The train will soon be entering the station for our final destination for the Art in Kibera 2012 year. It moves quickly once it gets momentum and boy has it ever. Today was evidence that our student do care and listen after we talked with them about being on time. Most of them were on time and only a few late. Progress!
We started out as usual, got into our sculpting and then changed gears mid way through to painting. It was like a new slate, we cleaned the room, got ready and started painting. I asked that they not create from what they had in the past but what might have inspired them from our sculpture sessions. They also have been looking at reference materials that Margaret brings each year such as art magazines and postcards of art. There is some very interesting work starting to happen. Its nice to see that they continue to develop in new medium as well as ones they are so familiar with like painting. After our normal three hours of class with our group, today was our special in session for our Graduate Institute; former students who come back for art. We all gathered and went out to Kitengala glass. Its a bit of a trip, it takes almost an hour with the traffic and the really hard roads that approach this art oasis in a rural setting. It was all boys this year in the institute and a lot of laughing and looking at the views on the way to Kitengala. One of our students had never seen a gazelle before and saw one on this ride and it made me realize that although they are in Kenya does not mean they have seen the wildlife or for that matter, so many other things that other Kenyans have access to. There are these constant reminders that they come from the Kibera slum, enough said. We talked about where they come from outside of Kibera and all from various parts of Kenya. One said, Kakuma and my heart stopped for a moment realizing this is the refugee camp and then he continued to say that he was a refugee. The realization of what people have been through and the privilege we live in comparison to their living situatiuon is alarming.
We got to the art center and they were all eyes and ears. The watched and took in everything. We looked around and the artist Edith who would teach us mosaics today was jovial and excited and kept saying to Margaret and I "they are so excited". We got down to business after a tour where we collected glass that we would use for our mosaics and got to working. Edith was a great, maternal teacher and they really responded to her. It was great to see them get so into it and be so excited about it. It was such a great idea to do this and I owe this all to Margaret who sought them out last year. She, herself, is a glass artist and it was a perfect fit. They worked hard and produced amazing pieces. They also had fun together and we with them. It was Dennis, Mike, Castro and Norbert. Every time something funny happened, Castro would say-"well Charles, My Grandfather used to say...." Or my Grandmother told me when you hurt yourself........" It was very funny. We also got to meet with glass blowers and they thought that was the coolest. They show gratitude is such subtle and low key ways. They thank you by smiling at their work, or being excited about something or their embraces. its all very wonderful and often I say we get so much more than we give it feels. They beam with light and you realize that you must be hitting a cord somewhere. This makes a difference to them and to us. The pieces they produced today were also really great.
We are also very proud of them. All 4 of the Graduate Institute participants that joined us today got into school. Two of them will be starting at Kenyatta University, one the the two best schools in Kenya and the others are going to local colleges. This is a big deal. These students have been with us now, 5 years; it is hard to believe.
After a nearly 12 hour day, we had a great Japanese meal at Misoni and then back to the ranch for rest.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Until Tomorrow!
Be well,
Charles and Margaret
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