From September 21 to October 9, 2016, Musasama’s “Girl Soldiers” series is in an ArtPrize 8 group show at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sculptures inspired by her late 1970s stay among the Mende in Sierra Leone are on display. 

“The Mende people embraced me as if I were their child. The girls were responsible for educating me on village life and how to be safe. They taught me how to cook on hot stones, wash my clothing in the river on river stones. They taught me their songs and showed me how to dance like a woman. They loved me as I loved them.  One day, the elders simply told me, ‘Sister Sana  you must return to your country, we will not be able to protect you.’ I did not understand at the time, but I can still see the seriousness and fear in their eyes. Soon after I left Mende Land, a civil war ravaged the land and killed most of the people I loved.  I have often wondered what happened. I use to get letters and would read of horror after horror. One day the letters stopped,” wrote Musasama in a crowdfunding campaign to pay for shipping expenses for the heavy art objects. She succeeded in reaching a $1000 goal, and CrowdRise matched these funds.  At ArtPrize in 2015, Musasama won its American Civil Liberties Union Award for her “Unspeakable” series installation about female genital mutilation, work also based on her travels in Africa.

Hours of Operation

Monday: 10 am – 8 pm

Tuesday: 10 am – 8 pm

Wednesday: 10 am – 8 pm

Thursday: 10 am – 8 pm

Friday: 10 am – 8 pm

Saturday: 12 pm – 8 pm

Sunday: 9 am – 6 pm