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Monday, February 2, 2009

African Mama

"What matters is to live in the present, live now, for every moment is now. It is your thoughts and acts of the moment that create your future. The outline of your future path already exists, for you created its pattern by your past. " Sai Baba

Going through my books to read, I recently finally began The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (An Oprah book). An excellent read, and thought provoking. Set in Africa, in the Belgium Congo during it's fight for independence, with the CIA involvement and interference.... it focuses on the lives of 4 girls and their mother tied to a hell-fire preacher on a mission to change the people, the cultural and economic chasms in place which are exacerbated, and how Africa instead changes them over time. A very haunting description of some of the challenges of Africa that continue today, the poverty, disease, and conflict, how to benefit themselves from their rich resources.

This brings me to my African Mosaic created today from pictures I took with permission at African Mama's shop in Bothell, WA. African Mama is the delightful Atieno (second row, second photo from left) who is from Kenya (same village as Obama) and is closing her shop (after having a shop in Seattle area for many years) and returning to her homeland to establish a homestead that will support and send to public school 100 orphan girls... She was in DC at the inauguration and is inspired by Obama's call to service, and so is becoming an inspiration herself. The charming Wambua who assists in the shop is in the photo next to hers. The shop will close end of February, for those in the Puget Sound area who are able to stop in to see the wonderful fibers, art, music and more. I stumbled upon her shop on a day out wandering with a friend. You never know where you will end up......

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

This tiled collage is so beautiful, restful somehow but makes we want to dive in there. I love the sort of shop where you can dive in and immerse yourself in something out of the everyday. Thankyou - and thankyou for following my blog. Ann (from UK)

JonesMoore Studio Art, Lisa JonesMoore said...

That's a beautiful collage of photos!

HeartFire said...

I'm having fun with creating mosaics with photoshop and definitely have more in mind. Every inch in the African Mama shop is filled with joyous color, texture and exotic art, a joy to see... Delorse

Anonymous said...

Delorse your Blog is great, wonderful job , well done! [from email Feb 3]

Anonymous said...

Hi Delorse, Love your blog. Thanks for putting such a wonderful effort into it.

Anonymous said...

Delorse, I checked out your blog out and it looks great. Thanks for sharing your work. [email Feb 3]

Anonymous said...

Hi Delorse, thanks again for the blog, I"ll file it in my PNNAG file for future use. I saw the Road to Mecca last night at the Rep, you might enjoy the play about South Africa and the lady who wished for light!! Also did you know the Gee's Bend play was at the Taproot? I do not think I will get to that but what a fun idea for the ladies of Ballard, only it is at night. So nice to see you and of course your inchies and books are such a treat!! Happy Valentines day. [email Feb 4]