Portes et Passages du Retour is a Center for Art and Holistic Development in rural Senegal which was founded by the artist couple, Philadelphia-born, Muhsana Ali and Senegal-born, Amadou Kane Sy. The couple is presently in residence at October Gallery after a three month production period at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Museum, during which time they produced a permanent sculptural installation for the newly redesigned Africa Galleries, which opened in November.
Portes et Passages is sponsoring a dynamic program at the October Gallery for the month of February, Black History Month. We have no intention to limit ourselves to the shortest month - It is our goal that February will kick off a full year of continued events on the theme of Black History ...and future.
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Muhsana Ali presents Portes et Passages du Retour, her life journey from Philadelphia to Africa. She will be interviewed by Valerie Anderson.
Muhsana Ali was born in Philadelphia, PA and currently lives in Senegal, West Africa. She holds a BFA degree and an MA in Art Education. Muhsana is a multi-talented artist who is skilled in painting, drawing and printmaking, but whose work covers a broad spectrum of mediums ranging from videography, photography, sculptural installation as well as large-scale murals and mosaics. Muhsana’s work is defined by her interest in the holistic evolution of human consciousness. She is concerned with injustice and oppression and how these can be transformed into higher forms of social interactions through art. Muhsana’s work has been primarily community-centered since her 1999 two-year exhibition project, Portes et Passages du Retour, which took place in an abandoned building assisted by a gang of homeless teens in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Her vision grew in 2004 when, accompanied by artist Amadou Kane Sy, she co-founded a rural Center for Art and Holistic Development through their Senegal-based association, Portes et Passage du Retour. Muhsana’s work has been exhibited internationally and her community-driven projects have been conducted throughout the U.S. and Africa both individually as well as in collaboration with artist, Amadou Kane Sy. Muhsana is a recipient of numerous awards and honors including a Fulbright Fellowship and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts.
Valerie Anderson is a group facilitator, arts advocate, and social justice educator. She facilitates workshops that utilizes the arts to generate discussion, heal trauma, share identity, and bring about social change.
Since 2008 she is volunteer docent (tour guide) at the African American Museum in Philadelphia which allows her to increase her knowledge in black history, art, and culture. In 2014 she became the lead docent for the Church of the Advocate and its 14 black history murals that parallels the Bible and the black experience.
She has over 25 years as a Masters level social worker and her group facilitation skills include working with women, children, and families on a variety of topics and in a variety of settings.
She is a member of Green Street Friends Monthly Meeting since 2010 and in September 2019 became a Board Member of the Green Street Friends School.
Admission Free.
October Gallery 6353 Greene Street Philadelphia, PA 19144.
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