Art Aids Art

Art Aids Art 60-second Poll: What are your favorite new African art & handcrafts?

2011-08-31T23:26:00.000-07:00

Art Aids Art's supporters continuously give us great feedback about the work that we source from southern African artisans, providing a livelihood to families who are lifting themselves out of poverty.

With that in mind, we ask you to take 60 seconds to choose your favorites (up to 10) from our new arrivals. Your input will help us to provide feedback to the artists and focus our marketing for the 2011 holiday season.

To thank you for your effort, you will be entered into a drawing for $25 in credit at LovingAfrica.com, our online store. The drawing will be held on September 21, so take a minute now to give your input.

To register for the drawing, please leave your full name by clicking the comments link below on the right (if you know that we already have your email address), or simply email us to say that you voted. Thank you!

Jungle Justice in Cape Town, South Africa: Art, Education & Engagement

2011-05-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Jungle Justice in Cape Town, South Africa: Art, Education & Engagement

Art Aids Art’s annual service learning trip to Cape Town combines education, volunteering and socially conscious tourism. In March, Jungle Justice 2011 featured the participation of Lesley College students and professors for a course entitled "Art Therapy, Empowerment and Community in South Africa." The week emphasized methods for supporting literacy and self-expression that are fundamental to development and wellbeing.

Here are highlights from two days during this immersive week.

Day 1

Jungle Justice participants joined mothers from Art Aids Art’s Women’s Skills Program for activities at eKhaya eKasi Center in Khayelitsha.

The morning began with tours of the center, including an opportunity to shop at the Art Boutique, where the variety of local handcrafts, especially those made from recycled and repurposed materials, has greatly expanded.

Pictured below, eKhaya eKasi’s new manager, Busisiwe Dalingozi, worked the register while handmade Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu dolls eagerly watched. Welcome, Busi!

Lunch offered informal time for getting to know each other…

…and then the intensive work began. Sheet music was distributed and the Jungle Justice group was given a crash course in singing the South African National Anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika. The group overcame the significant linguistic challenge of pronouncing Xhosa words. Thanks to Tory DeYoung for this video clip.

Singing South African National Anthem

After the vocal workout, the group received an introduction to persona dolls, an effective tool for encouraging storytelling.

With dolls completed and stories shared, a children’s literacy activity followed, featuring call-and-response, song and dance (sorry, no photos… everyone was fully engaged!). By 3pm we were exhilarated and exhausted.

Day 2

The Jungle Justice group traveled to Philani Nutrition Center, also based in Khayelitsha, to work with young children and teachers.

Lesley College’s Nancy Jo Cardillo led three preschool classes through participatory movement and rhythm activities.

After sharing lunch with Philani teachers, Lesley’s Jane Richardson and local educator Gilly Barton conducted a teacher training workshop in the use of sand play, another means of stimulating self-reflection and expression, both verbal and nonverbal.

Teachers chose their characters and props from an extensive array of available resources…

…then carefully created scenarios in sand trays. The activity culminated with the sharing of stories developed through the process of sand play.

These two days represent just a sampling of the week’s activities, which included silkscreening with the Women’s Skills Project, visits to Robben Island, Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope, and more.

On the final day, the Women’s Skills Project presented the group with t-shirts featuring its very first silkscreen design as a token of appreciation.

The links below feature further documentation from Jungle Justice 2011. Thanks to Sarah Groh and Christine Jozitis for their insights, video and photos.

Diary of an Intern: Finding Ubuntu

Jungle Justice 2011 in Pictures

Jungle Justice 2012 is tentatively planned for next March. Let us know if you’re interested in joining us.

Photo credits: Christine Jozitis, Dorothy Garcia, Tom Harding

The Sands of Khayelitsha: A World AIDS Day Call-to-Action

2010-12-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

Gazing out the window at the Xhosa-orange glow of dawn, sand is the first thing I see. Overnight, battering winds deposited a half-inch layer on the balcony below my window. If I were one of the million residents of Khayelitsha, I wouldn’t be surprised. Sand finds its way onto – and into – everything here.

Ringed by jagged mountains, Khayelitsha is one of the townships on the Cape Flats, a windswept expanse to the east of Cape Town. During the Apartheid regime, the government forcibly relocated “non-white” South Africans to this inhospitable dune. Though democracy replaced Apartheid in 1994, the townships remain, built on an unsteady foundation.

It is World AIDS Day, December 1, 2009. I am the first guest at a newly-opened bed and breakfast located within eKhaya eKasi, an art and education center designed to create opportunities for the thousands of unemployed residents in the area. eKhaya eKasi also serves as an oasis to families impacted by HIV/AIDS; the disease seems to have touched every township dweller in some way, with infection rates above 30% for new mothers and as high as 40% for women aged 25-29. Yet because of the stigma surrounding AIDS, the topic often goes unspoken. This epidemic that kills 1,000 South Africans daily and infects 1,000 more is like a deadly ghoul lurking invisibly in shadow.

Running errands, I hope to see a coordinated media campaign akin to what I witnessed on World AIDS Day 2008, with newspaper headlines, publicity banners, AIDS-themed television episodes and even human rights t-shirts on department store employees. But I am left disappointed. The Cape Times covers business and politics as usual, and I pass the entire morning without seeing a single red ribbon. Can political and public attention spans be so short that AIDS cannot be the focus for a single day?

