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 Fulbright
Scholar Stories |
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Joyce Kohl, Professor, Department of Fine Arts,
California State University-Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA
Research: The Use of Recycled Materials by Zimbabwean
Artists and Artisans
Host: University of Zimbabwe, Faculty of Arts, Harare,
Zimbabwe; and National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Harare,
Zimbabwe
August 2000-January 2001
(African Regional Research Program)
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Joyce Kohl, an assemblage sculptor from California State University-Bakersfield,
went to Zimbabwe on a 2000-01 African Regional Research Program
Fulbright grant, where she created an AIDS Wall constructed of
tiles made by local artists.
The AIDS Wall is a collaborative public art project located in
the sculpture garden of the National Gallery of Harare. Done as
part of her African Regional Research grant in Harare, Zimbabwe,
it consists of a Z-shaped wall and a bench. Both sides of the
wall are inlaid with ceramic tiles painted by 19 artists from
Ros Byrne's Pottery Factory in Ruwa.
The tiles depict the artists' impressions of how AIDS has affected
the communities of Zimbabwe, both rural and urban. Children from
Harare orphanages did the accompanying bench, inlaid with drawings
and poetry relating to AIDS.
Funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the
aim of the project is to "break
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AIDSWall tile panel 2
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the silence" that has surrounded the AIDS pandemic in Zimbabwe.
In addition, the aim is to give the community a focus for dealing
with loss and prevention of further spread.
The descriptive style of the Ruwa artists accurately describes
the complexities of the situation. A brief text in English Shona,
and Ndebele accompanies the panels.
Kohl is continuing the project in the U.S. and has brought a Zimbabwean
assemblage sculptor to her home university this spring. Some panels
of tiles are going to be in a traveling exhibit.
For more information and photos of the project, please see Kohl's
Web site at http://www.csub.edu/~jkohl/publicart.htx
Please contact us
if you would like to submit your own story and/or photographs.
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