Art Scene: A Fulbright in Ghana

Waiting on Sunday Jollof

Back in my academia days, I had fantasies of getting a Fulbright, going somewhere far away and doing research on something super serious like HIV/AIDS research. Fast-forward a bunch of years and now, if I were lucky enough to have THE MAN (Uncle Sam that is) pay for me to go somewhere, I would definitely choose the path of Massachusetts native Andrea Bergart. Andrea used her Fulbright to explore the textile and beading industries in Ghana. She got to work with one of the leading textile companies in Ghana - Akosombo Textiles Limited - and designed textiles now being sold in marketplaces around both Ghana and Nigeria. As if that opportunity alone wasn't amazing enough, she also got to teach creative arts to primary school students and work with communities to create murals.

Quilting with Amequa

Kente 4

These are a few pieces that Andrea designed during her time in Ghana. You can check out her website to see even more of her artwork, here for her bead work, and definitely check out this video to hear more about her experience.

Needless to say, I'm definitely going to have to re-look into this Fulbright business!!

{Photos: Andrea Bergart}

F.P.R.

In general, shorts are a nonstarter with me. They seem to only flatter really really skinny people and since I have yet to find myself in that category of people, they are no-go territory for me. That said, I'm not beyond appreciating a pair of shorts especially when worn perfectly with a stylish blazer and an African wax-printed scarf via Free Peoples Rebellion!

{Photos: Kwesi Abbensetts + Free Peoples Rebellion}

Football for Peace and Development

Yesterday morning while listening to Morning Edition on NPR, I heard this feature about FIFA spending 1/3 of 1 percent (translation: chump change) of the $3 billion it earned on the World Cup on a program called 20 Centers for 2010. These football centers are suppose to focus on promoting education, public health, and of course football throughout six countries on the continent. Besides the fact that only four centers are completed and that all twenty centers won't be done until 2012 (yeah, don't be confused by the name of the program or anything), the part that really got me scratching my head was this quote:

"There aren't many organizations out there that are using football as a tool for social development and also have experience running youth centers."

In addition to international organizations like Right to Play, which, as their name would suggest, is all about working with youth, I was recently introduced to the wonderful organization Play 31. As Jakob Lund, founder & director, told me, this organization works in countries that have recently been affected by conflict and uses football as a means of reconciliation. So far, the organization focuses activities in Sierra Leone and organizing community meetings and football matches for kids, women and men. Lund has been leading an amazing campaign to raise funds to expand activities and has been featured all over the press, including the New York Times. Asked about what inspired the creation of the organization, Lund said "the trigger for the creation of Play 31 was when couple of little boys asked me if I wanted to play ball with them at a guest house in Moyamba. Their ball was a complete wreck and when I bought them a new one, it was their enthusiasm and joy that convinced me I needed to start an organization focusing on children's right to play, using the sport to foster reconciliation." All this on just his winter break trip to Sierra Leone while at grad school at Columbia!

Having worked in the business of international development for quite a few years now, I've seen first hand how much individuals and organizations want to help people throughout the continent. I love the use of a fun and universal sport like football as a means of peace and development. However, as is so often the case, a lack of communication and coordination can get in the way of good intentions. With organizations like Play 31 and Right to Play, not to mention all the African-based organizations that I may not know about but feel convinced exist, FIFA really should have no problem burning through 1/3 of 1 percent of $3 billion dollars to get football to kids throughout the continent!

{Photos courtesy of Play 31}

Tuesday's Design - Nour el-Balad

Simple. Simple. Simple. The owners of the very cute Nour el-Balad boutique hotel in Egypt certainly stuck to the "keep it simple" philosophy of design when creating this little oasis. I especially love the kitchen with the chipped tiles which make it feel like it's been there for a few lifetimes. The bedroom has the no nonsense appeal that let's anyone know that the main order of business in this space is 100% sleeping.

{Photos: Marie Claire Maison}

Porch Inspiration

When summer is in full swing, there are few places as wonderful as a porch. I could easily find myself staying cool and reading a good book on this Moroccan inspired spot for endless hours. It would even be perfect to sit and watch a light rain shower pass through while sipping some Moroccan mint tea...

