Here’s a little BLUESDAY inspiration from our African art collection, currently on view in Infinite

 Here’s a little BLUESDAY inspiration from our African art collection, currently on view in Infinite Blue.Ukara are made exclusively for members of the Ekpe society, an interethnic men’s association found throughout southeastern Nigeria and western Cameroon. The designs are part of a dynamic language known as nsibidi, which uses image and gestural performance to communicate knowledge guarded by society members. Ukara cloths are made for a specific individual, whochooses designs of personal significance.To make ukara, artists stich designs onto cotton cloth in raffia and then dip the cloth multiple times in indigo until it reaches the desired shade of blue. The sturdy raffia prevents the indigo from penetrating to the cotton underneath, leaving white patterns visible when the raffia is removed. Some remnants of raffia can be seen on this cloth.Igbo artist. Cloth (Ukara), 20th century. Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. Cotton, indigo. Purchased with funds given by Frieda and Milton F. Rosenthal, 1990.132.6 Brooklyn Museum -- source link

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