Inspired by a magnificent turquoise silk gelé in the exhibition, art historian Victoria Rovine explores the history of West African headwear and its contempo­rary, global manifestations. Artists Sonya Clark and Chakaia Booker will then share their interpretations of this longstanding tradition of adornment.


Chakaia Booker is a sculptor whose work is in collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Sonya Clark
is an artist whose work is included in numerous collections. She is chair of the craft/material studies depart­ment at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Victoria Rovine
is associate professor in the School of Art and Art History, and the Center for African Studies at the University of Florida.