Discouraged, I take solace in the physical beauty of the Western Cape and marvel that the relentless winds have begun to make Baden Powell Road look Saharan as sand swallows up pavement.

In late afternoon, I return to eKhaya eKasi to help plug the center’s walls with expanding foam. Gusts have been so powerful that they somehow were able to blast vertically up narrow eight-foot corrugated channels, sprinkling sand into the multipurpose room like snow. Sweep the room and five minutes later it would need to be swept again.

As dusk falls, I leave Khayelitsha for the drive home. The winds are still howling. My attention wanders as I travel along Baden Powell Road and…WHAM. Striking a mound of sand, my little VW pitches and slides toward oncoming traffic…I frantically spin the wheel to avoid a collision and the car shoots back across the road, plowing into the dunes and rolling onto the beach.

Pinned in the car and hanging upside down from the seatbelt, with gas leaking onto the engine block, thoughts race through my head… Sand, the very same damn sand that I took the time to photograph in the afternoon. If only I had paid the same attention now.

Like the sands of Khayelitsha, AIDS is around us and among us. Let us not sweep it aside or ignore it. It reaches the young and the old. One in four Americans who become infected this year will be under 21 and an equal number will be over 50.

Though there has been progress towards finding a cure, we should not be distracted. Whether in California or Cape Town, each of us must remain focused on the most basic form of prevention -- educating our family, friends, colleagues and students about myths and realities involving HIV/AIDS.

For educational resources, click here.

Tom Harding is Executive Director of Art Aids Art, a nonprofit organization promoting education, wellbeing and sustainable economic development through the arts in South Africa and America.

Inspirational Polka Dots!

2010-11-28T21:40:00.000-08:00

WallCandy Arts just featured Art Aids Art in a recent blog entry. Here is a quick excerpt.

We’re proud that our removable wall decals have helped brighten up the Khayelitsha Art & Education Center and are not only making a decorative impact, but a pragmatic one as well. Our Chalkboard wall stickers are now serving an admirable classroom role, with the heights constantly being repositioned to serve both children and adults. And our festive Dottilicious wall stickers, a bubbly polka-dot palette of ice cream colors, dominate the walls at the art center.

Be sure to check out the entire article here! Thanks to WallCandy for the wall decals and for featuring Art Aids Art on their blog.

Twelve Determined Women – Skills Training A Success!

2010-11-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

We are still catching our breath from the most recent Jungle Justice Trip to South Africa, where Art Aids Arts programs are taking flight. In particular, the Women’s Skills Training Program at eKhaya eKasi Center in Khayelitsha has made tremendous progress.

Exploring design ideas

Led by Lulama Sihlabeni (front row left), the initial phase exceeded expectations. The program’s entire pilot group, comprised of unemployed mothers, completed training in fabric painting with 100% participation, an exceptional outcome.

eKhaya eKasi's pilot group for women's skills training

“With a program that does not pay a salary, but is instead based on long-term goals, you would normally lose some participants along the way,” Lulama noted. “This group was very committed and took to heart the idea that we are emphasizing -- creativity combined with marketable skills is something that can serve someone for a lifetime. I am very proud of these women for their determination.”

Xoliswa displays her first full-sized fabric painting

The second phase for these women will be silkscreening, while a second group of starts with fabric painting. We will keep you posted on progress, and provide more details and photos from the recent trip in the coming weeks.

P.S. The group recorded its first product sales during a recent tour group visit at eKhaya eKasi… and immediately decided to reinvest the profits into purchasing more materials for their next project. That’s forward thinking!

Distant Volunteer Makes a Difference

2010-08-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

Volunteers provide Art Aids Art's lifeblood, and every day we are thankful for the hundreds of resourceful individuals who have hosted beadwork parties, collected educational materials and donated services to support South African women and children.

When Tina Carrari moved from California to Italy, you might have figured that her volunteer work with Art Aids Art would come to an end. Instead, she took a selection of Art Aids Art's South African beadwork and artisan jewelry with her and and sought opportunities to market it overseas.

Tina (left) with Cathleen C. at Art Aids Art event -- Italy

Tina used her newly developed connections to have Art Aids Art's brochure translated into Italian. In the past two years, she has organized numerous house parties and community sales, generating several thousand dollars for South African artisans.

As if that weren't enough, Tina became a active member of AILO (American International League of Florence Onlus) and worked closely with the club's FAWCO (Federation of American Women's Club Overseas) representative, Jocelyn Fitzgerald, to submit a funding proposal on behalf of Art Aids Art.

Great news! The proposal submitted by Jocelyn has been awarded! The $4500 grant is being used to launch a new skills development program designed to create self-sufficiency through arts entrepreneurship.

Thank you, Tina, for reminding us about our power to make a difference... wherever we are!

Click here for information about hosting a beadwork party.

The Africa In Us All

2010-06-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

What a difference 5 years can make!

With the World Cup shining a spotlight on South Africa, Art Aids Art was proud to be featured on the cover of the June 3rd Pasadena Weekly.

Thanks to each and every supporter who has helped the organization to thrive... Keep spreading the word and having wonderful ideas!

