'Art 4 Change'

Kenya Mon 28-05-2007

'Art 4 Change'
By Beatrice Ndung’u

As part of its ‘Easter Programme’ Fairmont Hotels and resorts Kenya (FHRK) has initiated a project called ‘Art 4 Change aimed at raising funds in aid of Mt. Kenya’s reafforestation through auctioning painted Ostrich Eggs. The innovative project borrows from the old European tradition of painting and exchanging Easter eggs as a token of friendship, love and good will.

“We had initially come up with the idea of painting chicken eggs and had students from 5 schools in Mt. Kenya paint 600 chicken eggs, but this time around we wanted to come up with something bigger and that’s where the idea of painting ostrich eggs originated.’ said Philippe Cauviere, General Manager of Mount Kenya Safari club.

“The initial plan for the eggs was to paint them, and put them on display on a certain acacia tree called the ‘Equator tree’ at the backyard of the hotel.” he continues.

The eggs are now on display in a glass cabinet ready for an auction “We thought of helping the people of Mount Kenya region by auctioning them to make money for reafforestation in the communities that live there. We asked various artists whether they were willing to support these people in the Mount Kenya region, and the artists agreed. About 16 to 17 artists came out and that’s where it all began.”

The 25 hand painted ostrich eggs have been on display at the Norfolk’s lobby area since 3rd April, where interested bidders had been making silent bids since March 26th, before the official auction. “The money collected will help us a great deal to manage our forests. We will plant a tree called Jathropa carcus which takes 2 and a half years to mature and produce seeds that are easy to pick and are crushed to extract bio fuel.

The trees are being grown all over the world and the main use is bio fuel, which will later be of help in the communities, due to the selling of these artistic pieces of art that will be auctioned today.” Said Mr. Cauviere

Eltayeb Daweldait, an artist who has participated in several international exhibitions, thought the painting on the eggs could have been better. “But the eggs look very nice though” he said.

Anselm Croze, who owns and operates Kitengela Hot Glass was excited that all the eggs he worked on were being auctioned at a very high bid, and he eventually had the highest bid of 60,000 Kenyan shillings, for an egg that he had decorated into the shape of the world. Sian Daniels eggs attracted the 2nd highest bid. Her egg fetched 50,000 Kenyan Shillings.

Shine Tani, an artist from Banana hill studio who has been exhibiting his work for many years and won prizes both locally and internationally, said that his piece talked of man protecting his side of the territory, and on the other side a bird doing the same thing. His egg went for 9000 Kenyan Shillings.

Other artists participating in the auction were: Allan Kangethe and Samuel Githinji from Ngecha, Sue Dumbelton from Ngare Ndare, Mary Collis who painted her agg from elsewhere, James Mbuthia from RaMoMA, Isaiah Kaaria, Sabina Kagendo and Phineas Mutua from Lewa, and Daniel Musyoka, Anthony Njembui, and Shawn Parker.

The ‘Art 4 change’ project aims at encouraging environmental conservation and all the proceeds from the auction go towards reafforestation in the communities of the Mount Kenya region.

Related Links:

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Posted By: African Colours

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