Speaking of Interfaith
Religious, Spiritual, and Secular Identities on Campus and Beyond
ALA 270
Faculty Curator: Christine Modey (Michigan Community Scholars Program)
On view: Winter 2024
Dinh Q. Lê, Interconfined, 1994, Chromogenic prints and linen tape, Museum purchase made possible by the University of Michigan Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Director's Acquisition Committee, 2018.
While ancient religious traditions seem to offer a set of clear historic beliefs and practices, religion in the modern world varies widely within cultures and even among individual adherents
In the United States, high variation within religious traditions is coupled with American individualism, resulting in innovative “remixing” of elements from various traditions into people’s own beliefs and practices. Religion is rarely “pure” or “authentic.” It always mingles with elements of culture and identity to become something unique in the lived experience of the believer.
The artworks on display here invite visitors to acknowledge the complexity of our own spiritual, cultural, and religious backgrounds and to recognize others’ identities as equally complicated and intersectional.
Works included in this collection
Accession Number
2011/1.98
Title
Credo (small)
Artist(s)
Ben Shahn
Artist Nationality
American (North American)
Object Creation Date
1960
Medium & Support
serigraph on paper
Dimensions
33 ¼ in x 27 ¼ in x ¾ in (84.46 cm x 69.22 cm x 1.91 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication, Founder Warren M. Robbins
Subject matter
Portrait of a man with book and inspirational words.
Physical Description
A bald man with a furrowed brow holds an open book to the viewer. The book's pages open to an illustration of a distressed animal. Writing in blue takes up the lower portion of the print and reads: "I have the right to believe freely. To be a slave to no man's authority. If this is heresy so be it. It is still the truth to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot...will not...recant. Here I stand. No man can command my conscience."
Primary Object Classification
Print
Primary Object Type
color print
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
2011/1.98
Title
Credo (small)
Artist(s)
Ben Shahn
Artist Nationality
American (North American)
Object Creation Date
1960
Medium & Support
serigraph on paper
Dimensions
33 ¼ in x 27 ¼ in x ¾ in (84.46 cm x 69.22 cm x 1.91 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication, Founder Warren M. Robbins
Subject matter
Portrait of a man with book and inspirational words.
Physical Description
A bald man with a furrowed brow holds an open book to the viewer. The book's pages open to an illustration of a distressed animal. Writing in blue takes up the lower portion of the print and reads: "I have the right to believe freely. To be a slave to no man's authority. If this is heresy so be it. It is still the truth to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot...will not...recant. Here I stand. No man can command my conscience."
Primary Object Classification
Primary Object Type
color print
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Ben Shahn
Credo (small)
serigraph on paper
33 ¼ in x 27 ¼ in x ¾ in (84.46 cm x 69.22 cm x 1.91 cm)
Gift of the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication, Founder Warren M. Robbins
Credo (small)
serigraph on paper
33 ¼ in x 27 ¼ in x ¾ in (84.46 cm x 69.22 cm x 1.91 cm)
Gift of the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication, Founder Warren M. Robbins
Accession Number
2003/1.367A-C
Title
Resurrection (triptych)
Artist(s)
Khaled al-Saa'i
Object Creation Date
2002
Medium & Support
natural ink, tempera and gouache on paper
Dimensions
16 3/10 in x 20 11/16 in (41.43 cm x 52.55 cm);22 1/16 in x 28 1/16 in (56.04 cm x 71.28 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Primary Object Classification
Drawing
Primary Object Type
line drawing
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
2003/1.367A-C
Title
Resurrection (triptych)
Artist(s)
Khaled al-Saa'i
Object Creation Date
2002
Medium & Support
natural ink, tempera and gouache on paper
Dimensions
16 3/10 in x 20 11/16 in (41.43 cm x 52.55 cm);22 1/16 in x 28 1/16 in (56.04 cm x 71.28 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Primary Object Classification
Drawing
Primary Object Type
line drawing
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Khaled al-Saa'i
