Arte Africana: Masks from the Private Collection of Afro-Venezuelan Orlando Acevedo

For roughly three decades, native Venezuelan Orlando Acevedo has been collecting African Art. After meeting Kesma Dambele, an African art dealer from Serekunda, Gambia, and serving as a translator for wealthy California patrons, Mr. Acevedo developed an interest in collecting for himself. Over time, Orlando and Kesma became cultivated a friendship that allowed each individual to support the other. Mr. Acevedo would collect clothes and donate them to communities in Gambia. In exchange, some of the community leaders in Gambia would create special items to be used for the protection of Orlando and his family. These items reminded him of the masking and dancing traditions of his Afro-Venezuelan heritage called Diablos de Yare. Over the years, Mr. Acevedo has collected numerous items from ethnic groups throughout the continent including the Dogon, Dan, Chokwe, Asante, Akan, Lobi and many others. Some of his favorite pieces are those of the Senufo, Dan and Baules of the Ivory Coast. This exhibit highlights the pride one individual has shown in his African heritage while also highlighting the diversity that exists in classical African Art. Each mask on display has cultural and spiritual meaning for the group of people that made it. Upon the close of this show, Mr. Acevedo will donate his entire collection to a developing Afro-Venezuelan cultural arts center.