Events
Jim McDowell featured as one of “300 Names defining the USA’s creative landscape” under “Keepers of Culture”
A selection of 100 objects by 34 artists will spend the summer at the LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton.
Jim McDowell featured as one of “300 Names defining the USA’s creative landscape” under “Keepers of Culture”
A selection of 100 objects by 34 artists will spend the summer at the LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton.
Africans made face jugs for use in spiritual and funerary practice or to ward away evil. There are many myths and stories about these jugs. Sometimes a face jug was buried next to the doorway of a home, in the belief it held a spirit of protection. I’ve heard they are created ugly to scare away the devil. Another story says if the face jug on a grave is found to be broken, the soul of that person went on to heaven. Whatever the reason for their existence, I know face jugs, often called conjure jugs, were made by enslaved and newly freed persons of African descent in this country.
I believe 19th century or early 20th century white potters appropriated the face jug design, now considered southern folk art. I’m taking it back, one jug at a time.