Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

"The Art of West African Strip-Woven Cloth" video and slides, EEPA 1991-005

Summary

Collection ID:
EEPA.1991-005
Creators:
Ashworth, Gavin
Dates:
1987
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2040 Slides (photographs)
+catalog (4 v.)
color
1 Video recording
(12:25 min.) (VHS)
sound, color
Repository:
Container:
7
1
2
3
Photographs taken by Gavin Ashworth during the summer of 1987 in several villages in Mali and Cote d'Ivoire. The images detail all phases of strip weaving, from the spinning of yarn to the assemblage of the individual strips into large pieces. The still photographs were used in the video which was entitled,
Patterns of Life: West-African Strip Weaving Traditions,
produced by Caribiner, Inc. for the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, 1987. Text accompanying videos for sale reads, "In many areas of West Africa, fabric is woven in long narrow strips. The strips are cut to length and then sewn together to make rectangular cloths with striking geometric patterns. These beautiful cloths are worn as wrappers, shawls, and robes. Originally a slide presentation for an exhibition, the Art of West African Strip-Woven Cloth explores the creative activities of the various artisans involved in textile production: spinners, dyers, weavers, and sewers."

Administration

Author
Paul Wood
Custodial History note
Images taken and video produced under contract by Gavin Ashworth of Caribiner, Inc., for the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, 1987.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Conditions Governing Use note
Copyright held by the Smithsonian Institution. Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Mali Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Africa Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Videotapes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Côte d'Ivoire Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Guinea Coast Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Color slides Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
National Museum of African Art
P.O. Box 37012
MRC 708
Washington, DC 20013-7012
elisofonarchives@si.edu