Culture by Design- The World of the Kanga

A Night to Remember

Friday, Febrary 7th, marked the beginning of a colorful transformation at Spitzer Art Center! The downstairs was covered by cloth rainbows of exotic colors and patterns. As I walked around and viewed the entirety of the exhibit, I had a definite pride in being a part of Spitzer Art Center. I remember feeling that exhibits, like this one, are exactly why Mary Spitzer Etter left her birthplace to Central Shenandoah Arts--to see art, in every form, flourish.

Culture by Design, interrogated the origins, cultural exchange and social meanings of the Kanga, an iconic East African cloth. The displays provided a vibrant mix of color and design, photographs and stories narrating both the historical and contemporary significance of the kanga.

-curated by Phyllis Ressler, adjunct Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Eastern Mennonite University, James Madison University and Webster University, Geneva Switzerland. The exhibition is based on research collected in collaboration with the National Museums of Kenya, with support from The Royal Netherlands Embassy, The Embassy of Switzerland, The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, The British Museum and Webster University.

Spitzer Art Center would like to give thanks to Bowl of Good for their donation of delicously global food for this unique event.

We certainly hope to see you at our next First Fridays event!

Blog maintained by: Angela M. Carter with Angela M. Carter Poetry
Photography credit: Danielle Campbell with Danielle Campbell Photography