© Nairobi Now
English
Guest of Honor at the Launch of this the 5th Kenya Arts Diary will be the German Ambassador, Mr. Andreas Peschke who will official launch the Diary and open the 2nd Kenya Arts Diary Artists Exhibition.
The exhibition will feature a portion of artworks by the more than 60 artists whose art is included in this year’s Diary.
The Kenya Arts Diary is the brain child of glass artist Nani Croze who is also the founder of the Kitengela Glass Research and Training Trust. Since 2010 Nani has been working with a team of art-loving volunteers to assemble art works by the best and brightest young Kenyan artists around. Kul Graphics has also played an invaluable role in publishing the full-color diary every year.
Nani’s initial vision from the beginning has been to create a diary that is both a calendar and a catalogue of contemporary Kenyan art which reflects the burgeoning nature of the local visual arts scene. She also has wanted to expose the amazing diversity, dynamism and determination of young Kenyan artists to confirm that there is indeed contemporary Kenyan art and that African art is not confined exclusively to West and South Africa but it is also thriving in East Africa, especially in Kenya.
That is why, in all five editions of the Diary, the KAD arts committee has sought to fill every new edition with the artwork of fresh, new Kenyan talents. It has also tried to include veteran Kenyan and East African artists every year. These have included painters like Ancent Soi, Elimo Njau, Yony Waite and Jak Katarikawe as well as sculptors like the late Samwel Wanjau, Elkana Ong’esa and Edward Njeng’a.
The Diary team has worked hard to seek out young and relatively unknown artists who haven’t had much public exposure but their artistic talents are apparent. The team’s commitment to giving young artists opportunities to develop their creative skills is possibly most evident in the Kenya Arts Diary Residency Award or KADRA that was launched last year. The art residency affords young artists the opportunity to work with experienced artists in stimulating studio environments for one month with all expenses paid, including art materials, accommodations, a stipend and the opportunity to exhibit the awardee’s work produced during that one month residency.
Last year, the two KADRA awardees were Michael Kyalo and Ezra Joab. This year the awardee, currently working with Nani Croze at Kitengela Glass, is Kezia Nduta.
Early in 2015 a call will go out to young Kenyan artists to apply for KADRA and all Kenyans under the age of 25 years will be welcome to apply.
What makes the Kenya Arts Diary both a calendar and a catalogue of contemporary Kenyan art is because every week is given to one artist whose art work is featured together with a head shot of the artist, a brief bio and the artist’s contacts so that the public can communicate directly with the artist. Aiming to foster transparency and independence among the artists, Nani says she feels strongly that artists need to have platforms that enable the public to easily access them. She says it’s good for the artists and the public as well since art lovers can use the Diary like a directory to find the artists they want to know and potentially to invest in their art.
Any questions about the Kenyan Arts Diary 2015 can be sent to kenyaartsdiary@gmail.com or sent to the Diary’s Facebook page.
