I am currently travelling, meeting artists, video documenting and photographing while exploring African
ecological landscapes, mines and accummulating images towards the next exhibition. We are looking at a Travelling group
exhibit and A Video and the website. The research will be part of the book TERRA.
Art Move Africa has funded this leg of the
African Artist exchange project. This page isnt perfect and doesnt include EVERYTHING - but keep checking for surprises ...
 
 
 
 
 
  bogomoyo
 
 
Fishmarket Zanzibar
 
 
pastel workshop Nairobi
  October 14th The Kenya Air flight was delayed so messed the plans up a bit - Dar es Salaam and Tanzania and Zanzibar - saw Tinga Tinga in abundance.Met artists and carvers and dancers at the Visa2dance in Dar es Salaam. and boiled in the extreme humid heat - caught a ferry and we rescued some fisherman who had been out at sea for 5 days with a broken engine.
Saw the slave heritage sites at Bogomoyo and the memorial at Stone Town which still make me want to cry
October 9th off to Tanzania to Fred Halla and Rafiki Trust 24 hours later than planned
October 9th Stalled again -
Urgently had to send Hi Res images for a commission project I have been working on for a year.
ANd the Director of the University of Cape Town art department wanted my application in for the MFA masters to convert the mining research - so went to print out everything. The sign above the shop that said DHL was mislleading- hope there is a postoffice at airport
Been trying to explain why I need to handle the communications on my own. Each nuance of the conversation guides you when you are engaged in a negotiation around artworks. Firstly you only know what you are talking about when you are both actually looking at the same thing -" the orange one with the white swirl" - huh? which one is that ???? It doesnt need more than one to be too many cooks in this broth for pandemonium, broken telephone and snarl ups.
October 8th
RaMoMa Gallery Nairobi had an opening last night and then Dande(Kuono Arts Trust) and Roy (Tate Modern) went for dinner with a Swiss artist. Nairobi is a melting pot of amazing people from everywhere.
Must get to Tanzania today to Rafiki.
The Congo flights arent working out to visit Patrick and the Lubumbishi mines at this time because I could only get a business class return in order to do the pastel workshop at Ramoma Kenya with the Cairo flight connection. Might change flight out to direct Istanbul/Tashkent for the biennale on the silk road
October 7th THOUGHT FOR TODAY Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.
........................................................................................ Frank Zappa, composer, musician, film director (1940-1993)
The word travel derives and is related to travail -I forgot how hard it is to be on the move and keep all your bits and pieces together and keep going. But also mind shifting.
FACTS
A taxi from the airport should only cost Kenya Shilling KS1500 (E15/ ZAR 150) I was charged $35
You must use local currency - everything works out cheaper
negotiate with taxis before you get in KS 300 / E3 around town
You dont want to drive here - everyone just GOES - its chaotic and some streets have potholes, pavements are organic.
Security all over electric wire and everyone has an Askari (Soldier) at the door -the favorite is a fierce Northern tribe
'Thank You' is followed by "You Wallcome". There is a politeness and inter personal respect. Asante Sana / swahili is lilting /
Its still a bit post-colonial.
There is a reasonably priced apartment for 2 art involved people through Ramoma Gallery
Harrison is the best taxi driver - slow and steady and honest - sms or call him on +254733784314
Kuono Trust is a world class creative hub of artists - Dande is phenomenal
Telecoms in Kenya is leading the world with money exchanged via cell phone - SA Vodacom is Paleolithic - South African telecoms are designed to keep the poor poor - its expensive doesnt work and the support is pathetic and bombs out when you try and call for help |
www.artmovesafrica.org 
