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“Mystery in Motion: African-American Masking and Spirituality in Mardi Gras,” Featuring Dr. Kim-Vaz-Deville (NC ’81, G ’83)

Join Newcomb alumna Dr. Kim-Vaz Deville (NC ’81, G ‘83) for a conversation based on her latest exhibition at the Louisiana State Museum, “Mystery in Motion,” exploring the history and diverse spiritual influences of Black masking traditions, including Mardi Gras Indians, Baby Dolls, other groups. The exhibition examines how African, Islamic, Native American, and European belief systems have fused to create a set a cultural and artistic practices that are unique to New Orleans and Carnival.

Dr. Vaz-Deville is full-time faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of Education at Xavier University of Louisiana. She is a 2018 recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Connections Planning grant for the design of an undergraduate minor in humanities, data science, and digital justice, and author of the book The Baby Dolls: Breaking the Race and Gender Barriers of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition. Dr. Vaz-Deville is currently collaborating with Dr. Norman Francis, past longtime president of Xavier University, on his biography.

This event is part of the “Mardi Gras Goes Virtual” series presented by the Tulane Alumni Association. For more information about the entire schedule of events, visit alumni.tulane.edu.

Feb 9, 2021 06:00 PM in Central Time (US and Canada)