Resurrection (triptych)
natural ink, tempera and gouache on paper
16 3/10 in x 20 11/16 in (41.43 cm x 52.55 cm);22 1/16 in x 28 1/16 in (56.04 cm x 71.28 cm)
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Resurrection (triptych)
natural ink, tempera and gouache on paper
16 3/10 in x 20 11/16 in (41.43 cm x 52.55 cm);22 1/16 in x 28 1/16 in (56.04 cm x 71.28 cm)
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Accession Number
2004/1.345
Title
Untitled Vessel, The Peter Norton Family Christmas Project 2004
Artist(s)
Do-Ho Suh
Object Creation Date
2004
Medium & Support
hand blown glass
Dimensions
6 9/16 in x 8 3/8 in (16.67 cm x 21.27 cm);12 1/2 in x 13 3/4 in x 13 3/4 in (31.75 cm x 34.92 cm x 34.92 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of The Peter Norton Family Foundation
Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts
Primary Object Type
glass
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
2004/1.345
Title
Untitled Vessel, The Peter Norton Family Christmas Project 2004
Artist(s)
Do-Ho Suh
Object Creation Date
2004
Medium & Support
hand blown glass
Dimensions
6 9/16 in x 8 3/8 in (16.67 cm x 21.27 cm);12 1/2 in x 13 3/4 in x 13 3/4 in (31.75 cm x 34.92 cm x 34.92 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of The Peter Norton Family Foundation
Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts
Primary Object Type
glass
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Do-Ho Suh
Untitled Vessel, The Peter Norton Family Christmas Project 2004
hand blown glass
6 9/16 in x 8 3/8 in (16.67 cm x 21.27 cm);12 1/2 in x 13 3/4 in x 13 3/4 in (31.75 cm x 34.92 cm x 34.92 cm)
Gift of The Peter Norton Family Foundation
Untitled Vessel, The Peter Norton Family Christmas Project 2004
hand blown glass
6 9/16 in x 8 3/8 in (16.67 cm x 21.27 cm);12 1/2 in x 13 3/4 in x 13 3/4 in (31.75 cm x 34.92 cm x 34.92 cm)
Gift of The Peter Norton Family Foundation
Accession Number
2021/1.119
Title
Jiai Buddha
Artist(s)
Saitō Kiyoshi
Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)
Object Creation Date
1975
Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper
Dimensions
26 x 38 in. (66.04 x 96.52 cm);17 3/8 x 29 1/2 in. (44.13 x 74.93 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. Seymour and Barbara K. Adelson
Physical Description
The side-profile of a dark face looking at a hand. The hand is holding up its three middle fingers with the thumb bent down over the pinky finger.
Primary Object Classification
Print
Collection Area
Asian
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
2021/1.119
Title
Jiai Buddha
Artist(s)
Saitō Kiyoshi
Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)
Object Creation Date
1975
Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper
Dimensions
26 x 38 in. (66.04 x 96.52 cm);17 3/8 x 29 1/2 in. (44.13 x 74.93 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. Seymour and Barbara K. Adelson
Physical Description
The side-profile of a dark face looking at a hand. The hand is holding up its three middle fingers with the thumb bent down over the pinky finger.
Primary Object Classification
Collection Area
Asian
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Saitō Kiyoshi
Jiai Buddha
woodblock print on paper
26 x 38 in. (66.04 x 96.52 cm);17 3/8 x 29 1/2 in. (44.13 x 74.93 cm)
Gift of Dr. Seymour and Barbara K. Adelson
Jiai Buddha
woodblock print on paper
26 x 38 in. (66.04 x 96.52 cm);17 3/8 x 29 1/2 in. (44.13 x 74.93 cm)
Gift of Dr. Seymour and Barbara K. Adelson
Accession Number
1985/1.183
Title
Egúngún headdress
Artist(s)
Workshop of Adugbologe
Object Creation Date
circa 1950
Medium & Support
wood, mirrors, pigment, gourd, beads and metal
Dimensions
30 in x 26 in x 19 in (76.2 cm x 66.04 cm x 48.26 cm);30 in x 26 in x 19 in (76.2 cm x 66.04 cm x 48.26 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Edward H. Eliscu Family
Label copy
March 28, 2009
Egúngún—meaning “power concealed”—is a masquerade performed to honor the spirits of important Yoruba ancestors. This marvelous headdress is worn with a voluminous costume made from layers of brightly colored cloth strips that billow and flare with the whirling rotations of the dancer: the spinning dance and the flaring attire communicated that the dancer had left the human realm and was manifesting the realm of the spirit. Distinguished by its large ears, it is called erin, or elephant, a metaphor for both the grandeur of its costume and the wealth of its owner.
