Sharing the Spirit

Masks, figures, and ritual and practical objects from three centuries and 14 countries are on display through December 15 at the Godwin-Ternbach Museum, which is presenting Spirit and Power in African Art.

Guest curated by William Siegmann—former head of the Brooklyn Museum’s Department of African and Oceanic Art—the exhibition features more than 100 items made of wood, copper, iron, brass, bronze, and ivory, as well as textiles. Field photographs and documentary films illustrate their use and context. The oldest piece is a cast-copper neck ring dating from the 11th–15th century; among the newest are two ritual masks of wood and fiber, crafted in the early to mid-20th century.

The exhibition draws on the permanent collections of the Godwin-Ternbach and the Queensborough Community College Art Gallery, which is staging a concurrent exhibition, A Cameroon World: Art and Artifacts from the Marshall and Caroline Mount Collection, through February 28, 2008 (www.qccartgallery.org).

“Spirit and Power extends the museum’s ongoing commitment to the diverse Queens community,” says Godwin-Ternbach Director Amy Winter. “Previous exhibitions have explored Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern cultures, as well as the histories of Jews, Italians, and other immigrant groups. Now, with the help of donors and generous loans from the Queensborough Community College Art Gallery, we are presenting the extraordinary art of Africa.”