The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana

April 15, 2018 to August 12, 2018 | Chilton I Gallery
Sword ornament in the form of a lion, Asante peoples, Nsuta, Ghana, Africa, c. mid–20th century, cast gold and felt, Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc. 2010.2.McDState sword, Asante peoples, Ghana, Africa, 1935–1960, iron, wood, gold leaf, ray skin, and fiber, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Charles and Kent Davis 2010.3Sword ornament in the form of a spider, Asante peoples, Ghana, Africa, Late 19th century, gold-copper-silver alloy, Dallas Museum of Art, McDermott African Art Acquisition Fund 2014.26.1Linguist staff (okyeame poma), Asante peoples, Ghana, Africa, First half of 20th century, wood and gold leaf, Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc. 2010.1.McDPendant, Asante peoples, Ghana, Africa, Late 19th century, gold-copper-silver alloy, Dallas Museum of Art, McDermott African Art Acquisition Fund 2014.26.2
Summary | Programs | Press

Be dazzled by over 250 gleaming gold items of regalia, colorful and intricately woven silk kente cloth, ceremonial furniture, state swords, linguist staffs, and other significant objects related to Asante royals from the 19th through the 21st centuries. Founded around 1701 with wealth derived from the gold trade with North Africa and Europe, the Asante Kingdom was a very powerful polity in West Africa. The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana, inspired by works in the DMA’s collection and featuring objects from public and private collections, reveals the splendor of Asante regalia, much of which is made of gold. 

Download The Power of Gold Program Guide

The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana will require a $16 ticket with discounts for seniors, students, and military. DMA Members and children 11 and under are free.

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Programs

Late Night Performances

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Watch an exciting African drumming and dance performance with Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble. 

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Late Night Talk: Golden Symbols of Maternal Benevolence

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Join art historian Dr. Suzanne Gott for a closer look at regalia in The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana that relates to motherhood. In particular, Dr. Gott will discuss a dual-disc pendant made in 2017 that has a long history as a symbol of motherly care.

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Late Night Talk: The Power of Gold

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Dr. Roslyn A. Walker, Senior Curator of the Arts of Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific and The  Margaret McDermott Curator of African Art, will discuss her new exhibition The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana. 

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Late Night Film: Paa Joe and the Lion

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Paa Joe and the Lion, a 2016 documentary directed by Ben Wigley, follows Ghanaian fantasy coffin artist Paa Joe as he teaches his son Jacob the craft that he has perfected over decades and to great acclaim. The film offers an intimate look into an artform that is central to Ghanaian beliefs and traditions surrounding death, while examining ideas of craftsmanship, legacy, and the relationship between art and life. 

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Kente Cloth Weaving Workshop

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In connection with the exhibition The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana, opening on April 15, the DMA is offering a weaving workshop with internationally recognized weaver Kwasi Asare. Working with Asare's own special easy-to-use hand looms, workshop attendees will create their own wonderful pieces of honored and venerable kente cloth. 

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT.

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Boshell Lecture: Recovery of the Pirate Ship Whydah

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Join Underwater Field Archaeologist Chris Macort for an exciting glimpse into the recovery of the  Whydah Gally, a pirate ship that sank off the coast of Cape Cod in 1717 while carrying several tons of gold, silver, and other treasures. Macort will discuss the Whydah's history, unique finds from the wreckage, and what the ship tells us about the lives of buccaneers during the Golden Age of Piracy. Along the way, find out what goes into locating a shipwreck and conserving recovered artifacts. 

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Press

Apollo Magazine
"The great West African kingdom that made its mark in gold"
July 16, 2018
NBCDFW.com
"All That Glitters is Gold at the DMA"
May 31, 2018
The Nerve Africa
"Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana Showcases at The Power of Gold Exhibition in ..."
May 29, 2018
Washington Post
"‘Black Panther’ meets history, and things get complicated"
May 27, 2018
Dallas Morning News
"Get a rare look at royal African regalia in 'Gold' show at Dallas Museum of Art"
May 25, 2018
Focus Daily News
"The Power Of Gold Exhibit Opens At Dallas Museum Of Art"
April 18, 2018
The Wall Street Journal
"In Dallas, the Golden Legacy of Ghana"
April 12, 2018

The Power of Gold: Asante Royal Regalia from Ghana is organized by the Dallas Museum of Art. The exhibition is co-presented by Texas Instruments and PNC. Educational programming is underwritten by Kosmos Energy. Marketing support is provided by the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, The Dallas Weekly, and AIM Media Texas & Digital AIM Media.

 

Images: Sword ornament in the form of a lion, Asante peoples, Nsuta, Ghana, Africa, c. mid–20th century, cast gold and felt, Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc. 2010.2.McD; State sword, Asante peoples, Ghana, Africa, 1935–1960, iron, wood, gold leaf, ray skin, and fiber, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Charles and Kent Davis 2010.3; Sword ornament in the form of a spider, Asante peoples, Ghana, Africa, Late 19th century, gold-copper-silver alloy, Dallas Museum of Art, McDermott African Art Acquisition Fund 2014.26.1; Linguist staff (okyeame poma), Asante peoples, Ghana, Africa, First half of 20th century, wood and gold leaf, Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc. 2010.1.McD; Pendant, Asante peoples, Ghana, Africa, Late 19th century, gold-copper-silver alloy, Dallas Museum of Art, McDermott African Art Acquisition Fund 2014.26.2