This headdress is a veritable theater of symbols that allude to its history and might. Birds evoke “our mothers”—female elders and ancestors who possess both creative and destructive powers—while lions leap in likely reference to British heraldry. Medicine packs shaped like beaded lozenges and triangles, a Christian cross, and Qur’anic amulets testify to the intersection of religions in Yoruba culture. The beard, protective bird claws, and a double-headed drum used to praise and fortify hunters suggest this was a hunter’s Egúngún.
Subject matter
Egúngún – meaning “power concealed” – is a masquerade performed to honor the sprits of important Yoruba ancestors. This marvelous headdress is worn with a voluminous costume made from layers of brightly colored cloth strips that billow and flare with the whirling rotations of the dancer, the spirit manifest. Distinguished by its large ears, it is called erin, or elephant, named for both the grandeur of its costume and the wealth of its owner.
Physical Description
A massive wood-carved headdress with stylized face (showing classic Yoruba features) of bulging eyes with defined upper lids, long, straight, triangular nose, symmetrical scarification patterns consisting of three horizontal lines on each cheek, and a short beard from ear to ear just underneath the lower lip. Two large “ears” protrude on either side of head and act as “scaffolding” for numerous attachments of symbolic content: birds and lions predominate, but also visible are amulets, wooden claws and beads, crosses, and an insignia shield of some kind. The ears terminate in two oblong mirrors with lions leaping off of each. Layers of pigment are visible, giving the impression that it has been repainted over time.
Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessories
Primary Object Type
headdress
Additional Object Classification(s)
Sculpture
Collection Area
African
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
1985/1.183
Title
Egúngún headdress
Artist(s)
Workshop of Adugbologe
Object Creation Date
circa 1950
Medium & Support
wood, mirrors, pigment, gourd, beads and metal
Dimensions
30 in x 26 in x 19 in (76.2 cm x 66.04 cm x 48.26 cm);30 in x 26 in x 19 in (76.2 cm x 66.04 cm x 48.26 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Edward H. Eliscu Family
Label copy
March 28, 2009
Egúngún—meaning “power concealed”—is a masquerade performed to honor the spirits of important Yoruba ancestors. This marvelous headdress is worn with a voluminous costume made from layers of brightly colored cloth strips that billow and flare with the whirling rotations of the dancer: the spinning dance and the flaring attire communicated that the dancer had left the human realm and was manifesting the realm of the spirit. Distinguished by its large ears, it is called erin, or elephant, a metaphor for both the grandeur of its costume and the wealth of its owner.
This headdress is a veritable theater of symbols that allude to its history and might. Birds evoke “our mothers”—female elders and ancestors who possess both creative and destructive powers—while lions leap in likely reference to British heraldry. Medicine packs shaped like beaded lozenges and triangles, a Christian cross, and Qur’anic amulets testify to the intersection of religions in Yoruba culture. The beard, protective bird claws, and a double-headed drum used to praise and fortify hunters suggest this was a hunter’s Egúngún.
Subject matter
Egúngún – meaning “power concealed” – is a masquerade performed to honor the sprits of important Yoruba ancestors. This marvelous headdress is worn with a voluminous costume made from layers of brightly colored cloth strips that billow and flare with the whirling rotations of the dancer, the spirit manifest. Distinguished by its large ears, it is called erin, or elephant, named for both the grandeur of its costume and the wealth of its owner.
