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| Me painting the revolutionary hero Amilcar Cabral on the anniversary of his assassination. |
I was invited by the Cape Verdean government's cultural center, Palacio da Cultura Ildo Lobo, to create a series of murals exploring the culture, history and social issues of this West African island nation. My artist residency included youth mural projects in a school and a community center in impoverished neighborhoods, collaborations with local artists and cultural centers, an exhibition and presentation of my work, and leading public art workshops. While working with the children and teens, I began developing a new technique in which they are free to paint anything they want within a given color scheme- their names, drawings of hearts and butterflies, etc.- and the kids' artwork becomes incorporated into the mural.
To check out the project's blog with lots of great photos, info, and news stories, click here.
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Students at the Infância Feliz school in Praia using their creativity!
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This piece features an anti-drug poem in creole by one of the students. The topics were chosen by the kids.
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detail-- notice the use of the kids' artwork in the background.
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Another piece in the same school. The patterns, called "pano de terra," are well-known in Cape Verde. The words next to the child are in creole (kriolu) and mean "look at us," "pay attention to us," and "help us" all in one phrase.
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| Me and my friends Va and Alex in front of the newly-completed mural on a youth center on the island of São Vicente |
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| The kids loved painting! They were free to use their creativity to make the background to the mural. |
Many children learn to play the violin and other instruments in this youth center.
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| This is a "mendinga," a popular character who is a savage hunter-- many people dress up like this during Carnaval here. |
My personal exhibition and presentation in the Palâcion da Cultura in Praia
me with friends in Praia.
The mural Terra de Cabral in Praia on the Amilcar Cabral Foundation.
detail from Terra de Cabral with quote from revolutionary hero Amilcar Cabral
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| detail from Terra de Cabral | | | | | | | | | | | |
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detail
As I was working on the first mural, the president of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires, stopped by to meet me and see the artwork. We chatted and took pictures, and the president said he liked the artwork and couldn't wait to see the end result. |
