The mural Terra de Cabral in Praia on the Amilcar Cabral Foundation.

I was invited by the Cape Verdean government's cultural center, Palacio da Cultura Ildo Lobo, to create a series of murals exploring the culture, history and social issues of this West African island nation. My artist residency included youth mural projects in a school and a community center in impoverished neighborhoods, collaborations with local artists and cultural centers, an exhibition and presentation of my work, and leading public art workshops. While working with the children and teens, I began developing a new technique in which they are free to paint anything they want within a given color scheme, all of which becomes incorporated into the mural-- an approach I call "Expressive Group Painting," demonstrated below...

Students at the Infância Feliz school in Praia using their creativity!

This piece features an anti-drug poem in creole by one of the students. The topics were chosen by the kids.

detail

Another piece in the same school. The patterns, called "pano de terra," are well-known in Cape Verde. The words next to the child are in creole (kriolu) and mean "look at us," "pay attention to us," and "help us" all in one phrase.

Me painting the revolutionary hero Amilcar Cabral on the anniversary of his assassination.

Me and my friends Va and Alex in front of the newly-completed mural on a youth center on the island of São Vicente

The kids loved painting! They were free to use their creativity to make the background to the mural.

Many children learn to play the violin and other instruments in this youth center.

This is a "mendinga," a popular character who is a savage hunter-- many people dress up like this during Carnaval here.

My personal exhibition and presentation in the Palâcion da Cultura in Praia

me with friends in Praia.

 detail from Terra de Cabral with quote from revolutionary hero Amilcar Cabral

detail from Terra de Cabral

detail

As I was working on the first mural, the president of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires, stopped by to meet me and see the artwork. We chatted and took pictures, and the president said he liked the artwork and couldn't wait to see the end result.

Nightly News covers the Mindelo mural project

Twice during my time in Cape Verde, the nightly news did stories on my projects.

Mural complete! "Semiá na Terra de Fernand Pó"

After lots of hard work, we completed the Sao Vicente mural! It features on the right a "mendinga," which is a popular figure during Carnaval-- people put black oil all over their bodies and dress as traditional hunters, and run around the streets growling and dancing! Also included is the local community's unique dance of São João, which includes a woman dressed as a gypsy dancing beside a man, who plays percussion on the floor. The left side of the mural features some of the community center's activities-- flute and violin classes. Also included are local houses, plants, and a variety of brightly- colored designs and spray paint techniques.

Me, Va and Alex in front of the finished mural.

Mendinga!!

The dance of São João

detail

detail pic showing the incorporation of the kids' artwork

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Carnaval in Sao Vicente!

Luckily for us, we were on the island for one of the world's great Carnaval celebrations! For days leading up to Carnaval we experienced the high energy and creativity of Mindelo's residents, who dress in crazy costumes and dance in the street, in the clubs, and have huge parades. We had the time of our lives and met lots of new friends!

me and Alex in our Carnaval costumes

me with new friends in Mindelo

Off to Mindelo, São Vicente!

For my last 2 weeks in Cape Verde, I headed to another island called São Vicente, known as the heart of Cape Verdean culture and art. Accompanying me was the project assistant (and my good friend!) Alex Carvalho. I was immediately blown away by the beautiful city with a great vibe, and loved it at first sight! We began work quickly at the youth community center Centro Juvenil, located in the economically depressed neighborhood of Ribeira de Craquinha. We met with the local to discuss the imagery that they would like to paint on the wall. Like the youth project in Praia, local children and teens covered the wall with drawings and writings in order to create an interesting background for the mural, full of vibrant creativity! They loved it!

view from the sea

of one Mindelo's hillside communities

the kids letting loose on the wall!

before long it was covered!

local kids

me painting up top as locals watch

 view from above of the wall almost complete

Youth Mural Project: Escola Infancia Feliz

For my next project, I spent 2 weeks working with students in the school Infancia Feliz, which provides an education to some of Praia's poorest kids, many of whom would not have a chance to go to school if it weren't for the school. I met with them to discuss the images and themes they would like to use in the artwork. The first mural featured the Cape Verdean flag and Amilcar Cabral, the revolutionary leader, and local patterns called "pano de terra." For the next 2 murals with the kids, I invented a technique aimed to harness the high energy of the kids in the school, which can be challenging to control. The idea is that the kids, using a pre-chosen color scheme, draw anything they want-- they write their names, funny phrases, hand prints, and draw little pictures of butterflies and hearts and so on. They loved it! I then used this jumble of kids' creativity as the background to the murals. The first is an anti-drug piece that the kids wanted to do, using a poem by one of the students in their language, kriolu. The second featured a child and the phrase "Nhos djobi pa nos," which means "look at us," "pay attention to us," and "help us," all at the same time, in reference to the school's mission.

putting some finishing touches on the Cabral mural

the kids showing off their creativity!

finished piece

detail pic

detail pic

everyone wanted to paint!

completed!

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school children enjoying the new artwork they helped create

me and Alex with the finished product