African Art Museum

Animals--each have symbolic meaning, each have positive aspect/personality emphasized

Chiwara masks--male and female masks meant to go together

yin and yang

female mask has young on back/top

Birds
spiral tails
feathers
bird flying = communication with spirit world
bird is a sort of threshold
(Yoruba people)
research bird calls

Sankofa bird--looks over shoulder, using past to move forward into future

Flamingoes sleep the same way.  Perhaps they have the best clarity into the meaning of the past while they are sleeping. Do they lucid dream?

Imagine using yourself as a pillow...how convenient.

Snakes = zigzag, coil
skin shedding = rebirth, creativity, infinity
waiting to catch prey = infinity
latent power in its patience = yin?

Chameleon = transformation, ability to eventually reach its destination
Walked when earth was new and ground was soft--superior balance
Daos ideally?
Tail curls (curl = life, time) up in art (opposite of nature)...what does this mean? Is the chameleon an optimist?

Mudfish
lives in and out of water = "magical rebirth", resurfacing of the hidden

Snail = coolness, control, serenity
idea of a storehouse for these things, a haven

Elephant = change, counterpart to kings, cycle of life and death
"One who follows the track of the elephant never gets wet from the dew on the bushes"
The museum interpreted this as if you stick with a powerful leader, he will protect you.  I interpret it to mean if you blaze your own trail you'll have more of an adventure.  But try to wear wool socks.

Scarab beetle = rising sun, rebirth

Butterfly = coming of rain
lots of kaleidoscopic patterns and psychedelic colors here!

Hippo = fertility, good fortune
blue!
can hold breath up to six minutes...is this how it became blue?

Turtle (and shell) = cross in circle/ordering of cosmos
cross = meeting of this world and spirit world
with triangle and spiral patterns = movements of moon, cycles of fertility and childbirth (creation on microcosmic scale?)

Masks with square shape and no teeth = non-threatening

Look into:
Guro people--Mami Wata figure = waterspirit
Senufo masked dancers
Creation story on turtle's back

Try:
Ink, paint, and chalk on plywood
Women emerging from gourd-shapes