Hello again, more than half-ways through the workshop,
Yesterday I worked very hard doing individual portfolio reviews, despite a harmless but unpleasant flue everyone around here currently seems to come down with… I guess it’s the kindergarden syndrome. The better part of this week is spent on pulling material together for a final show next Thursday. It should look pretty nice considering that we will almost have a real gallery - a currently unused classroom with good walls and fairly good light. Considering the workshop’s head count of twelve I doubt each student can show more than ten or fifteen pieces. Editing is very time-intensive given that most of the students still have a hard time expressing their likes and dislikes. Not rarely do I like best what they cast aside, so as a curator of our final show I have to balance my students still uncertain preferences with my mission to expand their visual vocabulary. This is also important because we were able to hook up with the US-Mission’s American Center here in regards to a future exhibit at Comesa building in downtown Lusaka and with some luck we may well have a gentleman come and see our little show.
The last assignment (As close as it goes: Man-made things photographed close up) was very opportune because it yielded a large amount of photos that were finally not just about who’s in them and mainly about their photographic impact. So the kids started to experience that a photo can be a desirable or at least interesting object in itself, not just a flat representation of its original content.
I knew when I came here that I was somewhat taking a chance since Zambia, pragmatically speaking, is not quite what we would identify as a fertile ground for creative minds. Children are taught to respect their elders above all and personal ambition can quickly become a downright foolish undertaking. Considering the country’s stifling bureaucracy and a systemic meritocracy, Zambians are very self-restrained. At the same time, Chishawasha itself is neither located in a colorful urban setting nor would it likely quench a tourist thirsting for an ‘Out of Africa’ clichee. But after having spent time with my kids and seeing their appreciation, I definitely feel it was the right place to come to. I also feel good about the results we’re getting. But there is still a lot ahead of us. More portfolio- and preparatory meetings tomorrow, along with taking simple portraits of my students, an excursion to a fishing village, leaving at 6am on Saturday. On Monday my students will then switch roles and become teachers to their peers and on Tuesday we’ll have a big shoot-out when those other kids finally get their turn to photograph. So you can tell I got my work cut out - to a point where I start doubting to ever find a chance to shop for souvenirs…
That’s it for today and may well be the last update before completion - a very tight week ahead of me. I also can’t wait to soon introduce the kids properly to the outside world! Wish us luck!
Greetings,
Klaus