Artist Nick Cave creates sculptural works that he calls “Soundsuits” consisting of brightly colored fabrics, elaborate embroidery, beadwork, raffia, and, other natural materials. Phyllis Galembo’s photographic portraits feature masqueraders from the West African countries of Benin, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. Call and Response: Africa to America / The Art of Nick Cave and Phyllis Galembo pairs the work of these two uniquely American artists, each of whom explores the contours of West African masquerade through their art. The combination of these two artists’ work will be a powerful celebration of creativity, imagination, and cross-cultural communication. Call and Response marks the first time these works have been shown togetherand seeks to draw both the obvious and subtle parallels between the works of Galembo and Cave. 

ARTIST BIOS:
Nick Cave:
Nick Cave, former dancer with Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe and Chair of the Fashion Design Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, is also a renowned sculptor and fashion designer who has been creating what he calls “Soundsuits” since 2002. Cave’s “Soundsuits” evince a strong affinity for the formal traditions of West African masquerade though his work is informed by a variety of sources.
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Phyllis Galembo:
Phyllis Galembo, Professor of Photography at the University of Albany, State University of New York has been traveling the world in search of the roots of masquerade. This twenty-eight year journey has taken her through North, Central and South America, Europe, and now, her most recent forays have been in the West African nations of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria. A comprehensive exhibition of this West African work was mounted in 2006 by the Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College in New York. Her work can be seen in five published books and a multitude of past solo exhibitions.
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