{"id":4703,"date":"2019-01-16T13:48:02","date_gmt":"2019-01-16T13:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/media-archive.blackartinamerica.com\/?p=4703"},"modified":"2019-01-16T13:48:02","modified_gmt":"2019-01-16T13:48:02","slug":"reconstructed-reconceptualized-najjar-abdul-musawwir-at-siuc-university-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/earthexhibitions.org\/media-archive\/?p=4703","title":{"rendered":"Reconstructed\/Reconceptualized: Najjar Abdul-Musawwir at SIUC University Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Reconstructed\/Reconceptualized<\/h1>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Najjar Abdul-Musawwir at SIUC University Museum<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4704\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/media-archive.blackartinamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/najj.png?resize=679%2C869\" alt=\"\" width=\"679\" height=\"869\" data-id=\"4704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/earthexhibitions.org\/media-archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/najj.png?w=679&amp;ssl=1 679w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/earthexhibitions.org\/media-archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/najj.png?resize=234%2C300&amp;ssl=1 234w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 679px) 100vw, 679px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/h3>\n<p>Reconstructed\/Reconceptualized is an investigation of the history of the banjo and its direct link to African string instruments including the kora, ngoni, nyatiti and xalam, and how their aesthetic descriptions speak passionately to the construction of the banjo. The spiritual kinship between the banjo and African string instruments has created a timeless bridge across the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n<p>Abdul-Musawwir earned his Master of Fine Arts from SIU-Carbondale. His interest in the banjo as an object connecting Africa\u2019s presence in America began in 2000 during a class discussion about Henry Ossawa\u2019s \u201cBanjo Lesson\u201d painting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cIn my studio practice, the aesthetic experiences have been intellectually and emotionally inspiring, and have brought me to a point of investigating the material as content \u2013 various wood quality and forms,\u201d Abdul-Musawwir said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BX3SV0YhZ0U\" width=\"700\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>During a three-month residency at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Warren M. Robbins Library, Washington, D.C. in the spring of 2016, Abdul-Mussawir studied a wide range of documents on African string instruments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith the professional assistance of librarian Janet Stanley and library technician Karen Brown, I was able to answer many questions on the banjo\u2019s history in America,\u201d he said. \u201cThe outcome is a reconceptualization of the banjo and its kinship with Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/semo.edu\/images\/art-exibit-Najjar-Abdul-Mussawwir.jpg?resize=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Reconstructed reconceptualized\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Artist\u2019s Statement\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\nWhat is the history of the banjo? Africans created banjos during slavery in North America, and the investigation of African string instruments such as: kora, ngoni, nyatiti, and especially the xalam revealed an aesthetic description that speaks passionately to the construction of these string instruments. The spiritual kinship between the banjo and African string instruments has created a timeless bridge across the Atlantic Ocean.<br \/>\nIn Spring 2000, during a class discussion about the 19th century visual artist, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and his painting titled, Banjo Lesson, I asked my students, \u201cWho created the American banjo?\u201d The reply was, \u201cHillbillies!\u201d \u201cWhite southern hillbillies!\u201d Their response was not surprising. My interest in the banjo, as an object connecting Africa\u2019s presence in America began.<br \/>\nIn my studio practice, the aesthetic experiences have been intellectually and emotionally inspiring, and have brought me to a point of investigating the material as content \u2014 various wood quality and forms. In Spring 2016, I spent approximately three months during my sabbatical in a self-residency at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art Warren M. Robbins Library, Washington, DC. The library provided a wide range of documents on African string instruments. With the professional assistance of Librarian Janet Stanley and Library Technician Karen Brown, I was able to answer many questions on the banjo\u2019s history in America as well. The outcome is a reconceptualization of the banjo and its kinship with Africa.<\/p>\n<p><strong>GRANTS, HONORS, &amp; RESIDENCIES\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\n2016 Warren M. Robbins Library, Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington, DC (Sabbatical: African string instruments and banjo) Washington University, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, St. Louis, MO<\/p>\n<p>2015 Actors Theatre Gallery, THE 21ST ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN ART EXHIBITION, Louisville, KY<\/p>\n<p>2014 Illinois Education Association Score Grant, Colin Powell Middle School, Matteson, IL<\/p>\n<p>2013 The Joyce Foundation<br \/>\nAfrican Festival for the Arts, Feature Artist, Chicago, IL (Awarded Commission)<\/p>\n<p>2012 Charles H. Wright Museum, \u201cVision of Our 44th President,\u201d Detroit, MI<\/p>\n<p>2011 Tuanku Fauziah Museum and Gallery, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia (Artist Residency)<\/p>\n<p>2009 Judge William Holmes Cook Professorship Endowment<br \/>\nN\u2019Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, Artist-in-Residence, Detroit, MI (Sabbatical: Mixed-Media and Abstract Painting)<\/p>\n<p>1992 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award<\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\"><div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-official sd-sharing\"><h3 class=\"sd-title\">Share this:<\/h3><div class=\"sd-content\"><ul><li class=\"share-facebook\"><div class=\"fb-share-button\" data-href=\"https:\/\/earthexhibitions.org\/media-archive\/?p=4703\" data-layout=\"button_count\"><\/div><\/li><li><a href=\"#\" class=\"sharing-anchor sd-button share-more\"><span>More<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-end\"><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"sharing-hidden\"><div class=\"inner\" style=\"display: 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