This past weekend I was working with Blen Grafix finishing up a catalog that will be unveiled at the 4th Annual Blen Art Show honoring none other the late great Gebre Kristos Desta!
About a year and a half ago, we designed the first Blen Magazine; that was very successful. The Blen team learned a lot from the previous shows. In the past Blen had featured some artwork with questionable presentation and even questionable artwork IMHO.
The fix was that this year, the artists had to apply to get in; once they got in they had to provide 3 pieces of artwork from which the Blen team picked one or two. If the presentation is not up to par with gallery standards then the artwork would not be shown. And in the words of a goodfriend, blah blah… anyways I support! The show featuring many works of Gebre Kristos Desta and Wosene Kosorof will be eminent.
This years Magazine catalog is an artwork in itself. The content remarkable; featuring the writings of Bernos’ own Ethio Jazz among others. The design; I won't say anything about that.
Most importantly though, the catalog is important as it will play a role in educating many about the world renowed Ethiopian visual artists. Afework Tekle is not the only one!
I am proud of my very small role in this, that I am contemplating sending a copy to the entire Bernos customer past & future, money permitting. That is how much I love the Bernos customers.
the following article was written by ephrem
BLEN who? Yah, “Let’s Blog About It”…not about BLEN – let’s
blog about the painter – poet, Gebre Kristos Desta, himself.
Last year, we celebrated the 3rd Annual Blen Art Show, “Celebrating the
Life of Skunder Boghossian” with overwhelming success. Now here we
are again, promoting our 4th Blen Art Show with a new theme — honoring
the international visual and poetic icon, Gebre Kristos Desta. The show will be open to the public in Washington DC on November 11, 2006 and remain open until November 25, 2006. Original works of the late painter and poet, Gebre Kristos Desta, as well as distinguished guest Wosene Kosrof, along with other prominent artists, will be exhibited at this historical event.
Who is Gebre Kristos Desta?
That was the question I had when I traveled last January to Addis to do research on the man. Many, including his students, call him “Gashe Gebre”. The depth of their veneration and respect is event in the reverent expression on their faces when they speak about him. I was touched by the obvious affection and esteem that the life of this seemingly reserved man still inspired in acquaintances from long ago. To Ethiopia and the world, he was a symbol for artistic innovation, but to his students he was much more; an ducator, an inspirational role model, and a guiding light in the mostly to his students he was beyond that, an aspiring educator and guiding light in their search for artistic expression.
I won’t write his biography in entirety on this blog, but I would like to briefly highlight his accomplishments and his contributions to Ethiopia’s modern art scene.
Born to clergyman and graphic artist Aleka Desta, Gashe Gebre started to paint at a young age with his father’s guidance. He was introduced to abstract art while studying in Germany and there decided to become an expressionist. Gashe Gebre moved back to his homeland Ethiopia to live and paint, but faced challenges when introducing his new style. As an abstract painter, Gashe Gebre was confronted with the task of introducing modern art into a culture still steeped in traditionalism. Ground-breaking ideas are often met with discomfort; at the time, abstract expressionism was truly revolutionary in Ethiopia. Gebre Kristos often found himself faced with staunch opposition and severe criticism. Despite the obstacles, Gashe Gebre continued to teach and paint.
Gashe Gebre drew attention not only as founder of modern abstractionism in Ethiopia; he also stirred up controversy as one of the first contemporary Ethiopian poets, embracing beats and rhythms never before seen in Ethiopian poetry. Collections of his poems are posted at Amha Asfaw’s web site . Some of my favorites are “Keresh Ende Waza“, “Ewedeshalehu”, and “Tenegn”. When I read Gashe Gebre’s poems, frames, shapes, and constructions of his paintings become all the more lucid; his abstractions are narratives and speak as clearly as the colors of the paintings themselves. For me, the sounds and words of a favorite poem flow then stick in my head…”E w e d e s h a l h h u”…to each, however, they tell a different story.
During the Derg era, Gashe Gebre was forced to be involved in producing visual propaganda materials. In an interview, one of his students told me of Gashe Gebre’s frustration with the interruptions of the government; officials would sometimes intrude on classes to hand-pick students for outside poster detail work.
Gashe Gebre started the 1st National Gallery of Ethiopia, named City
Hall Gallery, upon his return from serving a term as art expert with the Derg’s Zemecha. As a whole, Gashe Gebre was dissatisfied with the government’s policy and negative impact on art. He later left for Germany.
Gashe Gebre moved to Lawton, Oklahoma in the 80’s, where he died. Neither Gashe Gebre’s full life story nor a comprehensive discussion of his works would fit in this blog; a complete biography is needed to truly tell the tale. I hope that some reader will undertake the task!
Gebre Kristos’ legacy as a historical figure is monumental, and the magnitude of his works will live for generations. The transfer of 30-some original paintings from Germany to Ethiopia accompanied by the opening of a center devoted specifically to Gashe Gebre’s work is a major triumph – we can only hope that this first step of progress will be followed for other artists.
The task of preserving Gebre Kristos’ art is by no means complete, however. Passing through Sidist Kilo Menged and seeing the sign “Goethe-Institute Addis Ababa Gebre Kristos Desta Center was an eye-watering moment for me. Unfortunately, I was about to be severely disappointed. After a few futile attempts to discover where exactly I should have been doing my research within the center, I realized that the institute was hosting some other event that had nothing to do with Gashe Gebre or even art. The staff were running here and there, and were to busy to be interrupted by my questions about Gebre Kristos and the rooms that supposedly housed the famous collection. The center was equipped with its own library, but I found literally nothing on Gebre Kristos Desta. I resorted to stealth tactics – peeping around doors and into empty offices trying to locate the paintings. To my utmost astonishment and anger, the majority of the precious work was scattered in abandoned rooms or lying against the wall in office corners. The pieces collected by the center are a national treasure, and I truly regret that they are not cared
for and displayed in a manner befitting their extreme importance.
