The Aba House kids had a show of their work at the Phoenix Gallery in NYC.
We have posted a few photos of the opening at http://picasaweb.google.com/abatours
We'd like to thank everyone who joined us for the opening.
If you couldn't attend, but would like to make a purchase, please go to http://culturalcollaborative.ecarter.com
All proceeds from sales are used to pay school related expenses for the Aba House kids in Ghana.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Recycle Ghana
We are happy to announce RECYCLE GHANA at the Phoenix Gallery in New York City.
The Aba House children worked all summer to prepare for this exhibition. Although they will not be there in person, they will be there in spirit.
On view will be examples of paper made from sugar cane leaves, adinkra stamping,books, cards, holiday ornaments and much more.
All profits from sales are used to pay school related expenses.
I will be at the opening on Nov. 1 from 6-8 p.m. and would happy to meet you, so if you're in the NYC area, please stop by.
Phoenix Gallery
210 11th Ave. at 25th St.
NYC
Oct. 29-Nov.22, 2008
The Aba House children worked all summer to prepare for this exhibition. Although they will not be there in person, they will be there in spirit.
On view will be examples of paper made from sugar cane leaves, adinkra stamping,books, cards, holiday ornaments and much more.
All profits from sales are used to pay school related expenses.
I will be at the opening on Nov. 1 from 6-8 p.m. and would happy to meet you, so if you're in the NYC area, please stop by.
Phoenix Gallery
210 11th Ave. at 25th St.
NYC
Oct. 29-Nov.22, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Summer newsletter 2008
As I write this President Kufour is receiving a 21 gun salute in Washington, DC. Last Feb. his friend George Bush visited Ghana. I was in Ghana then and am in the States now. I wonder if they're timing thier visits with mine.
Aba House is quiet now. In July we had a full house of tourists, teachers, artists and assorted visitors. One of our visitors was a BBC reporter who was impressed with our program. Another visitor, a teacher, wrote a blog: surdnaghana.blogspot.com
In August our volunteer from Australia returned and we got down to some serious book and papermaking. We also had a volunteer from Swarthmore College help for a few weeks.
The Aba House kids came everyday, a few very early to sweep the yard. Dividing into groups, more or less by age, they made tons of paper, blank books, calendars, diaries and greeting cards.
The kids are always enthusiastic, but the incentive this time was preparing for their first NYC show. They are very proud of themselves and rightly so.
The show will be at the Phoenix Gallery in November, 2008. We are working on an invitation and will be sending it soon. If you're in the NY area, please come and say hello.
One of our volunteers will be selling our books in Hawaii next month at the Friends of Dard Hunter Conference.
We have been invited to participate in a world wide paper map to be assembled in Taiwan. There are 30 countries represented. Guess which one we represent....I'll write more about this project in a followup post.
We had a very generous donation of 3 computers, so in our next session we'll do some creative writing and illustrating.
There are times when I scratch my mind, as a Ghanaian once said to me, about customs in Ghana. There really is no rhyme or reason to some of them. Now a Ghanaian has writen a book that doesn't necessarily explain them, but it makes for amusing reading. The book is "The Imported Ghanaian" and her blog is http://tigb.blogspot.com
We are working on our plans for 2009, so be in touch if you want to come to Ghana. We are also considering a trip to FESPAC, a film festival in Burkina Faso at the end of Feb. Interested?
We like to hear from people and are always open to collaborations.
I'll close for now with my favorite quote: Trust in God, but tie your camel well.
Aba
Aba House is quiet now. In July we had a full house of tourists, teachers, artists and assorted visitors. One of our visitors was a BBC reporter who was impressed with our program. Another visitor, a teacher, wrote a blog: surdnaghana.blogspot.com
In August our volunteer from Australia returned and we got down to some serious book and papermaking. We also had a volunteer from Swarthmore College help for a few weeks.
The Aba House kids came everyday, a few very early to sweep the yard. Dividing into groups, more or less by age, they made tons of paper, blank books, calendars, diaries and greeting cards.
The kids are always enthusiastic, but the incentive this time was preparing for their first NYC show. They are very proud of themselves and rightly so.
The show will be at the Phoenix Gallery in November, 2008. We are working on an invitation and will be sending it soon. If you're in the NY area, please come and say hello.
One of our volunteers will be selling our books in Hawaii next month at the Friends of Dard Hunter Conference.
