The Creativez Meetup, Jan 29 2012 @ iHub

Are you a  Creative,ArtyCulturalist, Techie or Innovator? The First Creativez Meetup 2012 kicks off at the iHub, 4th floor at Bishop Magua Centre on Sunday January 29th from 2.00-5.30pm.

The speakers – Ceo of Brand Kenya Mary Kimonye and Ceo of Brainwave Communications (a leading visual arts company) Rio Alves will be sharing their various experiences and tips on “The Business of Creativity”

If you want to find out how to position yourself as a Kenyan Brand? What sort of support if possible we can can expect from Brand Kenya? At what stage should we review businesses and figure out whats working and change models? Global avenues for positioning yourselves not just as visual artists but as a creative entity etc, Intellectual property rights etc- you DONT want to miss this!

For More information or to RSVP for this Free event email TheCreativez@gbs.co.ke or tweet @TheCreativez

Artist Presentation by Nadia Kisseleva, Jan 24 2012 @ Kuona Trust

An Artist Presentation by Nadia Kisseleva – Tuesday 24th January 2012 at 2:30pm at Kuona Trust

Nadia Kisseleva moved to Kenya in 1980. She organized a number of solo exhibitions and was an active participant in numerous group shows. She also opened an art school ‘Nairobi School of Fine Art School and was one of organisers of ‘Artforce’ group of artists, which held several exhibitions at FFC and British Council.

After 16 years Nadia moved to the UK with her family and continued to exhibit and develop her practise. In 2006 she successfully graduated from Wimbledon College of Art (University of Art, London) and continued to study as writer and teacher.
She was a member of prestigious Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) and an active participant in The Birmingham Art Circle. In the year 2003 one of her works ‘Lost Ship’ received RBSA price for the most outstanding and innovative painting of the year.

Nadia will talk about different influences on her work, which will include three main periods in her life:
1. Influence of Russian academic school and significance of drawing in her work.
2. The change in the colour pallet and creation of dramatic contrasts in her paintings under the direct influence of Kenyan environment.
3. Development of artistic consciousness and focus on project based work as an outcome of her studies in the UK.

MIHI: fashion meets photography, Jan 29 2012 @ Alfajiris

Mihi is a concept by zureya B, Ankara Vintage and Oderophotoz for a monthly event that aims to bring a new twist in the relationship between fashion and photography.  Mihi brings you an interactive session which intends to bridge the gap between designers, photographers and their clients.
Mihi- is Latin for “me”. The name was chosen because we believe in individuality not only in terms of our work , but also that of our clients.
This event is the brain child of two design houses and an artistic photographer.

Designer pieces and artistic photography will be available at discounted prices
GATE ENTRY: KSH250 (Advance available for ksh200 until 27January contact: 0711205520)

Note: Call 0727702713/0720172293 or 0736709145 to for RSVP, LIMITED SPACE FOR 200 GUESTS

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/298984753480517/

Free Download: A dollar a day – An African music collaboration

A dollar a day is a wonderful 18 track album produced by Kenya’s South African based Akili Blaq. The project was overseen by Kenyan artist/activist Muki Garang, founder or founder of Maisha yetu (Arts and culture ngo). The music in the album is prominent with a mixture of cultures from East,west  and South Africa, with innovations in contemporary Hip-hop, a fusion of Setswana and Swahili.  The content in the musical compilation is not isolated to the youth but also accommodates the wider African society. It covers topics such as; Civil strife, The Malema effect,Love, HIV and Aids, Xenophobia, land reform policy and ethnicity.

This project involves renown artists from across the continent: Mpho ya Badimo(Motswedini fm,Mafikeng), Lerato Mosimane (formerly of BOP Tv), Apu, TLS, Relevant source(SA), Angell Nthoi (Botswana),Bra Sam Bass (Zimbabwe) Ngozi Chukura (Botswana),Omodada (Nigeria) and Kenya’s Akili Blaq who doubles as a rap artist.

Lastly the album contains interviews with policy makers and stakeholders from the post apartheid region mainly Sylvia Liabile (Chair person of South African Business committee on Hiv and AIDs).

The album was produced during the month of December 2011 at Dextraw studios in Mahikeng,Northwest province, South Africa

Download the complete album and find out more about the project on Maisha Yetu’s website: http://maishayetu.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/a-dollar-a-day/

TEDxBraeburnSchools, Jan 21 2012 @ Braeburn School, Gitanga Road, Lavington

What? Every Saturday (except the last Saturday of the month) we will be showing two videos of talks from the renowned TED conferences followed by a casual discussion. TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to give the talk of their lifetimes in 18 minutes.  In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

This Weeks Theme: A New Approach to Solving some of the World’s Problems

Talks Featured:

Noreena Hertz: How to use experts — and when not to
 R.A. Mashelkar: Breakthrough designs for ultra-low-cost products

Hosted by: Andrew Mutua

For more information email: Farida_sher@yahoo.co.uk; irfan@whiterose.co.ke; salim_keshavjee@yahoo.com;

Call for Artworks, until Jan 27 2012 @ The GoDown

The GoDown is calling for artworks from visual artists based in Nairobi for the annual Manjano competition. The exhibition is running under the theme “Nairobi”. The works should be submitted under the categories of practicing and student artists with cash prizes being awarded for the top 3 positions in each category. Deadline for submission of works is 27th January 2012. The Exhibition will open at the Village Market  on 16th February 2012 and run until the 26th of February.

Artists’ expressions in paintings, sculptures and mixed media are invited on the theme “Nairobi” for the annual Manjano Exhibition. The theme aims to draw out artistic expression that explores the diverse aspects the city of Nairobi – its people, the city environs and urbanscapes, the colours, textures and moods of Nairobi, the activities and lifestyles of its inhabitants, feelings the city evokes, etc. Here are the rules for the submissions:

1. A maximum of 2 pieces of work may submitted for selection in the Manjano Exhibition
2. The works should have been executed within the course of last year (i.e. since January 2011 and not any earlier).
3. Works may be submitted under any of the following 2 categories: Student or Practicing Artist.
4. Selected works will hang in the Manjano Exhibition and shall be judged. Cash prizes will be awarded for the top 3 positions in each category.
5. Deadline for submission of works is January 27 2012. Works should be submitted at the GoDown Arts Centre, Dunga Rd, next to Giro Bank.

Manjano is organized under the auspices of the GoDown Arts Centre. For further enquiries contact:
Manjano Committee c/o Lima Mbai 555227, 555770
Email: limambai@thegodownartscentre.com
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