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Carol's Blog

Converting the Stables into the main Exhibition Space

27/3/2018

 
Before
Demolition
During
After
A missing link in the One Off story is that with the success of the creation of the stable annex, we decided to go all out and convert the whole stable. The decision was informed by the pressing need for extra exhibition space and simultaneously, all our equine family developed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to varying degrees.
CariBlanco and Laury
New equine accommodation
Candy and Chloe
Our vets recommended that all the horses and donkeys immediately be moved to a very open environment and we quickly cobbled together new stables on our arena.  Many people look shocked and worried about 'what happened to the horses' but as you see from the photographic evidence, they don't seem resentful about the downgrade in accommodation.  Indeed, Cooper's Creek and Zweli are coming up for 28 years old and CariBlanco is keeping up with them. We pray daily for their continued well-being.
The completed stable conversion with Lisa Milroy's beautiful exhibition 'Handmade'.
Our opening exhibition on 7th April 2018, was 'Handmade' by super-star artist Lisa Milroy.  Lisa hails from London and we were enormously fortunate to have her exhibit with us.  At the time she was the graduate painting instructor at The Slade, one of Britain's most prestigious art schools.  She has subsequently had her work accepted into the collection of the Tate Modern.  We could hardly hope for a more eminent opening artist.

Curating Yony Wai^te show for National Museum

28/8/2014

 
Got back from having coffee at the National Muesum with Yony Wai^te and James Muriuki - a follow-on from a magical visit to Yony's studio on the Athi Plains last week.  I feel I've come full circle on this one.  
Yony Waite and Carol Lees in Yony's Athi Plains studio
With Yony in her Athi Plains studio
When I first worked as a designer in Kenya 33 years ago,  I was sent to commission Yony to do a 20 foot long mural for Samburu Lodge.  Yony decided to paint the canvas whilst staying in a tiny apartment in California and so she never had a full impression of her output because the canvas had to wind round a few corners and through a couple of rooms. She then decided to transport it back to Kenya wrapped around her huge new desk-top computer.

As project designers, we awaited the unveiling of our masterpiece with some trepidation but miraculously, it arrived in almost perfect shape and after a few touch ups the monumental painting was successfully installed in the dining room of the lodge.
Yony Waite's 'One of the tree' series, made in Kenya
One of the tree series - made in Kenya
Yony Waite's 'One of the tree' series - made in America
One of the tree series - made in America
I am truly honoured to be curating this major show for Yony which we plan to hold at the National Museum towards the end of this year. In her exhibition, Yony will showcase her tree series about which she is passionate and on which she has been working for many years. Many of the paintings were made in California at her Father's cabin before it was sold following his death.
Picture
Yony Wai^te, 1 of 3 founders of Gallery Watatu
For those new to the art scene, Yony was one of the three founders of Gallery Watatu (watatu meaning three in Kiswahili).  She gave such great artists as Jak Katarikawe his first show.  It is on broad shoulders such as Yony's that we all now stand.


Mark your Diaries for:
"INTO THE TREES" BY YONY WAI*TE  
Venue:  National Museums of Kenya (NMK)
Opens 23 November 2014, 11 am - 5 pm
The exhibition runs till 31 December 2014

    Carol Lees

    As curator of a Fine Art Gallery for over 25 years, I've met some highly original people and found myself in some unusual situations.  I hope you enjoy my day to day adventures of running One Off Gallery in Nairobi, Kenya.

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  • Home
  • About
    • One Off
    • One Off Team
    • Carol's Blog
  • Artists
    • Exclusive Artists
    • Associated Artists
  • Exhibitions
    • Yellow
    • Photography 20:21
    • At Artcaffe
    • Virtual Photography 20:20
    • About Sankara >
      • Sankara Exhibition Archive
    • Exhibition Archive
  • Sculpture Garden
  • Opportunities
    • Open Call
  • Visit
  • Purchase
    • Collectors
  • Media
    • Press
    • Video - artists in their workspaces
    • Video Archive
  • Contact