New Exhibit Celebrates One of Ethiopia’s Finest Living Artists

The Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA) in Chicago,- announces the opening of Painting Ethiopia: The Life and Work of Qes Adamu Tesfaw. On display from Saturday, September 1 to Sunday, November 4, 2007, the exhibition showcases the remarkable paintings of Qes Adamu Tesfaw, which depict the social, political, and religious history of Ethiopia as well as contemporary popular culture.

The exhibition features 36 paintings portraying the richness of both religious and secular life in Ethiopia, along with scenes from important historical events that have shaped the country’s identity. Qes Adamu’s style is infused with a sense of humor that informs the
self-awareness of his art.

Pamela Ambrose, director of LUMA, explains the connection between the exhibit and the Chicago community: “Over the past 20 years, a recent wave of immigration has increased the Ethiopian population here in Chicago, creating a vibrant community of restaurants, shops, and organizations. They are a dynamic ethnic and cultural group, and wehope, through the beauty and narratives of Qes Adamu’s work, to acquaint our museum visitors with the richness of Ethiopian culture.”

The exhibition is curated by Dr. Raymond Silverman, professor of the history of art and Afro-American and African studies at the University of Michigan, and organized by the Fowler Museum at UCLA and the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University.

Dr. Silverman first encountered Qes Adamu’s work in 1991, and eventually met him in 1993 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Visiting the artist’s house, Dr. Silverman found the walls covered with murals of incredible intensity. After 11 years and several visits with the artist, Dr. Silverman has transformed Qes Adamu’s art into an informative exhibition that features almost 2,000 years of culture and history, as seen through the eyes of one fascinating artist.

About LUMA
The Loyola University Museum of Art, opened in October 2005, is dedicated to the exploration, promotion, and understanding of art and artistic expression that attempts to illuminate the enduring spiritual questions and concerns of all cultures and societies. As a museum with an interest in education and educational programming, LUMA reflects the University’s Jesuit mission and is dedicated to helping men and women of all creeds explore the roots of their own faith and spiritual quest. Located at Loyola University Chicago’s Water Tower Campus, the museum occupies the main floor (street level), second, and third floors of the University’s historic Lewis Towers on Chicago’s famous Michigan Avenue.

Ongoing Film Presentation

A film presentation entitled, “A Conversation with Qes Adamu Tesfaw,” will be shown in the galleries throughout the course of the exhibition.

Saturday, September 8, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Happy Ethiopian Millennium!

Stop by LUMA and celebrate the Ethiopian millennium with a day of culture, history, and art! The day includes lectures by Professor Tadesse Tamrat (Addis Ababa University) and Dr. Raymond Silverman (University of Michigan), delicious Ethiopian food, and performances by the Ethiopian Community Children’s Dancing Troupe.

Tuesday, September 25, 6 p.m.
An Artist’s View of Ethiopia: The Paintings of Qes Adamu Tesfaw

This lecture traces the sequence of events that led to the first major exhibition in the U.S. focusing on a single traditional artist from Ethiopia. Raymond Silverman, curator of Painting Ethiopia, will discuss his 11-year collaboration with Qes Adamu Tesfaw during which Silverman learned about painting in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the impact that the commercial art market has had on the work and lives of some of Ethiopia’s finest Church-trained artists.

Tuesday, October 23, 6 p.m.
The Tapestry of Ethiopian Religions

Dr. Donald Levine, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Chicago, will lecture on the three religions of Ethiopia: Ethiopian Orthodoxy, Judaism, and Islam.

Painting Ethiopia: The Life and Work of Qes Adamu Tesfaw is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.