To see the new website of eKhaya eKasi Art & Education Center (launched today!), visit capetownshiptour.com.

via Pasadena Weekly by Justin Chapman

Tucked behind a florist shop in Altadena, artists working in a one-room office have for more than a decade been reenergizing, educating and inspiring a small township just east of Cape Town, South Africa. And now, with the world’s most popular event — the FIFA World Cup — being held this month in South Africa, the nonprofit Arts Aids Art is poised to raise awareness like never before about that country from here in Altadena and Pasadena, which hosted the 1994 World Cup and hopes to hold another in 2018 or 2022.

Since 1999, Art Aids Art, co-founded by Altadenans and former Pacific Oaks College teachers Tom Harding and Dorothy Yumi Garcia, has transformed the township of Khayelitsha, populated by thousands of rural migrants struggling to overcome poverty, substandard housing, high unemployment, relentless crime and ever-increasing rates of HIV infection, to say nothing of a drastic lack of schools and social services.

After visiting South Africa in 1999, hearing countless heartbreaking stories and seeing families barely surviving, Garcia and Harding organized literacy workshops in Khayelitsha, drawing on their backgrounds at Pacific Oaks. They began collecting what teachers and parents said they needed the most: multicultural children’s books and black dolls.

“The problems in South Africa are overwhelming,” said the 42-year-old Harding. “We decided to work in one community and do as much as we can and create as much opportunity as we can in that community.”

“I do have a political ideology when I work with these women,” said Garcia, “and that is for them to have the same choices I do. I don’t have to have children if I don’t want to, and neither should they. In a country that has these complexities, you can’t look into the eyes of these women and say, ‘You can’t use condoms.’”

Garcia and Harding say they don’t have a romantic view of the work they do; they simply try to meet the needs of what people say they want.

In 2003, a retired school teacher in El Paso, Texas, decided to support their work with a donation from her retirement fund, which led to the formal foundation of Art Aids Art. In 2006, Art Aids Art purchased a property from a Khayelitsha artist using donations from Garcia’s friends and family.

Altadena architect R. Steven Lewis led the design of Art Aids Art’s multipurpose community center on their new property, strategically located in a residential area lacking social services and economic opportunities. Called eKhaya eKasi, or “Home in the ’Hood,” it opened on World AIDS Day in December 2008 and, according to Harding, serves as an oasis for families impacted by poverty and HIV/AIDS. People there were looking for skills and leadership. Garcia, who taught for more than 10 years at Pacific Oaks, and Harding, who taught early childhood development and conducted teacher training courses at the school from 1995 to 2000, learned very quickly that a little goes a long way. Harding said the situation illustrates the positive side of the adage, “Give them an inch and they’ll take a yard.”

“If you give them an inch of your energy and your knowledge, they’ll run with it for miles,” Harding said. “It’s just incredible to see so many who have so little and who could complain so much be so creative and work so hard.”

The center is a home for education programs of all kinds. It generates local income by combining an art boutique, café, and bed and breakfast to draw tourists into the community, which was generally avoided because of blight and crime. The café is named after the late Pasadena community activist and former Art Aids Art Board Member Judith Zitter, who died in 2008 at the age of 53. The ultimate goal for the center is to achieve sustainability and have it be locally run.

A new skills training program designed to develop independence and AIDS awareness for women, dubbed Women Averting AIDS, was launched at the center last month. Former Pasadenan Tina Carrari applied for a grant from the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas to fund the program. Formerly unemployed women who participate in the program get the opportunity to have their products sold at eKhaya eKasi’s art boutique.Their art will also be sold at home parties in Greater Pasadena, a technique that has served as the financial and moral lifeblood of Art Aids Art.

“In 2003, Art Aids Art began to transport artwork to America to give South African artists international exposure,” said Harding. “To keep overhead low, the first event was held at the Altadena home of Board Member Beverly Heath [wife of legendary jazz musician Albert “Tootie” Heath]. The response was tremendous and the entire stock sold in an hour. Several attendees offered to host their own house parties, and through word of mouth and volunteer support, a growing network of Art Aids Art supporters has been hosting parties ever since at homes, churches and community gatherings.”

More than 100 parties have taken place in dozens of American states, even in Florence, Italy. Local hosts have included All Saints Episcopal Church, United Nations Association of Pasadena, Vroman’s Bookstore, the Light Bringer Project, Caltech and Marshall Fundamental School, among many others.

Any individual, community organization, or faith community can host events that include multimedia presentations and fundraiser sales of beadwork, rtisan jewelry and wearable art handmade by South African women. The artists get paid upfront at fair trade prices and the profit made from sales in America is reinvested in Khayelitsha. In July, Art Aids Art will be wholesaling South African art for the first time at the L.A. Mart Gift Show. Meanwhile, the organization continues to raise awareness about South African issues here at home.

“We are developing a multi-disciplinary curriculum about contemporary South Africa and how the issues the country is facing are connected to our own communities,” said Harding. “The goal is to pilot this educational program in Pasadena area schools, connecting it to the city’s anti-Apartheid activism of the 1980s and 90s."

"While things are better, poverty is a song we all know,” said Garcia. “It’s not a good song.”

In that vein, Art Aids Art also leads service-learning trips to Cape Town called Jungle Justice excursions, giving anyone the opportunity to experience the cultural and scenic beauty of South Africa while participating in local service projects and helping out at eKhaya eKasi. The next trip is scheduled for September. Visit artaidsart.org for more information.

