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My students and I in ANTH215 (Gender, Sexuality, Culture) at American University are developing close looking guides to works on display in the exhibition, “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art.” at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Here is a draft giude to Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi’s roZen (Rituals of Becoming) Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsib.Continue reading “Considering Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi’s “froZen (Rituals of Becoming)” photographic sequence”

I have been fascinated by the sculptural installation “Subject to the Tide” (After David Hamons) (2018-2025) by artist Oluseye Ogunlesi (sometimes known as Oluseye), now accessioned into the National Gallery of Canada’s permanent collection. Subject to the tide (After David Hammons), 2018-2025 Twill flag, salvaged fence from Africville 11 x 6 x 1 ft Artist’sContinue reading “Within These Gates: Reflections on Oluseye’s “Subject to the Tide””

My students and I in ANTH215 (Gender, Sexuality, Culture) at American University are developing close looking guides to works on display in the exhibition, “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art.” at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Here is a guide to Rotimi Fani-Kayode’s Every Moment Counts (Ecstatic Antibodies), 1989.Chromogenic print 
 Description:Continue reading “Close Looking guide to Rotimi Fani-Kayode’s “Every Moment Counts” (Ecstatic Antibodies)”

My students and I in ANTH215 (Gender, Sexuality, Culture) at American University are developing close looking guides to works on display in the exhibition, “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art.” at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Here is a guide to Rotimi Fani-Kayode. Nothing to Lose  IX  from the Bodies of ExperienceContinue reading “Close Looking guide to Rotimi Fani-Kayode’s “Nothing to Lose  IX” “

My students and I in ANTH215 (Gender, Sexuality, Culture) at American University are developing close looking guides to works on display in the exhibition, “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art.” at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Here is a guide to two linked videos by the Kenyan multimedia artist Jim Chuchu, Invocation:Continue reading “Close Looking Guide to Jim Chuchu, Invocation: The Severance of Ties, 2015, and Invocation: Release, 2015”

Friday, March 27, 2026. 12:00 noon-3:00 pm Eastern USAWebinar https://american.zoom.us/j/96865201403 Meeting ID: 968 6520 1403 Conveners: Mark Auslander (American University)and Abdi Osman (University at Buffalo, SUNY) “There is no problem in this world that cannot be solved.”― Flora Nwapa, Efuru (1966) “I should constantly remind myself that the real leap consists inintroducing invention into existence.”—FrantzContinue reading “Inventive Leaps, Unruly Voyages: A Roundtable on “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art””

Notes by Mark Auslander My students and I in ANTH215 (Gender, Sexuality, Culture) at American University are developing close looking guides to works on display in the exhibition, “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art.” at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Here are my initial notes on Tarek Lakhrissi’s stunning and enigmatic videoContinue reading “Close Looking Guide for Tarek Lakhrissi’s “Out of the Blue” (video, 2019)”

This semester, my students at American University and I are developing a close looking guide to the exhibition, “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art, ” currently on display in the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA). Here, to get us started, is my provisional guide to the complex multimedia work. “Untethered/Retethered” by South AfricanContinue reading “Close Looking Guide to Paul Emmanuel’s “Untethered/Retethered” multimedia video installation, 2025″

An intriguing figure in the history of the Mount Zion Union Band of Georgetown, is Mary Ann Marshall, c. 1827-1894. who never married and who resided in Georgetown throughout her life. She is listed in Freedman’s Bank records, under a Mount Zion Union Daughters’ Freedmen’s Bank Draft, dated July 3, 1867: ”Draft signed by theContinue reading “In Search of May Ann Marshall, of the Mt Zion Union Band (Georgetown). c. 1827-1894”

Gathering to Remember Alan Saks February 9, 2026 at 11:00 am Riverside Memorial Chapel, W 76th and Amsterdam, New York, NY. Eulogy for my Uncle Alan SaksMark AuslanderFebruary 9, 2026 Good morning. Welcome to our Remembrance of Alan Joseph Saks. Thank you for all for coming through the cold and ice this morning to honorContinue reading “Remembering Alan Joseph Saks, 1933-2026”