Curating Yony Wai^te show for National Museum

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.  

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.

One of the tree series - made in Kenya

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.

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