It is amazing to me how this program always seems to start off slowly and then all of a sudden we are running to get things done and then wow, your at the end of your first week.
We have completed our first week with a true fulfillment in the progress of our artists. Although today started out slow because it was raining in Nairobi, we got there. We were on time, the students were not and they slowly trickled in. In you have any concept of Kibera, you do not want to find yourself in the rain in the slum. With troughs of waste and refuse and then the mud coupled with the smell the gets conjured up, I too would have wanted to stay home. We lost about 8 of our students today but all went well.
Sculpture has really taken off in a way I did not expect. Like I said yesterday, the paper sculptures ended up being way more than we could have ever expected, well today with the "found objects sculpture, it was even more exciting. Some of the found objects that were used were interesting from cut up plastic bottles to metal pieces to cardboard, wood and styrofoam, all made interesting sculptural art. One of our students designed a home with a yard and all; Margaret asked him if he wanted to be an architect and he responded, no a civil engineer! Enough said. Another sculpture was the interior of a home made out of various materials, one made a pair of flip flops, taking Creating from the soul (sole) to a whole new level. One sculpted a coffee cup, many made different vehicles carrying loads of objects, a flower girl basket and one made a soda dispensing machine. They get it and used their found objects to interpret through these new sculptures. Pretty amazing. We gave them assignments and off they went to find more found objects, write more about their exploration of art and really to get ready for next week. We, as always, start and end our day with meditation and it is so obvious it has an impact.
This weekend for us will be a busy one; first off the Nyeri with my Kenyan sister Anne Wangari to see my Kenyan family and have them meet Margaret for the first time. Sunday is a visit to Nyumbani for Sunday mass and then Sunday Club with the Children of Kibera foundation where we will do some art projects with the students.
Next week will also be a great race to the finish....We have a visit with the Artist I told you about on Wednesday and then Tuesday, the "Graduate Institute" students will be taught how to do Glass Mosaic from a Master Mosaic Artist at Kitengala. This is in addition to our daily classes with the students. Can we say large Mosaic at St. Al's in 2013.
We are always with mixed emotions at the end of the first week because we realize how exciting and full swing this program is at this point and the realization that this will be ending in another week sets in. We experience it every year and are honored to be able to work with our students, its just the reality that it does not last but these two weeks. I also realize that we spend all year around thinking about it and the students have art club that is based on these two weeks until they get a new installment. With all that being said, its the contact that feels so great and seeing them face to face and realizing that we already miss them.
We thank you for being on this journey with us. PLEASE comment on the blog so we know you are seeing it.
Be well,
Charles and Margaret
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