Photo Exhibition: A Million Shillings-Escape from Somalia, Apr. 15-May 15 2011 @ National Museum

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UPDATED

A Photo Exhibition by Alixandra Fazzina,

Dates: April 15-May 15, 2011
Venue: Nairobi National Museum
Time: 8:30am to 5:30pm. Daily
Entrance: Museum rates apply.

Across the horn of Africa, war, abuse and poverty make millions miserable and drive thousands to attempt to flee. With land borders cut off or closed, and surrounded by conflict on all sides, one of the only means of escape is by sea.

The exhibition follows the journey of desperate emigrants, or tahrib, to their embarkation points with smugglers on the coast of Somalia, on a perilous voyage across the Gulf of Aden, and onward in the search for a better life. The cost is just $ 50, or one million Somali Shillings. With a one in twenty chance of not making it to the other side alive, it is a price they must risk their lives for. Even then, it is a journey which will remain unfinished.

Biography
Alixandra Fazzina’s Photography focuses on under-reported conflict and the often forgotten humanitarian consequences of war. Studying Fine Art, She began her career as a war artist in Bosnia. Since then she has worked independently as a photojournalist throughout Eastern Europe, Africa, The Middle East & Asia. Her reportages have been widely published in the British and International press including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and Observer, The Telegraph and The Independent as well as TIME, Newsweek, The New York Times and Stern. She works regularly with UN agencies and NGO’s such as MSF, Concern, Oxfam, Save The Children and Human Rights Watch, to document their work and produce advocacy campaigns.

Alixandra Fazzina worked over a period of two years to chronicle the exodus of migrants and refugees from Somalia to the Arab Peninsula. The resulting book ‘A Million Shillings-Escape from Somalia’ was published by Trolley in 2010. Foe her work in Somalia, she was a finalist in CARE Award for Humanitarian Reportage and W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography and was last year recognized as the winner of the UNCHR Nansen Refugee Award for her striking coverage of the devastating human consequences of war.

Currently based in Pakistan, Alixandra Fazzina is a Member of NOOR Images, an international Photo agency whose mission is to contribute to a growing understanding of the world by producing independent in-depth visual reports.

PS: Alixandra Fazzina’s book: ‘A Million Shillings-Escape from Somalia’ is displayed at the exhibition.

Art Exhibit: Wanyu Brush, Sane Wadu & Jak Katarikawe, Apr 16 – May 8 2011 @ Gallery Watatu

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Gallery Watatu is revived, rejuvenated, and ready to welcome you to an inspiring exhibition that will thrill art appreciators and collectors alike. Featuring new works by three of East Africa’s most renowned artists, Wanyu Brush, Jak Katarikawe, and Sane Wadu, this exhibition responds to the post-election violence in Kenya and is a must-see for the local and international art community. Centrally located in the hub of Nairobi’s downtown core, the longest-standing art gallery in East Africa invites you to explore the artistic talents thriving in the region.
WATATU IS BACK!

Exhibition Dates: April 16th – May 8th
Location: Gallery Watatu
Standard Street, Lonrho House, Ground Floor

Concert/exbition: THE NAKED TRUTH IS… Apr. 21 2011 @ Talisman Restaurant

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THE NAKED TRUTH IS… Pre album listening party/ art exhibition

ART and MUSIC.

A combination of art and Music.
As I play songs off the new album, take your time to scope the works of some of my favorite artists. Jacob Ezigbo Wachira and Eugene Cooke.

…Their works will be displayed for the next 2 weeks and available for purchase.

Two great artists from Two different parts of the world come together to create master pieces. Eugene Alala straight from Atlanta Georgia:

Harmony, balance, discipline and precision are the fundamentals of art. Over 20 years of creativity give birth to every line and brush stroke in Gebsite Visions. Eugene’s art is primarily figurative work. With the belief that beautiful images of ourselves help to encourage personal growth and self esteem, the focus of the work over the last ten years evolved into presenting images of people that promote and encourage higher consciousness. What this looks like is images of people in nature, in meditation and service.

