The Majesty of African Motherhood exhibit was featured in the 2004 Savannah Black Heritage Festival Exhibit Comments: Peggy Blood – Professor and Exhibit Coordinator at Savannah State Univ. We invite students, children, families and the public to view these century old works and use them as catalysts to instill pride of heritage and awareness of an effective cultural system that is based on unity and personal and collective responsibility in order to build complimentary relationships. Herman Bigham – Art Collector and Presenter By doing this in a nontraditional museum environment, such as libraries, public schools and art festivals, we give youth and art enthusiasts an opportunity to view the aesthetics along with the cultural context that provides a guide for positive cultural modeling today. *All three TV stations, Fox-WJCL, NBC-WSAV and CBS-WTOC covered the exhibit. Newspaper coverage was provide by the Savannah Herald, the Savannah Morning News, the Savannah Tribune, and the Tiger’s Roar who also covered the exhibit on its web edition. Several of our Motherhood sculptures were including in the festival brochure and magazine. Shirley Barber James - Coordinator On behalf of the committee for the 15th Annual Black Heritage Festival in Savannah, Georgia, I extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude for your allowing us to exhibit “The Majesty of African Motherhood” cultural and educational traveling exhibition at Savannah State University in the historic Adams Hall…This year we are pleased to present such a high caliber of art to the citizens of our community, and we are honored that Savannah [was] added to the tour of great cities. Students and children of all grade levels and ages, families, community groups and organizations, and the general public will be invited to view these works. Akil Abdur-Raheem This exhibit represents strong themes that must be cultivated throughout the African-American community. Levertes Raglard This was a very good display of African art. It rekindled in my heart the valuable significance of African perceptions seen through art. I really enjoyed [the exhibit] and hope to attend many similar events. Kura K. N’Jai I’m impressed and appreciative. Please keep me posted of upcoming exhibits. I like the way you focused on the importance of maternity from an African perspective. April Marie Lewis The mother + child theme open my eyes to a different perspective about the general relationship between a mom and her children/child. Toneika White Very interesting + uplifting, makes one proud to be a woman of African descent. Impact of the exhibition The response to The Majesty of African Motherhood by both the public and scholars has been overwhelmingly positive. Comments from academics and curators such as the following by Dr. Molefi K. Asante, Founding Director, African Studies Department, Temple University, Philadelphia PA are typical: "Excellent ! Fantastic ! A memorable experience! I saw the exhibition at the Free Library of Philadelphia and immediately compared it to the many exhibits I have seen in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Dakar, Lagos, and Chicago. The sheer majesty of this exhibit is without thematic or substantive peer. The quality of the exhibition is breathtaking. You cannot walk into the exhibit without some feeling of the awesomeness of the artistic talent of the artists who created the sculptures from their own worldviews." Rosalind R. Jeffries, Ph. D. Professor, Author and a past curator with the Brooklyn Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Center for African Arts in New York, whose presence as a spokesperson for The Majesty of African Motherhood has brought immeasurable prestige to the receptions celebrating this exhibition, is currently working on a book about African motherhood which will reference the objects in the Bigham and Associates show. Particularly gratifying are the comments the exhibition has elicited from the public. A sampling follows: "One of the best African Art exhibitions I've seen. I haven't seen this theme explained in such detail and I really enjoyed it." - Ms. Atkins of Quincy, MA "Absolutely breath-taking. Words can not express the emotional and spiritual experience. Thank you for doing this for us to see. Peace Always." - Love, Priscilla, Miami, Florida "I was moved to learn more about African Art in all its forms; this was not a former interest of mine but I see it having the potential to be so." - Mr. Bucher of South Philadelphia "I was consumed by the power of the works that conveyed the strength, resilience, healing, and life-giving sacredness of the Africa Woman. My spirit was truly touched, and nurtured, and lifted. Affirmed! Asante Sana." - Ms. Camacho of Germantown, PA "Congratulations for the great work you are doing to promote our heritage. I am highly impressed by your hard work and commitment. Keep it up..." - Brother Ofori-Ansa "As soon as I entered the room I wanted to dance- and did!" - Ms. A. Nosakhere, Atlanta, GA At its first three venues The Majesty of African Motherhood was seen by over fifty thousand people, was broadcast on five television programs, was reviewed by eleven newspapers and provided our exhibitors with a database of twelve hundred persons. Among the eight national and international magazines and newspapers that have covered "The Majesty of African Motherhood" are Black Issues Magazine, Essence, African Arts, Tribal Arts, One World Magazine, Pathfinders Magazine, and two major Nigerian newspapers. Additional Selected Commentary on the Exhibition "Without hesitation I can say the exhibition of traditional African art on the theme of motherhood organized by David Lawrence and Herman Bigham ranks high among excellent exhibitions. This world class exhibition must travel to many other institutions to educate the awaiting thousands that need its overdue message." - Rosalind R. Jeffries Ph. D., professor, author and a past curator with the Brooklyn Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Center for African Arts in New York "The Majesty of African Motherhood reveals the traditions of African people from West, East and Central African and implores us, the public, to explore the silent message in their stance their forward thrust breast and their scarifications and their beauty. Today, our youth are thrust into an adult world without preparation, guidance or understanding of the expectations of the family unit or the greater society. Children living in traditional villages participated in initiation ceremonies that revealed value systems, community secrets, traditions and group expectations that insured stability and continuity within the group." - Naomi Nelson, Past Director of Education and curator for the African American Museum of Philadelphia "[The Majesty of African Motherhood] was undoubtedly the most awe-inspiring exhibit we have ever hosted in a branch library." - Mr. Elliot Shelkrot, President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia "The collaboration served the purpose of allowing this community to embrace an art form that is most probably inaccessible to them for many reasons. This experience awed, inspired, educated and moved every man, woman, and child who saw it." - Audrey Roll, Branch Manager of the Cecil B. Moore Branch Library. "Walking down the gallery at the [exhibition] is to hear whispers from the motherland. And the mothers." - Lucia Herndon, Philadelphia Inquirer Columnist "The ceremonial aspects of these wonderful sculptures are durable and a perpetual reminder to the tribal entities (Family Groups). The whole Exhibit is a real reminder that our use of camera's to give us brief reminders of family events is a very poor match as against the rich and durable artifacts of another continent." - Mr. Falkove, West Philadelphia, PA Keep up the good work in reminding us of the good old days when the family unit was important and central part of children's overall nurture and growth. Thanks for an excellent job. - Ms. Sillal, Upper Darby, PA I run a Parent Education Lactation Center at Pennsylvania Hospital! This I wonderful! - Ms. Carson, Merion, PA .