We have been invited to participate in a world wide paper map to be assembled in Taiwan. There are 30 countries represented. Guess which one we represent....I'll write more about this project in a followup post.
We had a very generous donation of 3 computers, so in our next session we'll do some creative writing and illustrating.
There are times when I scratch my mind, as a Ghanaian once said to me, about customs in Ghana. There really is no rhyme or reason to some of them. Now a Ghanaian has writen a book that doesn't necessarily explain them, but it makes for amusing reading. The book is "The Imported Ghanaian" and her blog is http://tigb.blogspot.com
We are working on our plans for 2009, so be in touch if you want to come to Ghana. We are also considering a trip to FESPAC, a film festival in Burkina Faso at the end of Feb. Interested?
We like to hear from people and are always open to collaborations.
I'll close for now with my favorite quote: Trust in God, but tie your camel well.
Aba
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Bolgatanga
Bolgatanga is in Northern Ghana very close to the border with Burkina Faso.
The beautiful melon shaped baskets seen all over are called Bolga baskets and ,you guessed it, are made in Bolgatanga.
We are selling a DVD of the baskets being made in a womans cooperative. The DVD also shows music and dance from Bolga. This is the area that is known for the unique designs painted on mud houses and the woman work surrounded by these inspiring motifs.
The cost of the DVD is $18.00 ( this includes shipping in the USA) and can be ordered from aba@culturalcollaborative.org
Proceeds from sales are given to the basketmakers.
You can read about the women at www.africancraft.com on the "craftsmen page". Look for Sherigu Atie-Taaba Woman's Association
The beautiful melon shaped baskets seen all over are called Bolga baskets and ,you guessed it, are made in Bolgatanga.
We are selling a DVD of the baskets being made in a womans cooperative. The DVD also shows music and dance from Bolga. This is the area that is known for the unique designs painted on mud houses and the woman work surrounded by these inspiring motifs.
The cost of the DVD is $18.00 ( this includes shipping in the USA) and can be ordered from aba@culturalcollaborative.org
Proceeds from sales are given to the basketmakers.
You can read about the women at www.africancraft.com on the "craftsmen page". Look for Sherigu Atie-Taaba Woman's Association
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Fundraising
Not always the most fun part of the job, it's necessary. We did have fun and great success at one of our fundraisers. Go to www.rainydaymagazine.com and find the archives for May 25.
On a Friday in June , the shop called Ten Thousand Villages in Brookline, MA made us their non-profit de jour and donated 15% of sales to us during a 4 hour period in the afternoon.
We have also had in kind donations of a camera, 2 computers, a printer and household items.
We might just get everything to Ghana because our volunteers are each taking a suitcase for us.
We've also had a solar cooker donated and will use it this summer to cook the sugarcane leaves for the bookmaking. Reports on that will be in our next newsletter.
On a Friday in June , the shop called Ten Thousand Villages in Brookline, MA made us their non-profit de jour and donated 15% of sales to us during a 4 hour period in the afternoon.
We have also had in kind donations of a camera, 2 computers, a printer and household items.
We might just get everything to Ghana because our volunteers are each taking a suitcase for us.
We've also had a solar cooker donated and will use it this summer to cook the sugarcane leaves for the bookmaking. Reports on that will be in our next newsletter.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Buying shoes
We had some money left over from a donation and asked the kids how we should spend it. They all wanted shoes. Buying shoes in Ghana, like everything else there, is a challenging experience.But in the end, everyone was happy. One of the 7 year olds skipped out of the yard with his new shoes and said, "I'm going to sleep with them under my pillow."
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
more about beads
There is definately an interest in Krobo beads.
The June 2008 issue of BEADSTYLE MAGAZINE has a project that is done with recycled glass buttons - by the way, they mention Cross Cultural Collaborative.
And if you want to see a picture of Cedi, the beadmaker, and a brief bio, go to:
www.bullseyeglass.com/glassforlife
And if you get the urge to buy Krobo beads or buttons, we can sell them to you!
The June 2008 issue of BEADSTYLE MAGAZINE has a project that is done with recycled glass buttons - by the way, they mention Cross Cultural Collaborative.
And if you want to see a picture of Cedi, the beadmaker, and a brief bio, go to:
www.bullseyeglass.com/glassforlife
And if you get the urge to buy Krobo beads or buttons, we can sell them to you!
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