to preview the exhibit, and learn about bringing classes on field trips.
* Salt Lake City musician Andy Jones will be in the museum at 7 p.m. April 28, to talk about the Africa Heartwood Project.
"Basically, he and his wife ... wanted to do humanitarian work on their honeymoon -- that shows what kind of couple they are," said Lundberg.
They went to Ghana, and returned to Utah wanting to do more. "They're helping support African artisans by having them make drums, and selling them in the U.S." Lundberg said.
* The Salt Lake African Drum and Dance Ensemble will perform at 2 p.m. May 1, in the Senior Center, which is in the same building as the museum.
On that same day, Jones returns to the museum from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., to teach families about African drumming, singing and dancing.
All events are free.
PREVIEW
l WHAT: 'Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African-American Identity' traveling exhibit
l WHEN: Opens Tuesday; continues 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. Saturdays, through May 25
l WHERE: Brigham City Museum-Gallery, 24 N. 300 West
l ADMISSION: Free; (435) 723-6769
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