Celebration Day; Our last day with the Artists

As always, this is a great and hard day and today was no different except it just feels more fantastic each year.

We got to the school early so to meet with the Principal Beatrice to have our closing meeting and discussed the possibility of Kuona Trust coming monthly and providing like a art "In session" for the students, talked about storing the art supplies, a debrief and a new idea, The Graduate Institute. Beatrice continually is amazed at the work of the students and really demonstrates her excitement and support. She gives us so much trust, support and latitude to make this all happen. The ingredients that make this a success are all the support and welcoming of us and us asking what is OK to do and not to do. This has been wonderful.

We each set up our rooms for celebration and the form 3 and 4 were ready to celebrate, be rewarded and look at art. We each had hung art and looked at the pieces with our students and it just seemed so awkward to hear them so maturely talk of the art, its meaning, what they feel like with it and how they approach it. They have become truly immersed in their art and it makes both Margaret and I pleased to see that this is part of who they are now. Today, Thom Ogonga of Kuona Trust came and took in the class and it was so wonderful to see his reaction to the students. He really loves working with students and art so it is so appropriate that not only as an artist but as part of the administration of the Kouna Trust, this is his role. The students received their certificates with pride, had their soda, ginger snaps and cookies and milled around, danced to music, sang to me, loved on Margaret, said beautiful things to us and made us feel like we had been over paid for lack of a better term from them. We get so much from this.

My form 2 class, came to the form 4 class so they could get their supplies and art to prepare for celebration. They hung their work and waited patiently for their time of celebration and we looked at their art, gave out certificates, had snacks and celebrated. The interesting thing is that they have 2 more years and they are already on this great path and direction that will mean that as they develop, they will continue to hone their skill, express themselves and by doing so, become even greater artists. They were happy and excited and said they could not wait to see me next year.

Prior to the celebration of form 1 celebration, Margaret had to practically kick out the form 3's since she had her celebration in the same room. The form 1 class who seems like a higher caliber student at that age, are ready to be truly the next big artists of St. Al's. Although my form 4 class is really talented, I cannot wait to see what Margaret's' form 1 class will be producing in three more years.

Form 3 made Margaret a video which I am sure she is watching as I am writing this, we each got wonderful well wishes from our students, a few cards and excitement of what they have accomplished and what is to come.

All in all, a day of absolute perfection. At the end of the day, we went to meet Anne Wangari at the Norfork Hotel for a celebratory dinner. This is the original colonial establishment of Kenya and has recently been redone. It was absolutely beautiful and a nice way to end this years visit. Tomorrow, we leave late in the evening and will have a day of fun. We will take the Georgetown Grad Students to see the elephants at Sheldrick. This is an elephant rescue that is so much fun. All should see. We will do what ever last minute running around we need to do before we depart Nairobi.

As I reflect on today, I just realize that it continues to become more apart of our lives and reality that we are in Kenya as part of who we are. As I say often, I do not think Margaret and I would never have imagined that our art backgrounds would ever lead us to making a difference in Kenya. I am so glad it has. It has made a difference in us and in the smart, beautiful and important artists that we are so lucky to have as part of our lives.

There may be one last post trip entry and surely more photos. Thank you for being with us on this trip and indulging us by reading these blog entries. Knowing that so many of you share our interest and passion is enough to help spur us on stateside as well as here in Nairobi. As I type this Ghana is winning their match and I can hear households across the valley cheering. Just imagine the impact it would have on Africa if Ghana won the world cup. Today it was equated to Obama winning the presidency for the Kenyan People.

Much Gratitude and look forward to seeing you soon,

Charles and Margaret