The Art of Transformation

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CONTACT: Jane Sullivan
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SF-09-29
Jane.Sullivan@flysfo.com

The Art of Transformation
Now on View at SFO
 

SAN FRANCISCO –  The Art of Transformation, a new exhibition at San Francisco International Airport, features more than sixty masks made by Igbo craftsman Ugbozo Ozooha-Aga of Obiama, Nigeria.  Collected by anthropologist William R. Bascom in 1945, the masks on view” are part of a unique collection of more than one hundred masks produced by a single African woodcarver, and probably the only available ‘one-man show’ of traditional African art.”  The carvings in this exhibition embody an incredible range of styles.  As Bascom himself described, “Large and small, simple and complex, roughly carved or carefully finished, abstract or realistic, these masks represent terrifying spirits, humorous figures, and beautiful women.”

Dating circa 1930 to 1945, the masks were used by the Igbo (pronounced Ee-boh) of southeast Nigeria during masked performances held to honor ancestors, insure bountiful crops, teach moral lessons, and entertain audiences at festivals.   Largely carved from wood and painted, some of the masks are also embellished with raffia, and two raffia costumes are also on display.

The Art of Transformation is located pre-security in the International Terminal Main Hall.  The exhibition is on view, free of charge, through October 2009.

Downloadable images are available at: http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/about/news/pressres/exh-masks.html.

This exhibition was made possible through a generous loan from the Phoebe A.  Hearst Museum of Anthropology, University of California at Berkeley, with special thanks to Research Anthropologist Ira Jacknis.
 

San Francisco Airport Museums

The San Francisco Airport Museums program was established by the Airport Commission in 1980 for the purposes of humanizing the Airport environment, providing visibility for the unique cultural life of San Francisco, and providing educational services for the traveling public. The Museum was granted initial accreditation from the American Association of Museums in 1999, reaccredited in 2005, and has the distinction of being the only accredited museum in an airport. Today, the San Francisco Airport Museums features approximately twenty galleries throughout the Airport terminals displaying a rotating schedule of art, history, science, and cultural exhibitions, as well as the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, a permanent collection dedicated to the history of commercial aviation.

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About San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop links with more than 30 international points on 25 international carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects non-stop with more than 65 cities in the U.S. on 20 domestic airlines. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com. SFO was voted “North America’s Best Airport” in 2008 by passengers for its outstanding customer service and amenities.