The Last Day in Zimbabwe
Finsihing Projects and thoughts...
Sorry for the delay in posting. I spent 3 hours
writing a very long log and then hit the wrong button and it all disappeared.
The wonders of the technology. And, of course, I couldn’t bring myself to
re-write the whole thing again right away. So, new lesson, write logs in word
processor, then save, then paste into
iblog.
Anyway, the last day went well. Of course, there is always too much to do but we got close.
The Video team finished rough edits in iMovie of their first videos. I’ll post them later. One is an interview with a Weya artist and the other with a Sculptor from Chapungu Park. While a little rough...it’s really amazing work for a first try. They will be shooting much more in the fall that you will get to enjoy!
The Composite Team finished keying the DV footage they shoot yesterday in about an hour...they truly have become keying ninjas. Keying is important because so many music videos in Zimbabwe use keying...badly. It’s a pretty frightning experience most of the time. As word gets out that these guys do keying...they may get alot of work.
The 3D team is working on Logo development and should have stuff to show in a few weeks. Again, there is only about 10 people in the country doing 3D...as these guys get up to speed...it will be their oyster. This may not seem like much but when the government eventually changes, the country will explode and those who are situated will have keen advantages. Especially if they are using Maya, Motionbuilder, Universe, Cinema 4D, FormZ, and Photogrammetry...and trained by guys who have worked on stuff like Star Wars :)
Saki, Roddy, and I had lunch at Michel’s. Ahhh...I could get used to the lifestyle...big house, pool...all for the price of a room in San Francisco (and not a very good room). I makes you wonder...If you had a connection for work in the US...could you work from here? Some of the folks struggling in San Francisco are more than thinking about it...While many lament the export of graphics jobs to the emerging world (Rhythm and Hues just opened in India)...some are realizing that life in some of these emerging countries, with US dollars, is like being royalty instead of working 80 hours a week to live in a shack in San Francisco...Sure, there’s no Starbucks...but do you really care? It’s not just places like ZImbabwe...it’s places like Palau that will attract information workers from the US looking for a more balanced life.
After lunch, I went over to the Baobab Lodge. I stayed here last visit. Though you won’t find it in the Tourist information...it’s quite wonderful. The place is not a ritzy affair but well kept with a great feeling and service. Everyone here is really trustworthy and ready to help at any moment. The people who come here end up staying here everytime (except when friends invite them to their house like me).
The Baobab was started by Doris Jansen, who used to work for the IMF here in Zimbabwe and took to import/export of artwork to help support the artists. Doris set up the Boabab lodge and I met her a few years back through friends. She has a Sculpture Gallery just north of San Francisco.
I went just to say hi and also to meet with Stone Sculptors Doris is working with. In February, I shot interviews and portraits of five of the artists. I wanted to make sure they got copies of the photos and saw the interviews. While we take it for granted in the US, having a photo of yourself is a rare commodity in Zimbabwe. I try to bring pictures back often. I plan to do much more with this in the rural areas next trip.
The Art Peace Sculptors looking at their interviews.
We’re getting ready to do more than just help sell these artists’ stone work. In the Spring, we plan to have a computer here dedicated to the training them in 3D work. I’ve made a deal with the sculptors that I will teach them computer sculpture if they teach me stone sculpture. It will be exciting to see both results. :)
Of you think I’m crazy...check out these websites...
www.zbrush.com and www.amorphium.com
Digitial Sculpture.
I shot a few QTVRs while at Baobab. It’s a 6 meg tour of the grounds...I'll post it soon...
From Baobab, I went shopping for gifts at a roadside art mart of sorts. There’s basically 300 meters of Stone, textile, and wood work. Much of it is basic Curios (gift stuff) but some of it is truly Museum Quality...for $200 instead of $10,000.
This time, I had a huge breakthrough shopping.
Just some background...Stone Sculpture in Zimbabwe is not traditional “ritual” art...going back 100’s of years. It really began in the 50’s. While it definitely embodies much of the Shona culture...it’s not constrained by ceremony making it much more diverse. Over the last five decades, the tourism and international shows took the number of artists from a handful in 1955 to thousands today. It was a good industry to be in until, due to the current troubles, the tourism dried up. This has left the sculptors and the rest of the sales food chain desperate for sales. The result is near overwhelming interest when you go to buy goods. In the past, I felt like a hunk of chump in pirana infested waters...
This time, I shifted my approach. I realized that most of the work is similar across the many booths. In addition, most people in the US would love almost any of the items. I also looked at my purchases as supporting the artists as much as getting what I wanted. So, I embraced the process and made it clear that I was going to buy from everyone as I went done the line. When I was told “I am waiting for you”, I could respond “I’l be there soon!” The atmosphere became much more jovial and fun...and I have all the stone work that I can carry.
She was waiting for me...
Some of the art vendors...
Another Art Vendor and his nephew...who loves my Nikon's LCD screen...
Some of the work is out in the open...some locked...
Just to give you an idea of the quantity...
And Quality of the work....
I ended the day having drinks with Saki and Trevor. We’re working with ZIVA and Samso to build animations for a woman’s confernece in 2005 as well as some animations for AIDS awareness. The students will be doing all the work.
Saki and Trevor...
Whew! That was it. Next...travelling to Dar Es Salaam. There may be a delay in the posts next week. I will be in the bush in Tanzania Monday-Thursday...I think I will be able to post Wednesday night....