“No matter what skills you possess, you can go on one of these trips and impact lives in South Africa,” said Harding.

Heath’s grandson, Brook Barnes, said going to South Africa with Art Aids Art was a life-changing experience.

“The people there really embraced me,” he said. “I’ve never felt so at home. Helping the people of South Africa had to be one of the happiest moments of my life, and it is something I will remember forever.”

Garcia also stressed the life-changing nature of the Jungle Justice trips.

“We are all Africans,” she said. “Come with us and find Africa in you.”

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars: Must-see Los Angeles concert!

2010-05-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

Imagine living in a refugee camp, having escaped a violent civil war in your native country. Your home has been destroyed, your arm has been brutally hacked off, and you have lost touch with family and friends who have fled to parts unknown... that is, unless they've been killed. A musician, you form a bond with another kindred spirit in the camp...and as days pass, you meet another, and another. And then you are six. You play music to raise your spirits and provide comfort to those around you.

That musician living in a camp during Sierra Leone's civil war could hardly have imagined that within the next decade he would be featured in a documentary movie and on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and tour the world, sharing the stage with artists like Aerosmith and Angelique Kidjo. Such is the miraculous story of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, who come to Los Angeles for a special performance and album launch on May 12, spreading their message of peace.

Put on your dancing shoes and come out to support this remarkable band, who play a unique blend of afro, reggae, rhythm and blues, funk and soul.

The event is co-sponsored by Coalition for a Sustainable Africa (CSAfrica), a collaboration of non-profit organizations offering sustainable solutions for grass-roots initiatives to empower the people and communities of Africa. Art Aids Art is a proud member of CSAfrica.

Buy tickets for the event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102080336502103

Listen to music samples: http://refugeeallstars-audience.fm

See film clips and learn more about the documentary that tells their story: http://www.refugeeallstars.org

Reflections on Freedom Day: Education & Economic Development Much Needed

2010-04-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Today South Africa celebrates Freedom Day, the anniversary of the country's first democratic elections and the end of the oppressive Apartheid regime.

Sixteen years along as one of the world's youngest democracies, South Africa has made remarkable progress. It has a growing Black middle class, a stable government, millions of new government-built houses, continues to attract foreign investment, has hosted the world championships in cricket and rugby, and in less than 6 weeks will be the stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the planet's grandest sporting event.

However, for all the trappings of success, life has not changed much, or at all, for the majority of South Africans. Millions still live desperately poor in substandard housing and with little access to adequate health care and other services. The public education system faces a huge shortage of teachers and resources. AIDS claims 1,000 lives daily and violence against women, too, is at epidemic proportions.

It is a cruel irony that, as Freedom Day festivities proceed, some of the poorest South Africans are being forcibly relocated, a practice that was commonplace during Apartheid. In preparation for the World Cup, certain shanty towns that are "inconveniently situated" (in the eyes of event organizers) have been demolished and their residents displaced. You can learn more about the plight of these shackdwellers at DearMandela.com.

Yet at Art Aids Art we are not trying to promote a gloom and doom outlook about South Africa's future. The country's recent history and progress remain nothing short of a miracle. Positive change, however, will continue only with a steadfast and relentless commitment to the improvement of educational and sustainable economic opportunities for every South African citizen.

Learn more about how you can participate in South Africa's ongoing rebirth.

Photo 1: Wikipedia

Photo 2: BBC

AIDS Awareness Through Footwear: Rockin' Red Pumps!

2010-04-16T01:04:00.000-07:00

On March 10, Art Aids Art joined The Red Pump Project and hundreds of activists and bloggers nationwide to promote National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. In support of the cause, members of the Art Aids Art family across the country sported their favorite red footwear.

Response was tremendous!... and we need to continue our activism throughout the year. Art Aids Art urges you to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by educating yourself and your friends and family about AIDS facts, myths, human rights issues, and how to stay safe.

Here are some educational resources:

The Body

The Well Project

Black AIDS Institute

Latino Commission on AIDS

AIDS Portal

Now it's time for an eyeful of fabulous red shoes. Special thanks to Lauren, Daniel, Dalia, Arianna, Chloe, Kelsey, Lauren and Rachel for taking the cause to heart and to the streets!

Combating AIDS in South Africa with 2.5 billion condoms

2010-04-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Great news on the HIV/AIDS front, especially given that South Africa will host the World Cup in just 2 months. South Africa's health minister has announced a campaign to hand out 2.5 billion male condoms, test 15 million people for HIV, treat rape victims and encourage male circumcision as a preventative measure.

While the exclusion of female condoms is a missed opportunity at creating a more gender inclusive safe sex strategy (see March 30 post), the new campaign is a positive step toward a comprehensive plan to control infections.

Art Aids Art applauds steps such as these, and also remains committed to promoting education and economic self-sufficiency for women to reduce risky behaviors such as trading sex for shelter, food or money.

For the full Associated Press article, click here.

Photo credit: Katharine Euphrat / NBN

Female Condoms = Power for Women

2010-03-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

"Today HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age globally,^[1] and approximately 215 million women in developing countries who wish to prevent or postpone pregnancy have an unmet need for modern contraceptives."^[2]

During the first two weeks of March, leaders from around the globe assembled in Beijing for the Commission on the Status of Women. Art Aids Art was proud to join over 200 international organizations in cosigning the session’s official statement on Expanding Global Access to Female and Male Condoms.

