Artist and collector, Dick Jemison, has assembled an extensive collection of tribal art from around the world, please enjoy the imagery he has chosen to represent his hard work and passion.
Recently sold at auction, his collection of Hopi Katsina (Kachina) Dolls carved by Oraibi Tribal Chief, Wilson Tawaquaptewa, represented some of the finest and most humorously carved figures in Native American culture. As a chief and religious leader he was unique in his efforts not to sell his culture's artifacts which led him to carve katsinam which combined attributes from traditional katsina, as well as made up elements such as the crossed eyes found on some of the dolls in this collection. Dick has also included images of Native American Prayer Sticks and Cloud Catchers in the Miscellaneous Collections part of the web site.
Mexican Nichos and Mapuche jewelry are also a very interesting part of his collections. The Nichos along with a beautiful collection of crosses and crucifixes illustrate a rich folk art tradition and the strong influence of Christianity on the Mexican culture. The Mapuche tribe of Chile and Argentina created the elegantly designed jewelry and other pieces to be worn with their traditional tribal garments.
Mexican Nichos and Mapuche jewelry are also a very interesting part of his collections. The Nichos along with a beautiful collection of crosses and crucifixes illustrate a rich folk art tradition and the strong influence of Christianity on the Mexican culture. The Mapuche tribe of Chile and Argentina created the elegantly designed jewelry and other pieces to be worn with their traditional tribal garments.
African masks including pieces from the Dogon culture and a selection of Sirige masks are superb examples of ritual masks from Mali and Burkina Faso.His collection of objects from Africa was recently expanded to include unusual fetish objects. This collection includes Nail Fetish Figures as well as Boli and tron objects and String Dolls from The Kirdi people. A new collection of Iron Objects was recently added to the collections
From Papua New Guinea, Dick has assembled a wonderful collection of traditional bone daggers along with yam masks from the Abelam people, both offering intricate, geometric designs and figurative imagery. Sturdy wooden shields , bilum magic bags, tapa beaters, PNG tops and other objects complete the Oceanic collections. Most recently he has added ceremonial and dance rattles used by the indigenous people of North America including the Hopi and Plains tribes. Also from North America, a fascinating collection of clay molds used for Paper maché decorations associated with the Day of the Dead or the Día de los Muertos.
On February 22, 2013 The Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama opened a new gallery dedicated to The Dick Jemison Collection of African Ceramics making the collection available to the public.
On February 22, 2013 The Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama opened a new gallery dedicated to The Dick Jemison Collection of African Ceramics making the collection available to the public.