At Zawadi Holiday Market Saturday December 10
Get a little color on your walls and in your life and complete your Christmas shopping. Stop by Zawadi at 1524 U Street NW, Washington DC tomorrow, Saturday December 10. There’ll be lots craft and jewelry items on sale, and most importantly, I’ll be there, with framed prints, holiday cards and more.
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Spreading the Adornment Culture of Mali
Some of you missed a real treat this weekend (other than Artscape) in the form of Oumar Cisse, also known to many as Peace Corps Baba. African art and gift shop, Zawadi, hosted him this weekend and, as always he came with a vast array of beautiful Malian necklaces, rings, earrings and bags. Oumar Cisse is the owner of Farafina Tigne – an amazing museum and store of Malian beadwork. Over many years he has built up an a clientele around the world and he regularly travels to many countries promoting the culture of his people – the Fulani, but also of Malian culture in general. This year he, his brother Hamadoun (Simbè) Sankaré and other Malian artisans came to show the work that they have done as part of the exhibit on how the Peace Corps has aided artisans to sell and promote their work abroad. So too has Oumar helped and supported many Peace Corps volunteers in Mali, hence the name they gave him. One thing that occurred to me was how different the idea of adornment is for men in different cultures. It seems that adornment with jewelry is an important aspect of Fulani culture for men and women.
I understand that you can still pick up some of these gorgeous pieces at Zawadi, at 1524 U Street, NW, Washington DC. And check out the Farafina Tigne site, it really is an amazing port into the wonders of Malian adornment and culture.
Sticks, Stones & Bones: The Art of Ibe Crawley at Zawadi
Ibe Crawley discusses her work
Shotgun Houses by sculptor, Ibe Crawley
Pray for Me Fans
Ibe discusses one of her pieces with customers.
Sculptor, Ibe Crawley is currently exhibiting at Zawadi. Two Saturdays ago, Zawadi owner, Irene Whalen, hosted a talk with Ms. Crawley, where she explained the trajectory of her work as a sculptor, and her current pieces, particularly the Shotgun houses. From the invitation:
“Ibe is a storyteller using art as one of her outlets. She was born in Danville, Va. and her artistic talent was nurtured by the shotgun houses and the people around her,particularly family. Ibe says, “My art work is me telling stories using material as metaphor, sticks, stones and bones, recycled or found treasures. I sculpt and assemble both the stories and the materials, adding or taking away until an image evolves.” The results are spirit houses, animals and mixed media paintings. Four years ago, Ibe began teaching herself
to handle marble, adding another element to her storytelling.”
Pieces are on sale and will remain on display until April 2.
1524 U St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 2009
202-232-2214