We know that condoms prevent AIDS. Providing education and increasing the availability of female (along with male) condoms empowers women with an additional means of protecting themselves. Art Aids Art calls on the US government and international health organizations to support the distribution of female condoms as part of a comprehensive program to eliminate the spread of HIV/AIDS.

For the complete statement, visit http://www.genderhealth.org/pubs/civilsocietycondomstatement.pdf

₁ World Health Organization (WHO). 2009. Women and Health: Today’s Evidence, Tomorrow’s Agenda. Geneva: WHO
₂ Singh, Susheela, Jacqueline E. Darroch, Lori S. Ashford, and Michael Vlassoff. 2009. Adding it Up: The Costs and Benefits of Investing in Family Planning and Maternal and Newborn Health. New York: Guttmacher Institute and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Art Credit: Condoms as the First Tool to Fight AIDS in Africa by Peyman Pourhosein

Rock Your Red Pumps on March 10!

2010-03-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

Rock what? Why now?

We’ll get to that in minute. But let’s rewind. Art Aids Art has been rockin’ red pumps for years. After all, back in 2005 when our co-founder Dorothy held her “Friends of Dorothy” art exhibit, guests were invited to don ruby slippers of all styles in the spirit of The Wizard of Oz.

With funds raised at the event, Art Aids Art purchased the parcel of land in Khayelitsha that three years later became the home of eKhaya eKasi (Home in the ‘Hood) Art & Education Center, our headquarters in South Africa serving women impacted by poverty and HIV/AIDS. Details here. It’s amazing how these things connect. Read on…

The Red Pump Project is a movement of bloggers and other activists across the USA who are spreading awareness of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10. If AIDS is not in the spotlight these days, we all need to cry foul and give it the attention it deserves. Particularly alarming are the disproportionate infection rates among African-American and Hispanic women, who account for about 75% of AIDS cases in women despite representing less than 25% of the population. Education and awareness are the key to prevention.

What can you do?

Write a letter to the editor of you local paper.
Make sure that your friends and family are teaching their children about it.
Have a conversation with a teenager.

And on Wednesday, March 10, put on your red shoes! Strike up conversations with those who comment. It’s an opportunity to spread the word. There’s no better time than now.

Have fun with it, too. Zip us a photo (of just your shoes, or you in them!) and we’ll forward it to the campaign headquarters for their red pump collage.

For more information, visit www.theredpumpproject.com.

2009 Ends on a High Note!

2009-12-28T12:39:00.000-08:00

On December 1 Art Aids Art recognized World AIDS Day and celebrated the 1st anniversary of eKhaya eKasi, our art & education center in Khayelitsha, South Africa. eKhaya eKasi continues to increase its educational programming while creating income for local artists and moving toward the ultimate goal of sustainable self-sufficiency.

We invite you to read our recent World AIDS Day featured blog post created for Speak Up For Change at
http://speakupforchange.blogspot.com/2009/12/world-aids-day-what-does-it-mean.html

The first mosaic sign is mounted at eKhaya eKasi! Special thanks to artists Gina Florentino and Carole Scrooby for giving their time and skills to create the colorful sign and train our staff in mosaics... Stay tuned for the mounting of the mirrored sign.

Funeka Dukwe and Yoliswa Thembani unpack more teacups and saucers donated by Art Aids Art supporters to the JAZZ Tea Shop at eKhaya eKasi... while listening to donated jazz CD's. Thanks to all those who contributed supplies, black dolls and children's books!

Isaac Aggrey of Women's Business Center works on the computer donated by June Shelley to eKhaya eKasi Center.
Thanks to June for providing us with her old laptop!... and to Isaac for training eKhaya eKasi staff in computer skills and helping to establish our internet connection despite the theft of phone cables in our neighborhood. Art Aids Art & eKhaya eKasi will host a variety of training programs in 2010.

Early arrivals anxiously await the first movie screening at eKhaya eKasi. A wide variety of South African and American movies will be screened weekly...with drinks and popcorn for all.

Time to dim the lights and start the show!

Having fun with the project during the closing credits...

We say goodbye to 2009 and look forward to an exciting 2010. With the FIFA World Cup (hosted by South Africa) right around the corner, eKhaya eKasi is gearing up to be a major destination for township tourism.

Art Aids Art expresses gratitude to all of its supporters, donors, beadwork party hosts and volunteers who continue to make our programs possible. We can't do it without you!

And special thanks to all of our 2009 year-end beadwork party hosts & volunteers in the USA and Europe!

Donna Fogel, San Francisco
Mindy Aronovitz & Stacy Gordon, Michigan
Robin Barlow Jones & Marcia Bedford, Oakland
Chloe Garcia & Chris Bostwick
Carol Mitchell & The Franciscan Center, Tampa
Nanette Amis & Jodee Reed, Salt Lake City
Tina Carrari, Fiesole, Italy
St. James Church, Florence, Italy
Network Women's Group, Florence, Italy
Laura Panizzi & Associazione IDEA ONLUS, Alessandria, Italy
Mercato per Beneficenza at Creative Corner, Florence, Italy
Sherry Simpson-Dean & United Nations Association, Pasadena
Mark Henegan, Stephanie Herbeck, Daniel Vanburen & Madiba Restaurant, Brooklyn

Updates from Around the Globe

2009-10-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

Representing Art Aids Art, eKhaya eKasi staff Nonceba Nonkevu (center) and Funeka Dukwe (left) attended a 3-week training course on small business development at the Cape Craft and Design Institute. Art Aids Art also sponsored Nontando Dibela (right) and Xoliswa Situ, two members of Wired Women collective, a microbusiness that has developed with our financial and logistical support.