{Photo: Marie Claire Maison}

Flickr Finds Africa: Week 07.26.10

(South Africa)

One of the best things that I did this weekend was a short (2.5 hr) hike in Great Falls yesterday. It was part of my "get out to nature a whole lot more" and "meet new people" schemes and I had a great time! Not only did I get a nice little workout while seeing cool views of the Potomac River, I also met several really fun Somali-American ladies who were all equally excited to be out in nature as I was! In fact they were all better prepared than I was - really hiking shoes, camelbacks, sunscreen and bug spray, plus cameras! As is always the case, my little trip got me thinking about hiking in Africa and Flickr just fed this inspiration as usual.

(Morocco)

(South Africa)

From catching the amazing views of Ethiopia through the Semien Mountains National Park, going through the Dadès Gorge in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, taking in Mali via a cliff in Dogon, watching the Atlantic from a field of wildflowers on the Otter Trail in Tsitsikamma National Park in South Africa, to going through the Cederberg Oasis to get to the Wolfberg Cracks also in South Africa, there is no doubt that there is plenty of mother nature on the continent to explore by foot.

(Mali)

{Photos: Robert J. Brodey, Louis Rossouw, Sarah Cullem and Roger Gordon}

Sounds of Africa: Zaki Ibrahim

Every week brings new musical treats and this week is no exception. Today is all about Toronto-based South African singer Zaki Ibrahim. I would try to squeeze her into a specific genre, but when you hear the variety of her sound, you will know that doing so would just be wrong. Right now, I'm currently loving her album Eclectica in Purple and jamming to beats like Computer Girl and Money. You can also hear a great interview here about her experiences as a South African/Canadian artist and what that means to her.

So what have you been listening to this week??

{Photo: Zaki Ibrahim}

Let's Talk: Malene B.

Oh boy, it's interview time and today I have the wonderful Malene B. sharing a bit of her time with us. For those of you who don't already know, Malene is an African-American carpet designer based in Brooklyn, New York. As you can easy see from the carpet designs in this post and throughout her site, Malene's work is very much inspired by her world travels but especially by her time spent in various countries throughout Africa and her overall passion for the continent. Her experiences on the continent not only play a role in her textile designs, but clearly make their way into her home as greatly captured by The Selby a few months ago.

What are the first five words that come to mind when you think about Africa?

Colorful, Diverse, History, Beautiful, Strong

What is one of your favorite memories of time spent on the continent?

Going to Ghana in 1995 and experiencing the Ashanti King Otumfuo Nana Opuko Ware II celebrating his silver jubilee and his 75th birthday. The Ashanti King ruled for 25 years and this was a once in a lifetime event. The stadium was brimming with so many people that they appear to be a sea of colorful dots. I was also lucky enough to have the opportunity to walk to visit and take pictures of the Chiefs and Queen Mothers from around Ghana and neighboring countries in the stadium before the festivities.

What first led you to visit Africa and how did you know that it would become a major inspiration for your work?

During my last year of high school I became culturally aware of my African heritage; I discovered through the arts of Africans and in the Diaspora that art is spiritual, cultural, functional and meaningful. I wanted to stay true to my cultural traditions, so I incorporated my heritage into my work; creating functional works of art.

After reading numerous books about the continent, I of course wanted to visit. Nothing beats experience you gain from having first hand knowledge of a place or culture to complete your experience.

What country on the continent would you most like to visit and why?

I have a few places in mind: Mali because I love their textiles, wood carvings and architecture. I would to see their largest mosque that’s made out of mud in Djenne, Mali. And Dogon Country where there is amazing stone architecture within the cliffs of the mountains, and weavers and painters making Mudcloth. Ndebele in South Africa who paint their houses in amazing colors and graphic patterns; it’s been very influential in my work. Also, Morocco to see their amazing tile work, experience the food and to explore the markets; Tanzania to check out their potato print fabrics and lastly Seychelles, Madagascar and Cape Verde Islands.

When you are not traveling and designing carpets, what do you like to do?

I like to go to cultural events, restaurants with an international flair and I also enjoy cooking and entertaining at home.

Where is your favorite hang out spot?

No particular spot. I love walking the streets of New York; you can discover so much.

What is your personal soundtrack of the moment?

Lost in Love by Jonathan Butler, I just keep playing the song over and over

Who or what has been your greatest inspiration?

All of the people I surround myself with continue to encourage and support my endeavors

What has been your proudest achievement?

Maintaining a career in the arts

What is the best lesson you've learned so far?

