They are affected by tradition and innovation … these were chosen because they would clearly illustrate transformations rooted in tradition.”

African roots

The textiles were provided by the museum’s collection and by MSU faculty members who donated textiles from their personal collections, Worland said.

“Another important aspect of this exhibit is that it highlights MSU’s extensive involvement in West Africa,” Worland said.

Worland said her interest in West African textiles began when she and her husband first traveled to Mali to visit their son, who was member of the Peace Corps.

“My husband and I fell in love with Mali and wanted to return,” Worland said. “With each visit I learned more about Malian culture, made more friends and I even had a job as a textile designer for a shop that worked with Malian artists.”

Worland said she loves African textiles and has taken trips to Mali, researched traditional Malian mudcloth, and interviewed Malian artists, dyers and weavers for six years.

“I am especially fond of the natural dyes, handwoven cloth and careful painting used in Malian mudcloth,” Worland said. “I think the evidence of people’s hands (and) handwork is what touches me and gives me comfort.”

Speaking to the public

The exhibit displays not only bogolanfini — traditional Malian mudcloth — but also Kente cloth from Ghana and indigo Adire cloth from Nigeria, allowing the public to get a sense of the various West African cultures. The cloths vary in color, texture, pattern and symbolism.

MSU alumnae and friends Sue Miller, a Grand Ledge resident, and Pat Jackson, who traveled from Washington to see the exhibit, were each interested in different aspects of the exhibit.

“I don’t think many people realize how much work goes into an exhibit like this or into these cloths,” Miller said. “I prefer the softer indigo dyes and the Mali mudcloths to the bright Kente cloths, and I’m interested in the symbolism in the textiles.”

Jackson said the cultural aspect of the exhibit fascinates her.

“I’m particularly interested in how the cloths reflect their culture,” she said. “It’s almost like a teaching mechanism for their culture, with all the symbolism, a way to pass on their beliefs and traditions.”

The exhibit also draws MSU students. Art history senior Nick Lanphear, who was perusing the displayed West African textiles, said he studied abroad in Africa during the summer and developed an interest for textiles in that time.

“There’s a lot of debate about whether this, textiles, is an art or a craft and I have an interest in the dialogue … It’s hard to decide what is authentic art, what is tourist art and what is high art,” he said. “Everything in here is definitely art. I think it’s amazing the spiritual significance the artists put in these cloths.”

New perspectives

Lanphear said the exhibit has something to offer anyone, whether he or she is an art enthusiast or simply curious.

“If you can appreciate any kind of art, it’s amazing,” he said. “They do a good job writing and explaining the panels. The quilts are accessible. It’s not an obscure, abstract kind of art. I’m amazed that so many people walk past this.”

Worland also said she hopes the beauty of the textiles will affect visitors and teach them new information.

“I hope (visitors) take away an appreciation of the beauty and meaning of the textiles,” she said. “I also hope that the viewers will better understand that the people of West Africa, the stories of the artists and the constantly changing nature of these textiles in the context of history.”