Highlights from recent beadwork parties benefiting South African artists & eKhaya eKasi Center.

Special thanks to our hosts & volunteers!
Jodee Reed, Paul Larsen & Christina Rockrise
Diane Kroll & family
Phoebe, Louisa, Jenny & Mike Harding
Lynn Shaw & ChezShaw
Esther de la Torre, Michelle Rodriguez & CAMS
Sarah Colome, Jennifer Fletcher & Megan Berry
Amanda Edwards, Brenda Ramirez & Ariana Rodriguez
Laine Tannen & the San Francisco Jewish Community Center
Carrie Simon, Jordan Aiken, and Susan, Patty & Sam
Jeanette Kruger & Betty Morningstar
Tina Carrari and FAWCO
Rainey Webb

Art Aids Art's yard sale fundraiser was a success. Our thanks to all our donors, especially the Robles family and Jennifer Carey, and to Liz Holle for running the sale (next to her car loaded with yard sale treasures!).

Support Women's Businesses! Vote for Home in the 'Hood!

2009-05-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

Between May 18-May 31, vote for Home in the 'Hood to create employment opportunities for hundreds of Khayelitsha's residents! Watch the video. For voting instructions (takes 2 minutes!), click here!

eKhaya eKasi: First Conference!

2009-05-09T08:49:00.001-07:00

On April 23, eKhaya eKasi proudly hosted its first conference, a collaborative venture in conjunction with the Global Campaign for Education. Co-presenters included Women's Business Center, University of the Western Cape Lifelong Learning, and Young Feminists in Action Team. Special thanks to Isaac Aggrey (standing) of Women's Business Center, for organizing this event.

eKhaya eKasi's Funeka Dukwe speaks about Art Aids Art's programs at the center.

Participants pose at the conclusion of this historic event.

eKhaya eKasi: Showing Our Colors!

2009-05-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

eKhaya eKasi staff Funeka Dukwe and Nonceba Nonkevu receive training in mosaic tiling from artists Gina Florentino and Carol Scrooby (behind the camera). They are working on signage for the building's front facade. Check out the sneak previews below.... it's been worth the wait!

Our favorite mix: A little bit of bling....

...and plenty of dots!

eKhaya eKasi: Moving Forward!

2009-02-01T21:01:00.000-08:00

Art Aids Art is pleased to introduce eKhaya eKasi's first staff members. Co-Managers Funeka Maria Dukwe (left) and Nonceba Nonkevu bring a variety of talents to the job, and have impressed us with their enthusiasm and ability to work collaboratively. Funeka's work in food service will be a great asset as we develop the JAZZ Tea Shop, and Nonceba's experience in handcrafting will be invaluable in the establishment of the art boutique.

Sakhumzi Makaula organizes children's books provided by Art Aids Art's many generous supporters (Thanks, Sakkie). Art Aids Art is building a library of multicultural children's literature to support its Family Literacy Project. In addition, duplicates have been donated to local preschool programs.

What's wrong with this picture? We continued our research and found that many retail stores still carry ZERO black dolls...

...and many school dramatic play areas still offer white dolls and stuffed animals, but no black dolls, despite having 100% black enrollment.

So our collection of black dolls continues. Pictured here, eKhaya eKasi staff and volunteers sing with joy as they receive dolls donated by students at East LA College, Mount San Antonio College and numerous individuals, and those handmade by Dollies Without Borders...

... as well as the Sherman Oaks/Studio City Girl Scouts. Many dolls were donated to local child care programs, while others are being used at eKhaya eKasi to complement our Family Literacy Project.

With so many quality books on hand, the next step was translation. Our 2008 Jungle Justice team translated twenty children's books into Xhosa, allowing for bilingual English/Xhosa reading sessions in our programming.

In addition, bilingual readings were videotaped for future use in both training and direct service.

Special thanks to our 2008 Jungle Justice team of staff, volunteers and students-in-residence. From left, Funeka Dukwe, Nomfundo Yaso, Dorothy Garcia, Siphokazi Rasmeni, Chloe Garcia (Mills College), Yoliswa Thembani, Chris Bostwick (UC Berkeley), Nonceba Nonkevu and Jordan Aiken (UC Berkeley)....

...and those who played a pivotal role in eKhaya eKasi's Grand Opening, including (from right) Holly Sparks, the 2008 Tumi McCallum Women's Advocate, Pamela Davis, the 2008 Jungle Justice Artist-in-Residence, and Nadeem Davids, who tirelessly oversaw the center's construction process from start to finish. Congratulations to them, and to each one of our Art Aids Art family who helped us build the center, brick by brick. Together, we will continue to move forward with our projects, doll by doll and book by book.

We look forward to your comments below!

Photo credit for final triptych: Kamielah Davids

eKhaya eKasi Grand Opening Celebration

2008-12-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

On December 1, World AIDS Day, after three years of planning and development, fundraising and designing, organizing and building, eKhaya eKasi Community Center in Khayelitsha, South Africa prepares to open its doors for the grand opening celebration. An hour before the event, young and old are already waiting outside in anticipation.

