The African Studies Program joined hands with Mary Hark, a paper artist and UW-Madison professor of textile design to craft original artwork for the three journals, Mande Studies, AEH, and Ghana Studies.
The original patterns were constructed from indigo-dyed handmade papers produced from botanical fiber that Hark collected in Kumasi, Ghana. The indigo pieces were hand-cut and adhered to hand-made paper.
The UW Press needs to print the journal covers in two colors, so a designer massaged Hark’s work into the cover designs that we see here.