The art is in the air

Can I say, I feel like Margaret and I are really so lucky to be doing this work here in Kenya. We looked at each other today at the end of our day with the thought, it is almost over. It is almost done, a third year complete.

Well, we went downtown (which is where you go to buy art supplies) at Sarat Center to get more nice paper at the Text Book Centre. Due to when our classes take place, we have been in constant commuter traffic and it is not fun at all. It has been really hard and sometime we think we might be late for our classes but we always pull it off. Today when I got to class, I just continued to watch the form 4 class unfold even more than yesterday. I asked today why it took me to tell them to go out side of the line, be a little uncomfortable, do things in your art that you have never done and they gave a very clear answer. One, the work that they have seen over the times that we have shown them mostly, not totally, were pictures that were recognizable as a content of some sort. Even the Cubism, etc. They also thought there work had to be recognizable by others and tell a story and did not necessarily see it as a story that you get to see when you look at art. They seem like they have been freed....The art that they are making and creating is over the top amazing....it makes me proud and they are feeling free to be in their art. In my form 4 class today we moved past Classical music to Michael Jackson and Pop and they loved it. They danced, the laughed and all while they intensely did the art that they are so passionate about.

Surprisingly, my form 2 class came early and wanted to start right away, so I set them up in another room. They are very independent and they love to do their work. They are very connected to their work and they seem so content to repeat and repeat and repeat which is really what helps artist become more skilled and then give them freedom and watch out.

Margaret's classes are robust and creative. The form 3 class are using colors and forms and shapes and scenes that are just beautiful. You would so enjoy them. She has been with this class three years and she has watched them go from rowdy freshman to maturing Juniors....They still have one more year and they will continue to mature. Margaret so handles their idiosyncrysies and they respond to her tone and control of the class. The difference between form 3 and 4 is the real maturity that happens in a year. It is visible. My guys can be alone and focused, form 3 need to be lead still and Margaret has brought up a good set of students.

Her form 1 class is a very different temperament and they have really gotten the drawing bug and have demonstrated the most still in all our classes yet for drawing. They got it, they like, they want it and they continue to flourish. There portraits and faces and shadings are amazing. In all our classes, we never saw this. They also hang on her every word.

After class we went to Kouna Trust for Cyrus Kabiru's exhibit called C-stunners which is an exhibit of eye glasses made into art. Once I get the write up in email, I will share it, there wa wonderful inspiration for this art. amazing. We each had bought a pair of glasses as art and they are so cool. We also met the head of the Kouna Trust, Danda Jaroljmek. She was engaged by the art of our students, the partnership of the trust with us and the potential of coming to meet us and others in the US. She would like to find a way to engage the students of St. Al's regularly. It was just wonderful to also be meeting the arts community in Nairobi. We also bought art from and visited with Fred Abuga, another great artist we met at Kouna Trust. All the people there are so nice and gracious and engaging and well, just good people to know.

Tomorrow is our last day of class and then Friday is celebration day. We give out certificates, we eat ginger snaps, drink soda and talk about our art. The difference this time, is the head of School programs, Thom, from the Kouna Trust is going to come visit us with a Isaac Miriri, free lance art correspondent to see the work of our students. They will be so excited.

Hope all is well, thanks for following us.

Charles and Margaret