Inside, the space is ready for the throng....

... outfitted and decorated. Heartfelt thanks to WallCandyArts.com for the vinyl sticker dots.

Guests arrive from around the corner and faraway places. We were overjoyed to have many special guests in attendance: Tina Davis (Norway), director of Bigger Than Barbie; Carin Smuts (Cape Town) from CS Architects, who consulted with our design team; Beverley Price (Johannesburg), founder of one of our participating collectives; Holly Sparks (USA), Art Aids Art's 2008 Tumi McCallum Women's Advocate; and Pamela Davis (USA), the 2008 Jungle Justice Artist-in-Residence. Future collaborators also attend, including an entire contingent from Women's Business Center, with whom we are developing plans for computer classes....

...and, of course, there is a massive turnout by our dear friends at Monkeybiz Bead Project!

The festivities begin with dancing by the women.

There is joy...

...grace...

... and style!

Speaking to the audience of 500, Tom notes the significance of opening the center on World AIDS Day – we are committed to the struggle against this disease and, as Desmond Tutu says, “There must be No Outsiders.” Sakhumzi encounters a problem as he tries to translate this phrase into Xhosa… Upon further investigation, we learn that in Xhosa there is no word for “outsider.”

After receiving permission from the youngest and eldest in attendance, Dorothy leads a blessing for the space, with the children in the center of the circle.

It's time to cut the ceremonial ribbon.

The celebration continues with the children's dancing, both joyful...

...and intense.

Drumming accompaniment on the nearest trash bin is fierce.

Now it's time to lift the shutter and see what's inside!

Children enjoy themselves at the art tables.

Everyone enters the raffle for eKhaya eKasi t-shirts...

... and wait in anticipation for the drawing to take place.

Meanwhile, everyone has an opportunity to visit the container gallery to view "Find Africa in You," the exhibit of artwork donated by our artist support network in the US. It is the first showing of its kind ever in Khayelitsha.

Refreshments are served by eKhaya Caterers out of the newly outfitted J.A.Z.Z Tea Shop.

Time for the drawing... "I won!"

Ten lucky winners proudly collect their shirts.

The event closes with a powerful performance of the national anthem by all in attendance, and then its time to party!

Special thanks to our dynamic photography duo: Pamela Davis and Kamielah Davids.

Photo credits:

Pamela Davis: Photos 1 2 4 7 8 15 16 18 19 21 22 23
Kamielah Davids: Photos 3 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 20 24

Three weeks of action!

2008-11-24T07:54:00.000-08:00

October 26-28

Bead by Bead, Brick by Brick, an exhibit featuring the development of eKhaya eKasi Community Center, is featured at the National Black Child Development Institute's annual conference in Atlanta.

October 30-31

Art Aids Art is invited to present on sustainable development projects at the World Cultural Economic Forum in New Orleans. The spirit of rebirth in New Orleans following Katrina has much in common with that in South African townships.

Pictured here is Glenda English... our connection with her is another example of the difference a single person can make. After buying a beaded peace magnet from us, she contacted the Forum and coordinated our participation!

November 2

One hundred supporters join us in Altadena to celebrate the upcoming launch of eKhaya eKasi Community Center. Pictured here, Shannon Weprin initiated a project with her Girl Scout to handmake 75 black dolls for our upcoming trip, along with donations of another 65 infant dolls and loads of children's books.

Special thanks to performers at the event: The Fattback Bluesman, The Blunt Family African Dance & Drum, and Max Wrightson Trio featuring Tootie Heath. Pictured here: Jelani Blunt, Tootie Heath, Michael McTaggart and Yusef Olaitan. Photos: Steve Lewis.

November 11

We arrive in South Africa to news that Mama Africa -- the great South African vocalist Miriam Makeba -- has died. Makeba's signature sound, which including the clicks of the Xhosa language, was known around the world, along with her passionate activism during the anti-Apartheid struggle, during which she was forced to live in exile. The nation mourns.

November 14-17
Art Aids Art participates in the Women's Rights in Development World Conference in Cape Town, pictured here with fellow participants advocating for more inclusion of healing and trauma work in the event's proceedings.

Click on any of the above pictures to enlarge

eKhaya eKasi: Exterior Complete!

2008-10-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

Standing bright and tall, a view of the container and the fenced area that will serve as the rooftop garden.

A view from the Edible Roof.

Project Director Nadeem Davids in the entry to the container, designed to accommodate the artspace and other microbusinesses.

With the exterior complete, the state-of-the-art industrial kitchen is the final piece waiting to be completed. Stay tuned for photos from the Grand Opening party scheduled for December 1, World AIDS Day, 2008!

Building eKhaya eKasi: It's coming together

2008-08-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

With the roof up, exterior work moves forward...

...as does interior work. A view of the community room from the container.

The container rooftop is being prepared to house the edible training garden...

...and features some spectacular mountain views.

Makatiso Ngaka (the original beader of Monkeybiz Project) surveys progress.

With doors installed and plastering complete, finish work is all that lies ahead.

Building eKhaya eKasi: Shelter from the Storm

2008-08-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

The roof (metal and light-filtering plastic) is up, allowing interior work to proceed despite the winter storms of the Cape.