Harare from the Sky...
Anyway, the last day went well. Of course, there is always too much to do but we got close.
The Video team finished rough edits in iMovie of their first videos. I’ll post them later. One is an interview with a Weya artist and the other with a Sculptor from Chapungu Park. While a little rough...it’s really amazing work for a first try. They will be shooting much more in the fall that you will get to enjoy!
The Composite Team finished keying the DV footage they shoot yesterday in about an hour...they truly have become keying ninjas. Keying is important because so many music videos in Zimbabwe use keying...badly. It’s a pretty frightning experience most of the time. As word gets out that these guys do keying...they may get alot of work.
The 3D team is working on Logo development and should have stuff to show in a few weeks. Again, there is only about 10 people in the country doing 3D...as these guys get up to speed...it will be their oyster. This may not seem like much but when the government eventually changes, the country will explode and those who are situated will have keen advantages. Especially if they are using Maya, Motionbuilder, Universe, Cinema 4D, FormZ, and Photogrammetry...and trained by guys who have worked on stuff like Star Wars :)
Saki, Roddy, and I had lunch at Michel’s. Ahhh...I could get used to the lifestyle...big house, pool...all for the price of a room in San Francisco (and not a very good room). I makes you wonder...If you had a connection for work in the US...could you work from here? Some of the folks struggling in San Francisco are more than thinking about it...While many lament the export of graphics jobs to the emerging world (Rhythm and Hues just opened in India)...some are realizing that life in some of these emerging countries, with US dollars, is like being royalty instead of working 80 hours a week to live in a shack in San Francisco...Sure, there’s no Starbucks...but do you really care? It’s not just places like ZImbabwe...it’s places like Palau that will attract information workers from the US looking for a more balanced life.
After lunch, I went over to the Baobab Lodge. I stayed here last visit. Though you won’t find it in the Tourist information...it’s quite wonderful. The place is not a ritzy affair but well kept with a great feeling and service. Everyone here is really trustworthy and ready to help at any moment. The people who come here end up staying here everytime (except when friends invite them to their house like me).
The Baobab was started by Doris Jansen, who used to work for the IMF here in Zimbabwe and took to import/export of artwork to help support the artists. Doris set up the Boabab lodge and I met her a few years back through friends. She has a Sculpture Gallery just north of San Francisco.
I went just to say hi and also to meet with Stone Sculptors Doris is working with. In February, I shot interviews and portraits of five of the artists. I wanted to make sure they got copies of the photos and saw the interviews. While we take it for granted in the US, having a photo of yourself is a rare commodity in Zimbabwe. I try to bring pictures back often. I plan to do much more with this in the rural areas next trip.
The Art Peace Sculptors looking at their interviews.
We’re getting ready to do more than just help sell these artists’ stone work. In the Spring, we plan to have a computer here dedicated to the training them in 3D work. I’ve made a deal with the sculptors that I will teach them computer sculpture if they teach me stone sculpture. It will be exciting to see both results. :)
Of you think I’m crazy...check out these websites...
www.zbrush.com and www.amorphium.com
Digitial Sculpture.
I shot a few QTVRs while at Baobab. It’s a 6 meg tour of the grounds...I'll post it soon...
From Baobab, I went shopping for gifts at a roadside art mart of sorts. There’s basically 300 meters of Stone, textile, and wood work. Much of it is basic Curios (gift stuff) but some of it is truly Museum Quality...for $200 instead of $10,000.
This time, I had a huge breakthrough shopping.
Just some background...Stone Sculpture in Zimbabwe is not traditional “ritual” art...going back 100’s of years. It really began in the 50’s. While it definitely embodies much of the Shona culture...it’s not constrained by ceremony making it much more diverse. Over the last five decades, the tourism and international shows took the number of artists from a handful in 1955 to thousands today. It was a good industry to be in until, due to the current troubles, the tourism dried up. This has left the sculptors and the rest of the sales food chain desperate for sales. The result is near overwhelming interest when you go to buy goods. In the past, I felt like a hunk of chump in pirana infested waters...
This time, I shifted my approach. I realized that most of the work is similar across the many booths. In addition, most people in the US would love almost any of the items. I also looked at my purchases as supporting the artists as much as getting what I wanted. So, I embraced the process and made it clear that I was going to buy from everyone as I went done the line. When I was told “I am waiting for you”, I could respond “I’l be there soon!” The atmosphere became much more jovial and fun...and I have all the stone work that I can carry.
She was waiting for me...
Some of the art vendors...
Another Art Vendor and his nephew...who loves my Nikon's LCD screen...
Some of the work is out in the open...some locked...
Just to give you an idea of the quantity...
And Quality of the work....
I ended the day having drinks with Saki and Trevor. We’re working with ZIVA and Samso to build animations for a woman’s confernece in 2005 as well as some animations for AIDS awareness. The students will be doing all the work.
Saki and Trevor...
Whew! That was it. Next...travelling to Dar Es Salaam. There may be a delay in the posts next week. I will be in the bush in Tanzania Monday-Thursday...I think I will be able to post Wednesday night....
Harare from the Sky...
Posted: Fri - July 11, 2003 at 06:20 PM Africa, Summer (Winter) 2003 Email Comments
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Total entries in this blog: 31
Total entries in this category: 31
Published On: Aug 05, 2003 10:45 AM
Total entries in this category: 31
Published On: Aug 05, 2003 10:45 AM