Eugene’s first trip to Kenya in 2007, would prove to be beneficial to his creativity, as its landscape has proven to be a major influence in the artwork since his return. While in Kenya he had the opportunity to collaborate with artist Jacob Wachira Ezigbo and was able to leave a series of work in Kenya with film-maker Wanuri Kahiu. He’s back with more to show and give.

And Kenyan based Jacob Wachira

Born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1975, Jacob Njoroge Wachira cannot recall a time he was not drawing or painting. One of his favorite things to do was to create brightly colored murals on the sides of the houses in Mathare. Mathare is a gigantic slum in Nairobi where Jacob was born and spent his childhood. Jacob has traveled about the world yet he has chosen to return to Mathare where his lives today. Jacob adopted the name Ezigbo (ezigbo- meaning the good one from the Ibo community of Nigeria) he signs all of his painting Jacob W. Ezigbo.
When asked were his artistic inspiration comes from, Ezigbo says: My paintings are the only voice which I have, and which I sometimes hide behind, as people who live in Mathare don’t really have a voice. What we have is poverty; we lack health care, education and other basic amenities. We are at the bottom of the food chain; this means that many people here still dye of treatable sicknesses such as Malaria, TB, and Typhoid as well as preventable sickness such as HIV/Aids. Police brutality, ethnic and political violence and corruption is the norm here. Many officials, who are supposed to keep the peace and protect the people, actually prey on the ignorance and lack of education in the area. There is never a lack of inspiration to paint!

ENTRY FREE

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Exhibition: The Hadaf International Somalia Cartoon Exhibition, Apr. 2-30 2011 @ The GoDown Arts Centre

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The Association of East African Cartoonists (KATUNI) wishes to invite you to the launch of the HADAF International Somalia Cartoon Exhibition.

Opening: April 2, 2011
Venue: The GoDown Arts Centre
Location: Dunga Road, Industrial Area
Time: 2-5pm
Entry: Free
Exhibition Runs: April 2-30, 2011
Open: Monday-Saturday
Time: 9am-5pm

H.E. Mohamed Ali Nur, Ambassador of the Somali Republic will be the Guest of Honour and will officially launch the exhibition.

During the launch, an expert panel will discuss the theme: The search for peace in Somalia: Achievements and Challenges and take questions from the audience.
A short documentary filmed in Mogadishu will also be screened.

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Exhibition: Ziba Ufa (Crack Seal), Mar. 29-Apr. 12 2011 @ Kuona Trust

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Exhibition Opening: March 29, 2011
Venue: Kuona Trust
Location: Likoni Close, Likoni Lane, Off Dennis Pritt Road
Time: 6pm
Exhibition Runs: March 29-April 12 2011
Entry: Free

‘Ziba Ufa’ is a project and experiment aimed at encouraging the use of the gallery, in particular the walls, as alternative surface for artistic expression. This is meant to challenge not only the artists’ individual processes, but also the audiences’ perception/stereotypes as to exhibition spaces and their function.

Humanity exists within and around walls; vertical manmade surfaces whose sole purpose is to keep the desirable contained, out of reach of the undesirable and vice versa. This duality is constantly applied in the illustration of social/human issues.

The agreed point of departure, which may act as a loose theme, is for each of the participating artist to express their understanding of walls. This is within the context of individual artistic practice.

The participating artists are: Dennis Muraguri, Sidney Magongo, Beatrice Wanjiku, Andrew Njoroge, Michael Soi and Gor Soudan (Writer).

The Project kicked off on the March 14, 2011 and the idea was initiated by Peterson Kamwathi.

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Photo Exhibition: CinemArena, Mar. 26-30, 2011 @ Italian Institute of Culture

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The Italian Development Cooperation Office Nairobi together with the Ministry of Information and Communications-Department of Information are delighted to share with you the experience of previous phases of “CinemArena”.

Dates: March 26-30, 2011
Venue: Italian Institute of Culture (Grenadier Tower – 6th floor, Woodvale Close – Westlands)
Opening times: Weekdays from 10am to 4pm – Saturday from 11am to 2pm – Closed on Sunday
Entry: Free
Required: Confirm your presence (4451266 / 7)