A side view of clear paneling.

Plastering and frame installation is underway.

Finishing the second floor walkway that leads to the B&B's bedrooms.

Installing a little something to keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer...

...and fixtures for the most important rooms in the building!

Building eKhaya eKasi: Brickwork

2008-06-02T19:49:00.001-07:00

As the winter sun sets, bricklayers and apprentices in our training program lay the last bricks of the day.

First floor walls are finished!

Second floor walls are underway!

eKhaya eKasi is gradually taking shape.

Building eKhaya eKasi: Container Arrives

2008-05-16T08:02:00.001-07:00

The 40-foot container arrives, representing the cornerstone of eKhaya eKasi... but there's not enough maneuvering room for the truck to set it on the foundation, so it is unloaded by the roadside.

The crane rolls into Khayelitsha, creating a buzz in the community as it prepares to move the container into place.

Time for action. Feet out!

Crane up!

Prepare to lift!

Mission accomplished!

Now in place, the container will serve as a temporary storage area for building materials.

Once construction is completed, it will be converted into two small microbusinesses, an art boutique and beauty salon, generating income for the community and helping the center remain self-sustainable.

Building eKhaya eKasi: Breaking Ground

2008-05-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

Two years ago while Art Aids Art was hatching an idea for a community center in Khayelitsha, we were approached by our close collaborator, Monkeybiz Bead Project, about a unique parcel of land. One of Monkeybiz's members was selling her home, which happened to be ideally located directly across from the art workspace we funded in 2003 (yellow structure on the right). This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The dream of eKhaya eKasi was born.

For more about the center's design development, visit our 2007 entry, Imagining eKhaya eKasi.

After six months of negotiating with the local municipality, we received approval! Time to prepare the site.

Mathapelo Ngaka of Monkeybiz announces to the community that apprentices are being sought as part of the project's employment training component.

Post-demolition: Over 75% of the old building is reused by members of the neighborhood... in less than 8 hours!

Art Aids Art receives 30,000 donated bricks from South African supplier Corobrik. Thank you!

A bricklaying apprentice is closely supervised as the foundation takes shape.

The site is blanketed with mountains of building material and abuzz with activity.

Bead by Bead, Brick by Brick

2008-02-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

On January 24 at Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, MA, Art Aids Art launched a nationwide exhibit of glass-beaded sculpture and architectural design documentation, celebrating our collaboration with two partners: Monkeybiz Bead Project and project_KHAYELITSHA.

Angie, Patrick and Gena, members of project_KHAYELITSHA (pK), pose in front of their design and research panels. The team, a group of graduate architecture students from Harvard, spent six months working with Loeb Fellow Steve Lewis to design Art Aids Art's eKhaya eKasi Community Center with maximum usability and energy efficiency. For more on their trip to Cape Town last summer, visit the next blog entry, Imagining eKhaya eKasi.

eKhaya eKasi will provide a safe workspace and five microbusinesses to generate sustainable income.

A view from the outskirts of Khayelitsha.

Inside "The Boat," an art workspace donated by Art Aids Art to Monkeybiz Bead Project in 2003. It is located directly across from the future home of eKhaya eKasi.

A backyard in Khayelitsha.

The exhibit features special edition giant beaded sculptures by Monkeybiz, a women's collective of over 450 members and one of the greatest success stories of democratic South Africa. Art Aids Art and Monkeybiz have worked closely on economic development and education projects for six years.

The worlds most fashionable elephant?

Portraits of Monkeybiz artists by Aspen Mays (www.aspenmays.com).

Bead by Bead, Brick by Brick also celebrates the release of the long-awaited art book about the history of Monkeybiz Bead Project.

A proud purchaser poses.

Members of pK with Sally Young, exhibit organizer and Project Coordinator for the Loeb Fellowship. Special thanks to pK, Sally and Arsenal Center for the Arts for their support in realizing this dream, especially Program Director Bev Snow, Director Kathy Tompkins and President of the Board Becky Squier, as well as Mark Peterson for photo printing. Bead by Bead, Brick by Brick closes at Arsenal on February 23, and makes its next stop at the Pounder Koné Gallery in Los Angeles (June 26-July 9).

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Imagining eKhaya eKasi

2007-07-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

June 19, 2007

Five graduate architecture students from Harvard University (known as "project_KHAYELITHSA" or pK) recently arrived in Cape Town to collaborate with Art Aids Art in the development of eKhaya eKasi Community Center.

Today in Khayelitsha township, we unveiled the architectural designs for eKhaya eKasi and invited contributions to the planning process. Response from the 75+ neighborhood representatives in attendance was overwhelmingly positive. Before bricks are laid, eKhaya eKasi must live in the minds and hearts of those who will use it. pK has done a remarkable job of accomplishing this, as you will see.

Ashley Heeren, Patrick Stowe Jones, Laura Shipman, Angie Thebaud & Gena Wirth are project_KHAYELITSHA’s Cape Town representatives.

Their blog can be found at: http://harvardpK.blogspot.com

Highlights from the design unveiling in Khayelitsha can be found at: http://web.mac.com/artaidsart/Site_2/Photos.html

To view the article about the project in Archinect Magazine, visit:
http://www.archinect.com/features/article_print.php?id=65752_0_23_0_M

We look forward to your feedback.

-- Tom