No matter what you do in life someone will always have something to say about your decision. The key is to make your decisions based on what’s going to make you happy rather than others.

What dream do you still want to fulfill?

Learn a second language; I was really good in French back in the day. Hopefully one day I will really be able to become fluent. Also to have a second home in a warm climate country, so I can leave the states when it’s cold and return for the spring and summer.

What book and/or magazine are your reading right now?

House Beautiful, Uptown Magazine and Write it Down Make it Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser.

Clearly this is a woman after my own heart! Not only do I love her designs but my obsession with color and open, cheerful spaces mean that she would literally have to get kicked out of her home! I honestly can't wait to see how both she and her business evolve with time!

Thanks Malene!

{Photos: Malene B. & The Selby}

You and Mother Nature

"Ok not to be a downer -- and I do like the view -- but the Africa I know and love (albeit I've never been to Kenya and the East is very different from my reference point of the West I hear) is a place where (1) its DARK at night (a la your post yesterday) and (2) things come out at night even when there are four walls. An encounter with a ginormous bug which took on horror movie like dimensions in the glare of a flashlight, in the midnight hour, in the village, was all I needed to cut down my fluid intake by mid-afternoon to ensure no roaming around when the generator is off for the night!!! I just can't imagine sleeping in the open like that and worse having to pay for it!!! Now that I have completely spoiled the moment -- it is very pretty. . . ."

The above comment by reader (and sister) Uzo on this post from earlier today really got me laughing out loud as well as thinking about my level of comfort with mama nature. Personally, I would JUMP at the chance to sleep outside in the dark in a treehouse with lions roaming underneath me. I've had the chance to sleep in a tiny tent in Kenya with hippos roaming around as well as on a mountain in Sudan so sleeping in a luxury bed outside would be a welcomed upgrade. Clearly my love for the great outdoors does not originate from my family.

So, my question for you is just how comfortable are you with mother nature? Do you prefer your mother nature through the safety of a glass window or maybe even better through a photograph? Or are you the "bring on the camping gear" "I hate walls" type? Or maybe something in-between?

Either way, I'd love to know so comment away....

{Photo: Loisaba}

Welcome In!

Staying in Kenya today, I really just love this simple entrance. The cheerful turquoise curtains adds a light bohemian feel to the normal Kenyan safari look.

{Photo: Apartment Therapy}

Tuesday's Design - Star Beds

I was in line at the grocery store the other day flipping through Condé Nast Traveler when I came across this a-ma-zing space at Loisaba Widerness Lodge in Kenya. Can you imagine sleeping under the stars to this level and then waking up to a view like this?? Aesthetically, I love how everything is kept very simple because the star of the show is not about the bed but all about the view. You can definitely count me in on any vacation (or alternative lifestyle) that involves more of this!

{Photo: Loisaba Widerness Lodge}

Flickr Finds Africa: Week 07.19.10

I admit that I have a natural preference to images of people, but when I see amazing pictures such as this collection taken in Algeria by Flickr photographer Alessandro Vannucci also leave me quite speechless. The fact that I keep coming back to the work of this photographer on my Flickr crawl really speaks volumes for his talent!

{Photos: Alessandro Vannucci}

Through the Lens: Peter DiCampo

Have you ever been in a town without electricity? I can tell you from experience that things get pretty dark once the sun sets and everything takes on a new dimension when when lit by kerosene lamps, flashlights, fire or car headlights. Yet, I remember very fondly the hours I spent curled under a mosquito net in a tukul lit only by a kerosene lamp desperately trying to finish a book. Well, American photographer Peter DiCampo decided to photograph this life without lights while living in Ghana. As you can see, the results are stunning!

Do you have any favorite memories of times without electricity?

{Photos: Peter DiCampo}

Weekend in Review

Ahhh, yet another weekend has quickly come and gone! Did you have a good time? Mine was a combination of rest and fun with a lot of learning mixed in, which is exactly how a weekend should be spent. Here are a few highlights...

