Inspired by - Gambia
Wide open walls, Gambia – Turning villages into living art
Posted by rod - 06.07.2011
Wide Open Walls was founded by Lawrence Williams, one of the owners of the Makasatu conservation project at Mandina in Gambia, West Africa. The basic idea of the project was to create art installations in the area and equally promoting Gambia as a tourist destination. Collaborating with the community art project Write on Africa (based in South Africa), they worked in public spaces with the purpose of turning these villages into living art.
The street artists of Wide Open Walls 2011 all have their own distinct style, and were also selected for their approach and view on art. The lineup presented artists from various countries, including Bushdwellers (Gambia), ROA (Belgium), Know Hope (Israel), Remed (Madrid), TIKA (Switzerland), Freddy Sam (SA), Selah (SA), and Best Ever (UK).
One of the most important goals of the project was to “create connections between the street artists and the communities through mural painting, art workshops and extended interventions”. Children in the villages could unfold their creativity with the art supplies provided, and a classroom was refurbished and colourfully decorated by Freddy Sam (real name Ricky Lee Gordon), the initiator of Write on Africa.
Sydelle Willow Smith carried out several interviews with the participants, including the local people, the street artists and the organisers. South African photographer Jonx Pillemer and filmmaker Rowan Pybus documented the project which took place 3–17 June 2011. via africandigitalart
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1 Comment (add yours?)
this is mind-blowing! I always love interactive art or anything that takes creativity out of the museums, web, etc. and brings it front and center to the daily lives of people