OJAC festival kicks off busy month
The Old Jail Art Center will kick off a busy April schedule this Saturday with a Family Festival that will explore the culture of Ghana, focusing on “Ashanti” arts.
The event will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Marshall R. Young Courtyard, weather permitting, and in the Stasney Center, with tables manned by OJAC docents and junior docents.
Various activities will include traditionally-inspired crafts, games, food, and music from Ghana, a West African country on the Gulf of Guinea. CraftsincludeAnasiweb-weaving, decorating a Djembe drum, crafting a Sankofa puppet, and creating a stamped Adinkra pillow to take home.
All ages are invited to the free event.
Adinkra (ah-DEEN-krah) are cultural symbols that hold specialmeaningsintheAshanti culture. These symbols are stampedinpatternsontofabric.
Traditionally the fabric was worn for important social and cultural ceremonies such as weddings, funerals or royal events.Today,Adinkraimagery is found everywhere in Ghana, not only in clothing, jewelry and body art, but also on building, advertisements, and functional objects in homes.
Victorian Texas Tea
On the calendar next for the Old Jail is a Victorian Texas Tea on Saturday, April 13, with registrationrequiredbecauseof limited space.
Sue Wood, the “English Tea
Donnie Lucas / Albany News Nana,” will be featured as guest speaker for the event, which is set for 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Guests are encouraged to invite special people in their lives such as mothers, aunts, grandmothers, granddaughters, etc. to enjoy a variety of teas, muffins and scones, and a nosegay project with fresh flowers.
With a registration deadline of next Wednesday April 10, the cost for OJAC members is $10, with others paying $12.
Register at theojac.org or call 325-762-2936.
Wood is a retired British high school teacher, who has experienced tea culture on three continents and now makes this corner of Texas her home.
“Sue has presented tea programs for the past 12 years, sharing her extensive knowledge of tea history and culture with West Texas audiences,” said OJAC education director Erin Whitmore. “Participants of all ages will enjoy her educational and entertaining style, as well as her British sense of humor.”
The event is designed for those age 10 and above.
Upcoming Events
Also coming up this month is Third Thursday Studio on April 18.
Adult visitors can try their skills to make a Ukrainian Pysanky egg decoration.
With all supplies provided and take-home kits available for purchase, museum members can register for $15 and nonmembers for $20.
Sign up at theojac.org or call 325-762-2936.
The annual Slow Art Day will be hosted by the OJAC’s Junior Docent Corps on Saturday, April 20 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Museum visitors will be encouraged to take a longer look at the pieces currently being exhibited at the Old Jail.
They will be given a Gallery Guide of questions and activities created by the Junior Docents, with the students stationed at different works of art throughout the galleries.
And as always, the “Art@Home”activitytrunk outside the museum gates is filled with activity kits for ages 5-12.
Participants can tag the OJAC education department (#athomewithOJAC) with their creations, and a winnerischoseneachweek to receive a goody bag of arts and crafts supplies.
For more information about any of the events, call the education department at 325-762-2936.
