Join us for a series of online lectures on sub-Saharan sculpture by Natty Mark Samuels, founder of the African School, a Cultural Educational project providing teaching in African Studies, to the general community; focusing on pre-colonial sub-Saharan societies.

Natty has previously been an Adult Tutor for Abingdon and Witney College, teaching in community settings, and has also delivered workshops for Modern Art Oxford.

Series Overview
AFRICAN TREASURY: Celebrating sub-Saharan Sculpture
Next to the word ‘treasury,’ in my dictionary, it says, ‘A place where treasure is kept or stored.’ That is what the African continent is; and through this lecture series, we shall be visiting some of the greatest storehouses, in countries such as Ivory Coast, Liberia, Cameroon, Nigeria and the Congo. Come with me as we traverse the sub-Saharan regions, marvelling at the wonders in wood.

WEEK 1 (11th Aug): SERENITY: Celebrating the sculpture of the Congo
For me, historically, its the peoples of central and west Africa, that have produced the greatest sculpture on the continent. This lecture celebrates the sculpture of the Congo : ‘visages from the shrine.’

WEEK 2 (18th Aug): AFRICAN QUARTET: The African influence on the Parisian art scene
As l say in the introduction to my collection of writings, from which this lecture gets its name, I give thanks “for those individuals who took African sculpture from the place of oddities and placed it on the pedestal of art.’

WEEK 3 (25th Aug): BLESSINGS OF IFE: celebrating the art of the Yoruba
In the verse entitled ‘lfe and Meta, l ask the dealer Charles Ratton, ‘Were you magnetised by Ife? Enchanted by the Yoruba? This lecture celebrates one of the greatest sculpting and casting traditions of all time.

WEEK 4 (1st Sept): CONVERSATIONS ON THE BRIDGE: The African influence on German art
In ‘African Wood Sculpture,’ l say ‘ln your painting Max, you showcased the sculptural wonders of Africa.’ When we think of the African influence on European art, we tend to think of France. This lecture takes us from Paris to Dresden, then onwards to Berlin.

Book your tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/african-t...

Further Details
>> Each lecture is 12:30-1:30pm
>> You can sign up for all four sessions or single ones but we would suggest signing up for all four.
>> Each session will be 45 minutes with 15 minutes Q&A .
>> We will email a Zoom link in advance of the meeting.