BIG|small, Asafo and Pendant

	Asafo banner Fante peoples, Ghana Mid-20th century Cotton, silk, synthetic fiber, dye 2000-10-1, museum purchase This is the BIGGEST object in the exhibition. Banners and flags can be described as art that moves and art that shapes outdoor spaces. In south central Ghana, and particularly among the coastal Fante, flags and banners are important symbols of the traditional military associations known as Asafo companies. Pieces of cloth are sewn or appliquéd onto large panels of imported cloth that form the flags and banners. The designs tell the company's history, importance and unique talents. All companies have flags but wealthier Asafo companies have long banners. During annual festivals the banners are hung on tall poles or carried in parades. Most banners are called by names that are variations on river or stream, probably because they are thought to flow like a stream through the town.

	Pendant female figure Dogon peoples, Mali 16th to 18th century Copper alloy Lent by Arnold and Joanne Syrop This figure is one of the smallest objects in the exhibition. Does it look small? Look at it carefully. It has a BIG attitude, a feeling of being larger than life or monumental. Artist's create this sense by adjusting the proportions of the figure's parts, using detailed features and ornaments, and paying attention to the outline of the pose. The sense of a captured moment between movements also affects how we see size. Actual size: 1 1/2 in. (4.45 cm.)