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 These are photos of sketches drawn by Jimi Jones, an accomplished Cincinnati artist. He regularly spends hours at the Cincinnati Art Museum sketching the works of art he sees. Most museums let artists sketch using pencils in the galleries, but it is best to check with each museum concerning its policy concerning sketching in the galleries.
Click on each image for a larger view.
What do you see that is different between the photo of the Sande mask made by the Mende of Africa and the Jimi Jones' sketch of the mask?
When you look at the photo of the mask, which facial features do you think were important to the sculptor?
When you look at the sketch of the mask, which facial features do you think were important to Jimi Jones?
Background Information - Mende Mask
This helmet style mask represents a very special mask wearing tradition observed by the Mende people of West Africa. Within Mende culture there are associations of adults, called societies, who oversee important social functions within the society. The Sande society guides girls in their transition to womanhood and this mask, is worn by women who have attained the middle level in the Sande society. This is the only important mask wearing tradition in Africa exclusively for women.
The Sande masquerader (sowei), wears the blackened wooden helmet mask and a black raffia costume to represent a water spirit. For public appearances a Sande association member of the second rank accompanies the sowei. Masqueraders which embody the protective spirit (bundu) of the society escort the girls into bush school, supervise their training, accept gifts from the girl's suitors, and celebrate their graduation from the school at the end of this training period.
The Mende considers the mask's delicate features, swollen forehead and elaborate hairstyles ideals of feminine beauty. Neck rolls, delicately carved features, an elaborate coiffure and a shiny black finish characterize masks.
The thick neck rings at the base of the mask represent the girl's approaching puberty. The rings also refer to the ripples that appear in the water when the Sande spirit emerges from the river.
The mouth of the mask is small and closed, while the eyes are cast downward. The mask's expression is said to be an indication of composure and sound judgment.
The coiffure of the mask is decorated with a variety of carved zigzag, fish scale motifs, referring to the water home of the Sande spirit.
The shiny black surface alludes to the watery realm where the Sande spirit is believed to reside and the riverbanks where the most important Sande rituals are carried out. The shiny blackness of the headpiece also represents the oiled dark skin of Sande girls when they emerge from initiation in their perfected physical state.
Artwork provided courtesy of Jimi Jones.
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