Posted on March 26, 2006
On March 22, the New Gallery at Festival opened its doors for the first time. But it was more than a day just to celebrate this significant event; — it was a whole day affair dedicated to honoring the expansion of one of JMU’s treasures, the Madison Art Collection.
Having been housed in Festival since 2001, the Madison Art Collection has been a tool for educators, a wealth of information for students, and a gem of the Harrisonburg cultural scene. The art collection is continuing its legacy, thanks to pioneers Kate Monger, the administrator of the Madison Art Collection and Melanie Brimhall, director of education. This expansion will allow for specific exhibits, which will illuminate the importance of the artifacts. This is a new chapter in the history of the Madison Art Collection and to celebrate the importance of this occasion, Kate Monger, along with support from other members of the JMU community, prepared an all day extravaganza. The day’s events highlighted the centerpiece of the New Gallery at Festival, an exhibit called “Mingle with Mali.” The exhibit also included music by the Mali Khan, a West African musical group, a lecture by Robin Poulton on the culture of Mali, and the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to signify the opening of the New Gallery at Festival.
The day began for students dining at Festival from 10 a.m. to noon, as they were serenaded by the polyrhythmic sounds of the Mali Khan, which is part of the organization Virginia Friends of Mali, which is meant to teach Virginians about Mali and Malians about Virginia. Lamine Soulaman, the head of the ensemble, along with the other members, delighted students who joined in the fun by dancing and clapping and trying their hand on the drums with the assistance of the Mali Khan members.
Later in the evening, students and faculty enjoyed a lecture by Poulton, who had much to say on the extensive culture of Mali. Junior Molly Mann, who attended the lecture for her diversity class, said she enjoyed the traditional Mali clothing that Poulton was wearing and the importance of the symbols on it.
“I really like history, and learning about Mali was really cool, and I thought Poulton did a very good job,” Mann said.
Following the presentation, everyone was directed to the doors of what would soon be the New Gallery at Festival.
In continuing with the theme of Mingle with Mali, both a traditional naming ceremony and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed to commemorate the opening of the gallery. Lamine Soulaman conducted the naming ceremony. It is tradition in Mali to break a kola nut or a block of salt over a baby’s head and say the baby’s name for the first time seven days after it is born. Although Soulaman only spoke the language Bombara, a translator conveyed Soulaman’s words to the group. He expressed his hopes that everyone would move forward with everything that they search for in life, and with the breaking of the salt said, “Now it is open.”
Monger and Marilou Johnson, interim dean of the College of Vsual and Performing Arts, performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Johnson also expressed her hopes for this to be an opportunity to move forward with the Madison Art Collection. “The opportunity to have a museum means that we can expose the collection to more people,” Johnson said. “This gives the opportunity for students and faculty to create specialized exhibitions, and study items in the art collection, as well as being able to have a conversation about them.”
What began as an empty room was now a complete exhibition celebrating Mali culture. The gallery is filled with suspended ceiling hangings, intermingled with glass display boxes and floor displays, all of which feature items such as traditional jewelry, clothing, tools, toys and other everyday items of modern-day Mali. Accompanying each exhibit is detailed information about each of the artifacts, making the New Gallery at Festival truly unique in comparison to the former housing of the Madison Art Collection, because now these artifacts can be viewed in the full light of their importance.
Former Madison Art Collection intern junior Christine Bednarz believes the New Gallery at Festival is a great addition to the art collection.
“I think this expansion is well deserved, this program is great, and this will give them some more recognition,” Bednarz said.
While students and faculty perused the extensive collection, Monger was standing close by beaming with pride.
“This has been such a great day for us, and I feel so grateful for the great amount of support I have received from the JMU faculty and students,” Monger said.
As the pioneers of the Madison Art Collection, Monger and Brimhall turned dusty artifacts into exhibits of great historical importance.