Physical Description
A massive wood-carved headdress with stylized face (showing classic Yoruba features) of bulging eyes with defined upper lids, long, straight, triangular nose, symmetrical scarification patterns consisting of three horizontal lines on each cheek, and a short beard from ear to ear just underneath the lower lip. Two large “ears” protrude on either side of head and act as “scaffolding” for numerous attachments of symbolic content: birds and lions predominate, but also visible are amulets, wooden claws and beads, crosses, and an insignia shield of some kind. The ears terminate in two oblong mirrors with lions leaping off of each. Layers of pigment are visible, giving the impression that it has been repainted over time.
Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessories
Primary Object Type
headdress
Additional Object Classification(s)
Sculpture
Collection Area
African
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Workshop of Adugbologe
Egúngún headdress
wood, mirrors, pigment, gourd, beads and metal
30 in x 26 in x 19 in (76.2 cm x 66.04 cm x 48.26 cm);30 in x 26 in x 19 in (76.2 cm x 66.04 cm x 48.26 cm)
Gift of the Edward H. Eliscu Family
Egúngún headdress
wood, mirrors, pigment, gourd, beads and metal
30 in x 26 in x 19 in (76.2 cm x 66.04 cm x 48.26 cm);30 in x 26 in x 19 in (76.2 cm x 66.04 cm x 48.26 cm)
Gift of the Edward H. Eliscu Family
Accession Number
1948/1.423
Title
The Lord's Prayer, sheet 1 (Das Vaterunser)
Artist(s)
Max Pechstein
Object Creation Date
1921
Medium & Support
woodcut with hand-coloring on paper
Dimensions
23 ½ in x 16 ¼ in (59.69 cm x 41.28 cm);28 ⅛ in x 22 in (71.44 cm x 55.88 cm)
Credit Line
Museum Purchase
Subject matter
Pechstein's "The Lord's Prayer" series of woodcuts mixes the text of the prayer with images of human wretchedness and spiritual need that draw on the Christian tradition to comment directly on the suffering and despair experienced by many Germans in the aftermath of the First World War and the economic crisis that followed.
Physical Description
This title sheet from Pechstein's "The Lord's Prayer" portfolio has the title of the series in large letters and an attribution to Pechstein at the bottom. Beneath the word "Vater," a man leans over a table, his hands folded in prayer. Two other praying men in profile bracket the word "Unser" near the bottom. All three wear plain, long-sleeved blue shirts.
Primary Object Classification
Print
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
1948/1.423
Title
The Lord's Prayer, sheet 1 (Das Vaterunser)
Artist(s)
Max Pechstein
Object Creation Date
1921
Medium & Support
woodcut with hand-coloring on paper
Dimensions
23 ½ in x 16 ¼ in (59.69 cm x 41.28 cm);28 ⅛ in x 22 in (71.44 cm x 55.88 cm)
Credit Line
Museum Purchase
Subject matter
Pechstein's "The Lord's Prayer" series of woodcuts mixes the text of the prayer with images of human wretchedness and spiritual need that draw on the Christian tradition to comment directly on the suffering and despair experienced by many Germans in the aftermath of the First World War and the economic crisis that followed.
Physical Description
This title sheet from Pechstein's "The Lord's Prayer" portfolio has the title of the series in large letters and an attribution to Pechstein at the bottom. Beneath the word "Vater," a man leans over a table, his hands folded in prayer. Two other praying men in profile bracket the word "Unser" near the bottom. All three wear plain, long-sleeved blue shirts.
Primary Object Classification
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Max Pechstein
The Lord's Prayer, sheet 1 (Das Vaterunser)
woodcut with hand-coloring on paper
23 ½ in x 16 ¼ in (59.69 cm x 41.28 cm);28 ⅛ in x 22 in (71.44 cm x 55.88 cm)
Museum Purchase
The Lord's Prayer, sheet 1 (Das Vaterunser)
woodcut with hand-coloring on paper
23 ½ in x 16 ¼ in (59.69 cm x 41.28 cm);28 ⅛ in x 22 in (71.44 cm x 55.88 cm)
Museum Purchase