Art Safari: AfricanColours 2009 GalleryWalk

Kenya Mon 09-02-2009

Art Safari: AfricanColours 2009 GalleryWalk
By David Kaiza/AfricanColours.com

Neclaces made out of flip flops by Uniqueco 2009 marks the fourth year that AfricanColours is organizing a GalleryWalk, an even which started in 2006 and has since become part of the Nairobi Art calendar.

This year’s walk will take a tour through three principle galleries and studios, Marula Studios, Kazuri Beads and Pimbi Gallery.

Kenya is one of the principle producers of art on the African continent and Nairobi has more than its fair share of iconic names in the business. Some of the more important debates about the meaning and nature of “African Art” have taken place in the country.

We only have to think of names like Jak Katarikawe or Kioko Mwitiki or Gallery Watatu.

There’s wealth. But there’s critical engagement too, and the GalleryWalk provides a communal interface with this heritage.

Since 2006, AfricanColours has organized the Gallery Walk as an annual re-affirmation of the importance of art in cultural development but also as an expression of Nairobi’s constant attempt at self-definition. But the circle does not become complete unless an audience completes the loop that the artist begins – which is the essential purpose of the walks.

“The GalleryWalk offers the citizens of Nairobi an opportunity to interact with their artists,” says Mr. Andrew Njoroge, the Director of AfricanColours. “It’s a time well spent with family and friends exploring the available variety of talent that Nairobi has nurtured over the years.

For the artist it’s an opportunity to show the public what they have been creating and to get feedback.”

In the past, AfricanColours GalleryWalks have been to Rahimtullah Museum of Modern Art, the Alliance Francaise Gallery, the GoDown Arts Centre, Paa ya Paa and the Green Art Sculptor Garden in Kitsuru among others.

Organiser and program manager at AfricanColours, Maggie Otieno says of the larger purposes of the walks: “We want to create an avenue where the artist and his art benefit from this art safari.

Our ultimate objective is to expose and plainly bring art to people who in normal circumstance would not have time to visit an artist, gallery space or find time to buy art.”

She goes on to explain that in general, the public’s engagement with art is not sufficient and for the artist, the walks provide an open opportunity to interact with the general public in order to “create an exciting means to appeal and draw them to making their contributions in this creative sector.”

Of this same point, Mr. Njoroge says there is not as much interaction between artists and the general public to a level that AfricanColours would like to see.

“That is why the GalleryWalk is so important. Opportunities like this must be availed to those that want to positively affect the growth and appreciation of Contemporary African art. “

A host of participants have taken part – artists, enthusiasts, students, residents/expatriates.

Marula Studios in Karen, Nairobi This year’s theme has inadvertently centred around art and the environment – not out of conscious choice but because Marula Studios, Kazuri Beads and Pimbi all use materials – plastics, glass or metal that have been discarded – to create sometimes visually startling art works.

Perhaps this is a reflection of the fact that environmental consciousness has entered our mainstream cultures.

There will be lots of opportunities to watch the artists’ works in progress and to purchase the end results – a learning, purchasing and bonding tour.

From Marula, the tour goes to Kazuri Beads, also in Karen which uses local clay to create beautiful hand made ceramics, jewellery and pottery.

The event winds up at Kioko Mwitiki’s studio in Lavington. Mr. Mwitiki has rightfully been described as the father of Kenyan junk metal. It will be an opportunity to meet and interact with the man himself.

There will be lots of opportunities to watch the artists’ works in progress and to purchase the end results – a learning, purchasing and bonding tour.

GalleryWalk guests to meet for pick up between 8am and 9am at the following locations: RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, 2nd Parklands Avenue and AfricanColours offices, 1st floor room 16, Chester hse, Koinange street in the city center.

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