How Traditional Sculpture of Africa Influenced 20th Century Art Subject of April 1 Lecture

SALISBURY, MD---Warren M. Robbins, founding professor emeritus of the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, speaks on "Unmasking Picasso: How the Traditional Sculpture of Africa Fueled the 20th Century Revolution in Art" on Saturday, April 1, at 3 p.m. in Fulton Hall Room 111 at Salisbury State University. Admission is free and the public is invited.

Robbins' appearance is part of a joint program between the SSU Galleries and the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. His presentation will conclude at the Ward Museum where an exhibit titled "Animals in African Art" is currently on display.

"The influence of African art on contemporary Western art has been tremendous," said Ken Basile, director of the University Galleries. "The caliber of the exhibit at the Ward Museum is exceptional. We are grateful to have Dr. Robbins here and the opportunity to view this exceptional exhibit."

Robbins' lecture on Picasso and the art of Africa has earned accolades from curators and program managers from such institutions as the Harvard Club of New York, the Chicago Art Institute, the University of Virginia and the Corcoran Gallery, among others. Robbins is the recipient of several honorary degrees and awards including the Smithsonian's prestigious Joseph Henry Medal, among others. In 1996 the School of Art and Design of the University of Michigan dedicated its new Warren Robbins Center for Graduate Studies recognizing the "outstanding achievements of a University alumnus." The library of the National Museum of African Art is also named in Robbins' honor.

Robbins served as an American diplomat for many years. In 1964 he founded the first museum in the United States devoted exclusively to the creative heritage of Africa. In 1979 this museum merged with the Smithsonian and in 1987 moved into its new building on the Federal Mall.

For more information on Robbins' presentation, call the University Galleries at 410-543-6271 or the Ward Museum at 410- 742-4988.