Ex Africa semper aliquid novi (Out of Africa, there is always something new) —Pliny (AD 23-79).Today we started recording The Creative Exchange, a series of podcats for the online portal of The Women's Post. Taping started at 10AM –luckily I live around the corner from the studio. The first guest was Elizabeth Addison, former Marketing Director of MoMA (Museum of Modern Art in NYC) and former Director of External Affairs at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
We talked about her career, her role in these two leading international arts institutions and her recent foray into African art through Addison Imports. She reminded us that African art and in the Twentieth Century was a big influence on Modern –the obvious example being Dali’s Cubism that drew from West African masks of the Dogon. During her time at MoMA there were several exhibits illustrating various connections between African art and European “fine art.”
Elizabeth is passionate about art. We had a great conversation about what drew her to Africa. She has established her art import company on the philosophy of “a hand up, not a hand out.” If you are in Toronto I strongly recommend you attend her showcase of fabulous African art titled Out of Africa II running Nov 8-11 at The Richmond (477 Richmond St W. Toronto). Proceeds from Out of Africa II are invested into local village economies and support talented indigenous artisans and craftspeople, many of whom are women who are sole breadwinners for their families.
Elizabeth brought some of these pieces to the studio. I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful these pieces are. She was wearing one the pieces, a very fetching necklace made from reclaimed glass crafted by Ghanaian women. It seems Africa is way ahead on this recycling thing. What was so touching for me was seeing the tags with the artists’ names on the labels of each piece –it made the various pieces more personable, and brought me closer to Africa. (Pictures of the various pieces to be posted soon).
The interview was streamed live on www.ThatRadio.com and will be available on The Women’s Post Portal November 15.
Some examples of the women’s cooperatives and businesses from which Elizabeth Addison currently buys are:
The Monkeybiz Bead Project - Cape Town South Africa
( http://www.monkeybiz.co.za/)
Monkeybiz is a non-profit company established by three women in order to create employment and empowerment for disadvantaged women in Cape Town. These artisans create gorgeous hand-beaded decorative dolls, animals and tableware. Monkeybiz provides skills training and work for about 450 women. The women can work from home and are paid for each item. The revenue from the sale of the goods is used for community projects such as the HIV/AIDS hospice they have built. While Monkeybiz has had good success exporting to Europe and the U.S., Addison Imports is the only company selling in Canada at this time.
Kpando Women’s Pottery Cooperative – Ghana
The women in a rural village in the area known as Kpando make beautiful pottery using the same technique that generations before them have. Originally intended for everyday use, this ceramic-ware was bought and used by local Ghanaians. However, once cheaper plastic containers became readily available, the demand for the pottery declined and so a main source of income of employment for these women was lost. In recent years the U.S. Aid to Africa and Aid to Artisans Ghana projects have provided support for them to re-start this craft industry with a view to developing an export business. It is in the very early stages and only a small number of women (about 20) make the pottery, but as the market for their products increases, more women will work there. Addison Imports is one of the first to import Kpando pottery and the only one in Canada thus far.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Addison, Addison Imports, liz@addisonimports.com
No comments:
Post a Comment