Working On 2016

Now that the end of the year is coming, I need to work on plans for next year.  It has been so much fun over the last two months working with young people on their mud cloths as I do my own work.  It is so true what they say about getting energy from children! They look at the world with visions I have left behind so long ago.  I am so blessed that I am still connected to such energy.  I can't wait to see how my artwork tuns out for my up coming shows!

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Today in the Pan African Village

Well today was my first day in the Pan African Village teaching my mudcloth workshop.  It has been five year since I have conducted a workshop here and I am so glad I was able to return.

 

We had everyone try their hand at mudcloth painting.  From local artist to little hands.

 

 

Every time I conduct these workshops I am so impress in the artwork that comes out of these sessions.  I love to see the creativity and the thoughts  from people's minds.  Amazing and beautiful!

 

Words can not express enough what I saw today.  Not just the art but also the spirit of the people who stopped by to paint with us!  Just take a look and please enjoy  my student's artwork.

Painting with and Collecting Mud

During the last six months, I have been working hard  creating mud cloths for an up coming exhibit I am hoping to hold this Fall .  While doing this I have conducted a few workshops and mentored art students for portfolio preps.  I love sharing what I have learned over the years.  It is hard to believe that it has been 21 years when I started to do Bogolanfini.  My art career started at the age of 14. December 1979 when I sold an oil painting of a little sad cat.  From Oils to Mud what a change.  

Next month I return to the New York State Fair in the Pan-African Village to teach mud cloth painting to the public.  It is one of my favorite things to do.  I enjoy the smiles on peoples faces.  For some it is a look into an art form from a culture they know little about. For others it is a way to connect to the past.  I can't wait to see who attends this year.  Looking forward to seeing everyone September 2nd and 3rd in the afternoon!

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Bogolanfini in the Pan-African Village

I had the pleasure of spending the end of August and the beginning of September in the Pan-African Village at the New York State Fair in Syracuse, N.Y. There I conducted two workshops in Bogolanfini (mudcloth).

Vanessa Johnson (on the left) painting with young artists

The first workshop took place on Friday August 27th around 3PM, which was run by Vanessa Johnson, a resident of Syracuse. I arrived an hour early and enjoyed the wonderful weather as I set up the area in preparation for creating Bogolanfini. My supplies included 50 jars of mud, 75 craved painting sticks, 96 pieces of tea stained cloth, four different types of tea and over 50 stencils. I then put the finishing touches on a table displaying brochures and worksheets and anxiously awaited the crowd!

Soon a father and his two children came to our tables inquiring about face painting. We invited them to sit down and try mudcloth painting. However, they felt the activity would be dirty and messy. As I demonstrated how I use sticks to paint mud onto the cloth, they looked around the tables and saw the many different colors of mud. There was an array of different shades of yellows, brick reds, browns, black, blue grays, and even bright greens. Then I supplied the children the cloth to paint on, sticks to paint with and we were ready to paint! The children created beautiful mudcloths, trying as many colors they could fit on their cloths. When the mudcloths were dry we rinsed off the excess mud and set them out to dry in the sun. In an effort to attract additional people, I searched through my carrying case and found the biggest mudcloth I created, which was a scene of an African Marketplace, and hung it under the tent banner.

A father trying his hand at mud cloth.

That did it!

When people walked by they asked about it and I invited them to create one of their own. The tables were full for the next two hours. At one point I an entire family filled a table. Another table had 4 generations of a family, all creating mudcloths. It was beautiful to watch! I received hugs and “thank you” for the experience.

The second workshop was Wednesday, September 1st, at 3PM. This time people were waiting to create mudcloths. My mother and I arrived early so I could show my mother around the Pan-African Village. We enjoyed some of the event’s food and returned to the art tent in time to start the workshop at 3PM. Parents were encouraging their children to try mudcloth painting. Over the course of the day, we invited many people to paint. Then, as some children, two girls and a boy, who were working at the village sat down to rest, I invited them to try mudcloth painting. The young ladies instantly sat down to paint, but the young man was reluctant. I shared the history of mudcloth painting and after learning more about mudcloth painting, the young man created one. He did a very good job and said he enjoyed it very much. My hope for that young man is that he learned not only mudcloth painting that day, but that he also learned to try something new.

Learned to love Mud Cloth Painting.