Afrique Aya was honored to be invited to perform at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, around a piece called a “Soundsuit” by Nick Cave, this past Friday.
Ben and Angelo and Soundsuit
Nick Cave, originally from Missouri and now working and teaching in Chicago, is an artist who makes moving costumes from found objects. See a PBS clip about him here. And another one here. And another one here.
The Afrique Aya-Nick Cave convergence was such a great idea on the Museum’s part. Cave’s work is closely related to the African masking tradition. His art hails in a direct line from the very same traditional masks with which Afrique Aya performs.
Angelo and The Smile
Friday night Angelo danced the Zaouli mask. Unfortunately our own stand-in photographer’s abilities were too challenged by low light, and lots of movement, to be able to show you one from Friday. But it was a great opportunity to get up close and personal with this charming mask. Here’s a picture from a past performance in Africa In The Ozarks 2011.
Same story, unfortunately, for any pictures of our wonderful dancers Jenny and Margot, who backed-up Zaouli with costumes and masks worn in past Africa In The Ozarks. Check out a video of the past Africa In The Ozarks mask performances here.
Ben hits it.
Hard to tell the difference, between the traditional and the Cave!
Bibeau is ready.
It was a great evening. The audience was spellbound.
Audience plus one.
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