Created through an endowment made by the Kaufman family, in honour of Rita Friendly Kaufman, this annual lecture has welcomed an impressive roster of international speakers on art and culture since 2002. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Roberts as the first speaker on issues of African art, in relation to the Justin and Elisabeth Lang Collection.A leading scholar and innovator in the exhibition of African art, Dr. Mary (Polly) Nooter Roberts considers how museums bring the arts of the past to life in the present, posing the question: how are historical arts infused by contemporary relevance? In an illustrated lecture focussing on her inaugural exhibition for the new Arts of Africa galleries at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Shaping Power: Luba Masterworks from the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Dr. Roberts will demonstrate how exhibitions position the past in dialogue with the present. By juxtaposing extraordinary Luba works of art with a riveting contemporary installation by Congolese artist Aimé Mpane, the exhibition addresses the dynamics of power, memory, gender and spirituality, as well as the resilience of the human spirit.The lecture will take place in Ellis Hall Auditorium (58 University Avenue), and there will be a reception in the Agnes Atrium (36 University Avenue) following the lecture.
