SUArt Galleries Exhibition ‘Nyumba Ya Sanaa: Works from the Maryknoll Collection’ Opens Sept. 5

Wednesday, August 21, 2013, By ϲ Art Museum

Edward Francis Kilza, "Mazumguzo ya Family" [Family Conversation], 1995

Edward Francis Kilza, “Mazumguzo ya Family” [Family Conversation], 1995

The SUArt Galleries will present “Nyumba ya Sanaa: Works from the Maryknoll Collection,” an exhibition of recent acquisitions to the University Art Collection that will introduce the Central New York community to Tanzanian artwork created in the last quarter of the 20th century.

Curated by SUArt Galleries Director Domenic J. Iacono, the exhibition will include 90 pieces of original artwork featuring a breadth of media including painting, sculpture and printmaking, and highlight more than a dozen artists.

In 2012, the ϲ Art Galleries was chosen as a repository for the Maryknoll Collection, a gift from the Maryknoll Sisters of more than 170 original works of art by 22 Tanzanian artists, including prints, drawings, watercolors, sculpture and textiles. The collection contains artwork created at Nyumba ya Sanaa (“House of Art” in Swahili), a Cultural Center and art workshop located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

George Lilanga, "Misunderstanding," 1977

George Lilanga, “Misunderstanding,” 1977

Founded in 1972 by Sister Jean Pruitt, a Maryknoll Sister, the center’s mission was to support local artists, and to help them display and sell their works, among other cultural activities.  The centre also participated in vocational training in the arts, including arts and crafts, fine art paintings, sculpture and wood carving, modeling plaster and cutting metal.

Also on display in the galleries will be the exhibition “Henninger Art Class: Voices Heard and Celebrated,” featuring artwork created by Henninger High School students who have been inspired by the Tanzanian exhibition. This student display is the result of community collaboration among Domenic Iacono, Henninger High School art teacher Lori Lizzio and Stephen Mahan of the Photography and Literacy (P.A.L.) Project.

The exhibition will run Sept. 5-Oct. 20, in the Shaffer Art Building. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; and Thursdays 11 a.m.-8 p.m.  The SUArt Galleries will host a free opening night reception from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5. Patrons are welcome to view the exhibition until the gallery closes at 8 p.m. The reception is open to the public.

Select programming associated with the exhibition includes a Lunchtime Lecture with the curator of the exhibition, Domenic Iacono, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 12:15 p.m.  The exhibition and programs are free and open to the public. In addition, a publication on “Nyumba ya Sanaa,” published with support from the Vijana Vipaji Foundation, will be available for purchase in the Gallery Shop.

Complete information and related programming is available by visiting the exhibition website at