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Africa by Joyce Scott / American Art
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Africa

ca. 1980 Joyce Scott Born: Baltimore, Maryland 1948 glass beads on synthetic thread 14 1/2 x 10 x 1/2 in. (36.8 x 25.4 x 1.3 cm) Smithsonian American Art Museum Gift of Eleanor T. and Samuel J. Rosenfeld in honor of Kenneth R. Trapp, curator-in-charge of the Renwick (1995--2003) © ca. 1980, Joyce Scott 2003.58 Not currently on view



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Africa



Joyce Scott associates her beadwork with American Indian, African American, and West African cultures. Scott grew up in Baltimore and trained in fine art and art history. Drawing on past generations of craftspeople in her family, she adapts the traditions of handcrafted beadwork to create edgy imagery that often suggests issues of race and gender. The expressive faces in Africa appear to tell a story, but Scott invites us to form our own ideas about what the piece means. She used the "peyote" stitch to craft the necklace, a technique that derives from American Indian beadwork. The name comes from the peyote cactus, which is eaten during spiritual ceremonies with a beaded utensil.

For more information about this work visit the Luce Foundation Center.


Keywords

Ethnic - African

Figure group

decorative arts - jewelry

Crafts - Glass

About Joyce Scott

Born: Baltimore, Maryland 1948

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Joyce Scott

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