Pre-workshop meeting with the artists...

First let me say...I apologize for misspelling Nouakchott on the last posting! LOL..it was late?  Buy that?  Hope so..

The morning was spent bringing the materials to the studio.  I had Hamanine, Kane (two guys from the Embassy) and Alpha helping me organize the room.  Jamie was there too.  Alpha works at the museum.  When he came out to greet us he said, "Bonjour"…and I replied, "Bonjour"…and then he replied: "Ca fait long temps que tu n’as pas parler le francais, n’est-ce pas” (Its been a long time since you spoke French, right?).  I immediately knew this guy was going to give me a hard time. Alpha is a zinger..a real zinger.   And I told him..”Oh I see how it is, you are starting with me already!”    Alpha is pretty funny.  He is actually going to take the workshop as well.  The meeting with the artist was soooooooooo interesting.  I am learning so much in a very short period of time.   I can’t lie, I was nervous.  The artists trickled in..most fairly late arrivals.  The first being Amal, a Moroccan born woman---one of two women — who is teaching art to children ages 5-15.  She was very nice and open and I look forward to getting to know her better.  Then, the men started arriving.  There are many artists from Senegal and Mauritania and many who have traveled quite a bit in Europe and had several expositions.  The population of the workshop reflects the population in Mauritantia..there are Moors/Berbers and Afro-Mauritanians.  I have to learn more about the history here, not an easy one to be sure and the tension was actually felt today by me even though I was unaware of all of the underlying complexities.  I am intrigued.  I think it is in my best interest to learn more.  What I did learn from the meeting was..some of the names, some of their material preferences and what they are hoping to get out of the workshop.  The most useful piece of information I got was from observation...I now know who the leaders are in the group.  Most of these artists belong to an association of artists.  Some are actually the mentors of others in the group.  I am excited and nervous by the obvious experience of some of these artists..I am going to learn sooooo much.  That was the theme today, by the way...that this is exchange of ideas..sharing of experience..and that we all have our own voices.  I hope I find mine tomorrow when I give the very first exercise....

Here are some photos from today..the studio..more tomorrow for those..and a short visit to the beach at sunset..Where are the people, you ask?  How amazing does this look to you?  It took my breath away to sit and watch the sun go down..and of course I smiled at all the beach dogs that flopped around with each other on the sand...

 

Arrival and First Day in Nouackchott

I arrived last night on time and with ALL my luggage...all three suitcases and two boxes!!!  Some of you might not understand the significance of this but many of you know I am cursed with arriving in many African countries without my luggage.  So this was certainly a happy first moment.

I must mention here before I go on that before I left, a very dear friend of mine reminded me of one of my most favorite reoccurring experiences...In most places I travel in Africa, upon arrival one must exit the plane, immediately walk down steep metal steps and walk across the tarmac to the terminal.  Well,  there is this moment of sheer joy that comes over me as I feel the humid warm air hit my face and the complex smells consume my nose..it is a feeling of "coming home".  Those exact words spoken by my friend..express the sentiment perfectly.  Mauritania didn't disappoint, I walked out into the air, breathed deeply and smiled joyfully.  I am very happy to be here.

Now back to my arrival..I was greeted by Jamie, the Cultural Affairs Officer at the US Embassy.  He is a new arrival here.  He has been great and very welcoming.  He dropped me off at Chris and Nitza's house and Chris was there to meet me.  Nitza is still in Washington but will be coming back soon.  For those of you who don't know, I know them from Washington.  I will be staying in their rather large home for the time I am here.  Nitza has definitely added her aesthetic to the place..and it is filled with Mauritanian paintings, boxes, carpets, leather pillows, teapots, etc.  Yes yes, I know Christmas is right around the corner...already noted, my friends.  Anyway, a very nice home indeed.  Chris took me out around 10:30pm for a late dinner and then it was off to bed for me.  I was exhausted.

This morning Jamie and I met with Abdelrakhman.  He had great energy…great ideas and is into film.  We visited this space that he “manages” which has been turned into an expo area of sorts.  It is located across the street from the National Museum.  He showed us the remnants of the last exposition that had different installations explaining anything from composting to how to make furniture from the blue plastic bag (that litters many landscapes in Africa) and sand to a mural illustrating how the ocean threatens the dunes around Nouakchott.

 

He also gave us options for where we might decide to paint our own mural----it will be completed just in time for a big exhibition there celebrating 50 Years of Independence.   It is also there that I had my first tiya—the 3 glasses of mint tea---although, I think we were only served two...it was enough in that heat.    That is for another blog entirely…because I am completely curious about the whole process..I think it will be a topic to paint for sure.  The visit was great and I am so excited to discuss the mural project with the artists on Sunday.  I think it will be an interesting project to get so many voices into one space and have it work well visually.   I can’t wait to start!  

In the afternoon, we went on a tour of the city.  I was most taken by two things..one, just how close to the city dunes form and two, the fish market and beach.  We visited late afternoon when the boats were returning with their catch.  I am always in awe of the strength it takes to move one of those boats.  The beach was crowded..and many squashed fish were strewn about the sand, keeping us all on our toes---literally.  It was a fun outing.  Check out my photos!

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow we are bringing all the art supplies to the museum to set up the space to work.  I will also meet with the artists and Ami, the woman who has been coordinating this program with the Embassy and the artists.  They have requested I meet with them prior to the start of the workshop.  I have no idea what we will talk about tomorrow but I will be happy to meet them.  It is starting to feel real..this art workshop.  I am anxious to begin so that the butterflies will go away.  Perhaps tomorrow will calm my nerves.  Inshallah..

I promise I will not write this blog like I am reporting every minute of my day.  Sorry these are a little stiff…I am hoping they will get better 

                        

Waiting in Paris..

Almost there!!!!!!!!  I have actually managed to get myself to Paris.  I am now waiting for my plane to Nouakchott.   I have three huge suitcases and two boxes full of art materials checked all the way through and I just pray they all arrive untouched.  Don't ask why I am carrying it all there.  I am actually not sure of the reason myself.  But hey, its all part of the experience.  I know this trip is going to be allllll about flexibility and adapting quickly.  We even had to have someone (Chris and Nitza) drive to Dakar, Senegal to purchase paint...a lot of paint.  You see, oil paint was not available in Mauritania.   Amazing how resourceful one can be though.  I do plan on finding local materials to use during this month, out of curiosity but also because it will be an interesting part of the experience to learn what materials artists are using there.

So..I feel..very excited.  I also feel a bit nervous..but I know that as soon as I arrive everything will start to feel right.  I am no stranger to West Africa, but Mauritania is completely new to me.  Since I haven't explained exactly what I will be doing there, here is a short description of the program: To celebrate 50 years of friendship between the U.S. and Mauritania through an art program that brings together Mauritanian artists and..me!  I will lead drawing and painting workshops for two and a half weeks with 10 artists in the morning and 10 in the afternoon.  Three hours for each group.  At the end, we will all put up the show and exhibit our work together at the National Museum.  We will have an opening to celebrate.  Also during the four weeks, we will paint a mural somewhere in the city.  And..I believe there will be a day to visit a Mauritanian school and do a project there as well.  Lots to do this month...I look forward to sharing my thoughts, pictures of the city, desert, people, artists, etc. with all of you.  I love Africa...and I feel truly blessed to have this wonderful opportunity.  And thank you in advance for your patience because I am a brand new blogger..I will post when I get there!  bye for now..