• Making dinner for a friend and her husband who I haven't seen in a long time. I got to meet their little son and also learned that she is pregnant with a second child. I love those moments when you look at love ones, see just how happy they are in their lives with their partners, and get filled with joy on their behalf.
• Sleeping more than 12 hours straight. I know, insanity, but I clearly needed the rest and it felt so good to not be disturbed by an alarm.
• Finally picking up some much needed cycling shorts to make long rides more comfortable.
• A long bike ride - 25 miles - despite 90+ degrees outside. The more I ride the more I get anxious for my next bike upgrade to this haute couture of bikes!! Needless to say, a massive savings campaign is underway.
• Hitting the D.C. nightlife as if I were in my 20s again and living through the college experience in a way (read: bar crawl) I never did during those years in Boston.
• After a night partying like it was 1999, a nap on a lazy Sunday afternoon was a direct gift from the gods above!
• Ending the weekend by making a 3-course meal! Simple kasha salad that is my new favorite summer dish + Feta, Mushroom, Turkey Bacon Quiche (something I haven't indulged in over 3 months) + Tropical fruit salad with Tahitian vanilla ice cream. One word for all of that: YUMMY!!

So what were some of the highlights of your weekend?

{Photos: Steven Ford + unknown}

Happy Birthday Mandela

Even if you didn't get the chance to give 67 minutes of service on this International Nelson Mandela Day, hope you can squeeze in a moment to reflect the amazing capacity of people as reflected in the life and work of this one individual!

Happy Birthday Mandela!

{Photo: Paul Smith}

Sounds of Africa: Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra

I have consistently found that there is nothing more powerful or moving than a person with a passion. That passion can allow people to see green fields on a horizon where others only see mountains of obstacles. What makes the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra so a-ma-zing is the fact that it is made up of musicians driven 110% by the depths of their passion for classic music. How does one even begin to imagine a woman who sells fruit on the street by day, saving whatever cash she earns to buy a locally made (or via good 'ol China) violin, and then rehearses late into the night (obviously it goes without saying that she has to walk far to get home AND has kids to feed and care for) to play Beethoven or possibly sing.....in German?! Yes, I know, mind-blowing. Did I mention that the majority are self-taught? Yet that is exactly what the 200+ musicians of the only orchestra in Congo do almost every day for years!

Fast-forward 15 years from the beginning of the orchestra and German filmmakers have documented this incredible story of the human spirit. Kinshasa Symphony gives us a look into the lives of the musicians, the city and country, and most importantly the transformative nature of music. The thought that something Handel wrote in the early 1700s Germany provides joy and comfort to someone in 2010 Kinshasa who is introducing that same music to a whole generation of Congolese kids is something that simply cannot be measured....

The documentary is currently making the film festival rounds (including the Durban International Film Festival and the Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago). Now if only I could get my hands on the DVD!

Let's Talk: Tessa Frootko Gordon

Ahh...today brings another installation of the Let's Talk series and as usual, I'm very excited about today's guest. I've been in touch with South African photographer Tessa Frootko Gordon since early May when she got in touch with me regarding this post and over the months, I've enjoyed getting to know her a bit more and getting to explore her amazing photography. While being based in the Boston area, Tessa frequently travels back to South Africa throughout the year as well as spending time exploring other countries, including the Caribbean nation of Grenada which has been the focus for a lot of her work in recent years.

Out of our various threads of communication, one that really stands out is when Tessa asked why I was interested in the images that you see here (and a few that aren't here). First it was cool because I'm usually the one asking the questions when it comes to these interviews, so it was nice for the tables to be turned a bit. Second, I loved being questioned about my choices. When it comes to many creative images or designs, I usually go with what my gut tells me so in answering her question, I really got to explore why my gut is drawn to certain things and not others. But without getting too deep into the weeds, let's see what Tessa has to share with us....

What are the first five words that come to mind when you think about Africa?

Solid ground beneath my feet.

What is one of your favorite memories from time spent in Africa or around other Africans abroad?

For a brief period leading up to the 1994 elections in South Africa I was part of the group in Boston organizing absentee ballots. South Africans voted at the Massachusetts State House. The experience was surreal and overwhelming. The SA flag was raised and we sang the SA National Anthem on the State House steps. I remember having a bouquet of yellow flowers and being dressed in the green yellow and black colors of the ANC.

What is one thing that you think someone would be surprised to learn or see in South Africa?

People may be surprised to find that South Africa is both a first and third world country; that it is so geographically, climactically and culturally diverse. South Africans talk of “ubuntu”- a common humanity and interconnectedness that I think surprises visitors most. A recent example of “ubuntu” is the camaraderie and hospitality expressed by South Africans during the recent world cup.

