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So many
of our friends have suggested we put a picture of ourselves on the
site that we can't refuse. So here we are. That's Susanne on
the left and William Ernest - casually known as "Bill" - on the
right.
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| Our
friends also ask a lot of questions. We thought we'd answer them here |
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How did you get started with Tribal Art?
We started collecting in 1977, when we lived in Australia and became enamored of Aboriginal culture and the art of these fascinating, talented people. Just think, this is a culture that is estimated by anthropologists to go back 26,000 years. The art is almost that old, having its genesis in paintings on the rocky escarpments and chasms of what is now the Northern Territory.
When did African art enter your picture?
A return trip to the United States took us across the African continent. While there, we sensed a strong connection between West and Central African art and that of the Australian Aborigines. They are different from each other, yet resonate to the same rhythm. The connection was strong enough to draw us back to Africa to learn more and purchase pieces for our personal collection.
And when did you discover Native American art?
When we moved back to the United States, we discovered the power of the Native American artistic tradition. It was something we had never experienced in our earlier years in the United States. We believe it was our exposure to Australian Aboriginal art that sensitized us to the whole context of tribal art.When did you open the gallery and why is it located on Sanibel?
Ultimately, collecting material from these areas led to trading and trading became the gallery. In the interim, we worked out of our home in Chicago. Aboriginals: Art of the First Person opened as a gallery in 1990. We had been coming to Sanibel for years as we moved elsewhere around the world. Finally, when we decided to open the gallery, Sanibel was the place that felt like home.
We also knew of Sanibel's international reputation as a great place to live and visit. We believed - and it turned out to be true - that many of the people who share our interest in tribal art would be drawn to this part of the world.
What's your vision for Aboriginals: Art of the First Person?
We see ourselves continuing to seek out the finest in authentic tribal art from Africa, Australia and Native America, enjoying it for a while and passing it on to others who will "give it a good home." We will continue to make our regular trips to the source. And we see the World Wide Web becoming a much more important part of this process. It makes it so much easier to communicate with our clients and resources. It's an exciting time for us.
In the meantime, we have a number of special shows and events coming up. Go to our Coming Events page and, if you are in Southwest Florida during any of them, come by and see us.
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Fort
Myers , FL. 33908 |
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Aboriginals: Art of the First Person
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