CBS 2 At The Met

CBS 2 At The Met: African Art

NEW YORK (CBS) ― On the south end of the museum, right next to the the Greek and Roman Galleries, visitors will find the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas. The blue sticker tells them what's new. You can't miss it in the African Collection. A large 19th century sculpture from the Congo appropriately called a "Power Figure."

Curator Alisa LaGamma told CBS 2's Dana Tyler all about him. She said, "It's one of the more monumental forms of figurative sculpture from the region. The stance of figure is hands on hip, leaning forward. He's intended to be one who confronts members of community to intimidate them to do the right thing."

But what's with all of those nails?? LaGamma explained. "It's not the idea of pain here at all, just a dramatic, visual statement.'

steps from the "Power Figure" and Africa's past, visitors will see a modern take on tapestry art called, "Between Heaven and Earth." This is the first major work of contemporary African art in the museum's permanent collection and it fits right in. The artist, el Anatsui, who lives and works in Nigeria, combines textiles traditions with items usually ready for the scrape heap.

Curator LaGamma said, "The artist used thousands of pieces of scrape metal and bottles. He removed caps from bottles, recycled, and collected that scrape, then flatten it out into a weaved tapestry."

Check out this dynamic duo, along with more than 400 objects in the African Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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