Mohair Tapestry
by Unknown

The traditional Basotho village has passed down various craft skills from generation to generation. The largest and most important of the cottage industries is weaving. The mohair purchased from local farmers, is combed and spun into yarn on spinning wheels, washed and dyed. The weavers create and draw their own designs which depict amazingly varied subjects, from ethnic tribal customs and geometric patterns to serenely pastoral scenes of everyday villege life. These tapestries represent an interesting and important visual chronicle of life in Africa.

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African Beadwork
by Unknown

The South Ndebele together with the Zulu, Xhosa and Swazi belong to the Nguni ethnic group. The Ndebele have lived and worked on farms in eastern TRANSVAAL for generations and since 1980 in their homeland KwaNdebele. The characteristic of their lives which distinguish them from other endangers South African peoples, is their art, house-painting by design, head work or weaving, and the brightly painted houses that decorate the transvaal, proclaim these distinctive designs clearly "This is a Ndebele home."

The dress style is also quite distinctive, colorful blankets and beadwork are often worn for ceremonial occasions or visitors.

There was a time in Africa when beads were treasured above human life. Early explorers brought tons of beads to the dark continent to be exchanged for gold, ivory, land and slaves. The current rage is for intimate beadwork in delicate patterns often dipicting shapes of houses. The three Ndebele aprons are items of ceremonial clothing and are often made of animal skin covered in intimate beading.

The small aprons are also used for children for ceremonial occasions. The dancing sticks are also ceremonial. Often these are given to the bride's father-in-law by the bride and are mostly used for dansing.

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Ndebele Paintings
by Unknown

Ndebele have lived in South Africa for over four hundred years where women have handed down from mother to daughter each generation the techniques and design of geometric motifs are diverse in color and composition and have recently incorporated modern icons; indicative of the Ndebele's adaptability to change on the one hand and determination to maintain tradition on the other. The subject matter of Ndebele art, for the most part, relates to basic things that the people see around them.

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Help
by William King - New York, New York

Fabricated from one inch thick aluminum, "Help" shows two figures, one extending a hand to the other. Each piece is twenty feet long by six feet wide. The standing figure rises thirty-two feet in a third floor courtyard of the hospital.

"Help" was commissioned to honor Carl Levin, a Detroit Common Councilman from 1971 to 1978, and was funded by the Friends of Carl Levin, 1979.

Related Links:
William King Homepage

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Field Sculpture
by George Sugarman - New York, New York

In a main floor central courtyard accessible for outdoor dining, Mr. Sugarman has created "Field Sculpture" from cut, bent and bolted metal shapes in brilliant colors. It is an environmental piece which provides seating, shade and promotes direct interaction.

This sculpture was funded by the City of Detroit Building Authority, 1979.

Related Links:
George Sugarman - Reference Page

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