LUAG Community Day: Anansi the Spider and West African Folk Tales with Deirdre Van Walters

Join teaching artist Deirdre Van Walters for an interactive reading of Anansi the Spider and other folk tales that explore and celebrate West African culture, followed by a hands-on project. Learn about the tales and tricks of Anansi and the origins of this folk character from the Ashanti in Ghana, passed down through word of mouth for generations. Anansi stories typically depict the spider as an underdog, underestimated and less respected yet through cleverness and trickery, he always finds a way to come out on top. There are also Anansi stories that exhibit karma, consequences and repercussions; when one moves with too much greed or selfishness.  Whether it's a victorious ending or one enforced with a valuable lesson, these timeless stories are treasures that have helped maintain a common thread amongst the many Africans who were uprooted and enslaved during the mid-atlantic slave trade. 

This workshop is offered in partnership with Basement Poetry in celebration of Black History Month.

LUAG Community Days offer opportunities to drop-in to the galleries to explore great works of art from the LUAG collection and current exhibitions through conversation, hands-on projects, and sketching. Geared to children ages 4 to 94 and their adult companions.