If you could go to one place on the continent right now, where would it be and why?

Zanzibar- For its location, its Muslim influence and because I am fascinated by the insular nature of islands.

When did you first get interested in photography, and what made you decide to pursue this as a career?

I always wanted to draw or paint but didn’t have the aptitude. Photography seemed to come naturally. I would walk around framing things in my mind. I worked as a clinical social worker for about 10 years, photographing in my spare time. In the early 80s I took a workshop with a the late New York photographer, Lilo Raymond. Then 60,Lilo had started on a successful photo career at aged 40. She became my mentor and urged me to consider photography as a career. I was 35 when I quit social work and started art school. Had it not been for Lilo’s encouragement and support I might still be a social worker.

What brought you to the U.S. and particularly to Boston?

In a word: Apartheid. I became aware of Apartheid’s injustices when I was about 8 and grew up believing I would eventually leave. My husband and I were both activists. The events of 1976 seemed to make the decision for us, and we left with no set agenda, looking for a country. I still do not know whether this was a correct moral choice even though we continued our activism in the US. We came to Boston because just after we arrived in the US my husband was offered a job here. It was totally serendipitous.

When you are not taking stunning pictures, what else do you like to do?

I work on photo illustration, make journals combining image and text, and take classes in digital imaging. I serve on the boards of a regional symphony orchestra and the cultural alliance of my city. I also follow contemporary singer songwriters and current trends in photography. I am active in progressive Democratic Party politics and mentor a Women’s sewing and beading project in South Africa. I am a magazine junkie, Internet surfer and collector of trivia and the absurd. I also love to bicycle.

Where is your favorite hang out spot?

In Cape Town: The Olympia Café, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

In Boston: The De Luxe Town Diner in Watertown. The nicest people and world’s best pancakes

What is your personal soundtrack right now?

“Waving Flag” by K’naan.

Who or what has been your greatest inspiration?

My Mother

What has been your proudest achievement?

Ten years ago I may have thought my proudest achievement as something career related. I now measure achievement in terms of what I do in individual relationships and relationships with community. Caring for my mother during the ten-month illness leading to her death is undoubtedly the thing I have done best and of which I am proudest of in my life.

What is the best lesson you have learned so far?

The best -sometimes painful lesson- I continue to learn is to trust my instincts

What dream do you still want to fulfill?

I am working on a photographic book about the island of Grenada. My dream is to make this a tangible record of my love of Grenada and evidence of a passionate photographic life.

There are so many great aspects about this interview starting with "solid ground beneath my feet!" I really hope you have enjoyed this chat now all you need to do if click over to her site to explore so much more of her beautiful images.

Thanks Tessa!

{Photos: Tessa Frootko Gordon}

Art Scene: Body Art

I know I usually post about art on paper/linen/online, but who says that these are the only mediums to design on...especially when there is the human body just waiting to be used as blank canvas. While the ladies may be all about some fashionable decor as seen in yesterday's post, these Surma warriors got the whole body painting business down!

{Photo: foto_morgana}

Forest Catwalk

Ok - I admit that I am still speechless at the sight of these now famous Hans Silvester photos from the Omo Valley. Tyra Banks clearly stole the word fierce from right here! Of all the outlandish things that fashion designers do to models that they send down the runway or on the pages of editorials, none of it can match the beauty created so naturally by the people of the Surma and Mursi tribes.

{Photos: Daily Mail, Joel Cooner, Saharan Vibe}

African Jewels

How often those your style of dressing change? I think mine is going through a very quiet shift. Oh maybe it isn't so much of a shift, but a deepening. Over the years I've gotten more and more into simple clothing that can last forever and a day and be worn with a million different things. Simple clothes jazzed up by fun scarves and jewelry is really my bottom line these days (which isn't to say I don't have a few fun printed numbers). These wonderful pieces by Elva Fields are exactly the fun accessories to go with a simple dress or skirt/jeans and tank top. I love almost everything from her current collection, but these particular necklaces stand out as all their beads are from Africa. Whether using silver beads from Mali or vintage glass beads from Sudan or Ghana, Fields has found a wonderful way to showcase these beautiful gems! Plus, the fact that I'm a huge brooch lover makes these especially great for me.

This one reminds me of a marketplace where color just runs in wide abandon!

So what do you think? Which one of these would you wear?

{Photos: Elva Fields}