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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Ndimgbe: A Compendium of African Visual Artists in Minnesota @ Intermedia Arts
Wednesday 17 December @ 14:05:10 |
 by Will Conley
Say it: in-dim-bay. It means “The People of the Times” in the Igbo culture. The Ndimgbe are the ones who are chosen to represent the community in the Mbari celebration, reflecting on community events and celebrating if the gods have treated the community well. The current show at Intermedia Arts is just such a celebration and is the first major African-born artists’ compendium to occur in the Twin Cities.
The gods in this case work through master community arts organizers Sha Cage and e.g. bailey, the minds behind Tru Ruts Endeavors. They chose 17 Ndimgbe to represent the rapidly growing African immigrant population in a display that runs through April. The ongoing event features panel discussions, artist tours, special events, workshops and a closing reception (the opening reception drew a packed house last Thursday).
The layout takes you on a journey from Africa to the Twin Cities. The first room features art that was created in Africa. It is to be seen as “home” in the context of the show. Koffi Mbairamadji works Biblical passages into his collagesque paintings, evoking the profile of a girl’s face by aligning various African wind and percussion instruments. His Biblical painting is humbling in its fearlessly bright color palette and instructive storytelling.
"The Compromise"
Walk along down the ramp as if traversing a body of water and you will find art that was created in Minnesota. Content becomes more influenced by the tumult of travel and the shocks inherent in assimilation. Watch Jacques Elate Joss’ improvisational pastel abstracts coalesce gracefully upon your iris. The colors are chosen instinctively and rendered at the speed of jazz. His children are his best teachers. “You have to play,” he says, exhibiting his eclectic background from Ghana to Paris to Minneapolis.
Helen Tesfay’s work hits America straight in the eye. Its themes are African-American rather than African. A bottle of milk is marked “Negro Milk.” A pistol is painted onto a wallet. Her themes recall the Black Arts Movement, when Aunt Jemima was bursting off of her bottle and angrily raising a fist, crying, “No more!”
Ndimgbe boasts unlimited talent and accomplishment. You will be able to relate to the content and sink your teeth into the various complex styles of work here.
Foremost is the emphasis on culture. Face it. You don’t know much about Africans. Ndimgbe is an exhilarating way to fix that.
Contact info@truruts.com for details and schedule regarding dialogues, workshops, special events and tours. Closing reception Apr. 2, 6:30 p.m. $0-10 suggested donation. Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. 612-871-4444.
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