Recently, the Gebre Kristos Center and the Institute of Ethiopian Studies
published in collaboration a remarkable catalogue entitled “Gebre Kristos Desta: The Painter-Poet” Thanks to Yohannes Gedamu, I received a copy. My knowledge of the life of the artist derives mainly from this catalogue; I recommend buying or borrowing one ASAP. The catalogue is not available online, unfortunately; I know I would have like to have one or two more.
Last but not least, I strongly object to Nolawi saying that he only played “a very small part” in the formation of this year’s art show and catalogue. I want to sincerely thank you, Nolawi, for all of your invaluable support to the team. Your contributions were enormous; without your collaboration, we would not be where we are today. Great appreciation also goes to the angel who appeared at exactly the right moment – Makeda Agonafer. While staying at BLEN, Makeda forewent sleep to help with the development of our show. As we always say, BLEN is a safe haven for AFC (Artists for Charity). I thank her with all my heart. Visit her website Artists for Charity to really support Ethiopia!
As you may have heard, the Annual Blen Art Show is in trouble. You, our supporters, have shown great enthusiasm for the show, but unfortunately our events are growing to fast for us to manage them correctly. The research, recruiting, and organization involved take a massive amount of time, manpower, and financial assistance. Sadly, we lack enough of all of these important ingredients at the moment. Due to these and other factors, this is the last year we will coordinate an annual show. We hope to see you all at the 4th Annual Blen Art Show on November 11 at the opening ceremony
Ephrem M Girma
www.blenartshow.com
Man, please do. We have so much to be proud of, don’t we? So many talented men/women from the motherland.
I will be traveling to the East Coast for Thanksgiving and hope the show will stay till then!
My love for art has grown over the years and I must say there are very talented Abeshoch that we need to be proud of, support, and recognize such as yourself Nolawi. Bravo I say to all the artist’s involved and aspiring artist’s who will be inspired by this work.
Timo, I’ll definetely ask about ordering extra copies in order to send it out…
I think the show will be up till thanksgiving, hopefully ephrem will post the details of show…
Celebrate you are right about the talent level… but there are those that are not talented as welll….I once made an observation about a painter on an art discussing group in which I critisized the work and there was an outrage from people… i thought the artist was a copy cat… we just have to show we care about art… the rest will follow… this will encourage the artists… visual or not….
Thanks Ephrem….. !
Thank you the people at the blen art show
So sad to hear the blen art show is discontinuing. I had no clue about art until I started to follow up the exhibitions. I have been always a supporter by showing up at every show. At one time i fell in love with Daniel Taye and his interpration as the way he described them. Will Daniel Taye be at your show this year?
I know there are so much work in to it but I wish we can support it so it will survive.
Tarikwa
Tarikwa
Ephrem, Blen has contributed a lot to the understanding and love of art some people feel now when they previsouly didn’t give a ___ about it. so hints of discontinuation shouldn’t even be mentioned
time is valuable, so annual frequency might not be possible. but may be doing what you do every yr and half or so … should be fine. Hire an apprentice from one of the universities to do stuff… or something.
ina… the people honored at the art shows are the ones never mentioned in main stream abesha community. where else would one even get a chance to develop any kind of understanding of artworks by ETs? Mainstream abesha people are busy hip hoping at clubs, BSing at restaurants and cafes, (which are not bad by themselves)… or geeking in fields of health sciences, engineering, or something math related… (not that there is anything wrong with that either).. but where do people go to feed the soul with something filling?
so, i say keep edumacating us about Skunder Boghossians, and Gebre Kirstos Destas… and quit the __ about being in trouble. Personally, it would have taken me a LONG while to hear about these people if it weren’t for people at Blen.
PS: the poem about yasdegefechiw lij by Gebre Kristos was
Tarikwa Daniel Taye will not at participate at this exhibition. We have only 3 artists who showed at the past Blen Art Shows. You can go here to see who is in for this year. I am sure you will meet another brilliant artist.
Tarikwa thanks for the support. People like you are our energy and spirit to move forward. I hope to see you or meet you in person on November 11, at the opening of the 4th Annual Blen Art Show.
Shalom:~You too have been the back bone of Blen. Regardless of the time, or day when I asked you for something you are always there. I am always grateful. Yah we did not plan to quit!! quit!! It just we need to regroup, and and plan a head, maybe instead of doing it annualy we will do it on our own pace. I am sure the team is pretty exhausted and probably tired of putting up with me(lol).
Yes we are doing something that can only be done by some institute or a community center. Honesty speaking, my own close friends were so blind about art until we started the Blen Art Show. They never knew Skunder or Gebre Kristos, So yes we are making a huge impact on the community. And we shall not stop!!
Ephrem
hi my name is selam i am from australia and i will like to say go ethiopian peploe you gus era the best from te world
http://www.blenartshow.com
Blen art show today guys… the site is live
also the blen cateloge is live on the web
http://blenartshow.com/blen2_web.pdf
also picture gallery from the show
http://blenartshow.com/pg/
Finally had time to go thru the online catalogue and it was very impressive, wish I was there. I had the pleasure of going to one of the featured artist’s home (who resides in Cali) and it was like walking into a museum. Will check out the picture gallery later.
Unfortunately by the time I get around to coming to DC it will be over but oh well, next time.
tPPeTw hey, just wanted to comment
Good listen. Thanks
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