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Artist carving African history Noted Nigerian artist shares thoughts on art, culture BY T. KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONICLE Lamidi Olonade Fakeye didn't choose his profession.; ? It chose him. Though he comes from a long I line of woodcarvers, five genera I tions in fact. Fakeye shuffled around from job to job in his native Nigeria before throwing himself into the profession that would make him and his work internationally renowned. "I was a bike carrier, lumber jack: barber " Fakeye recalled last week. Fakeye credits a British priest with reawakening his woodcarv ing legacy that lived inside him. The priest noticed Fakeye's great potential while he was enrolled in , a workshop. ? The rest, as they say. is history. Five decades later. Fakeye's work can be seeii in universities, churches and galleries all over the world. * In between practicing his craft and traveling the world showing and selling them. Fakeye teaches woodcarving at a university in Nigeria, where he still lives today. Fakeye was in Washington on Dec. 12 for the opening of "African Voices." a permanent Smithsonian exhibit aimed at dis pelling commonly-held myths about the continent. Fakeye's work is featured in the exhibit and he was on hand at the opening to sign copies of his retrospective autobiography. Fakeye was pictured in a sil houette standing next to one of his creations with an article about the exhibit that ran in the New York Times last week. Fakeye's spending his last week in America before returning home to teach here in Winston-Salem with his longtime friends and fellow Nige rians Yomi and Adey Durotoye. It was at the couple's home last week that a relaxed and animated Fakeye shared his thoughts on his art and his homeland. "It's very much alive, very much so," Fakeye said about the arts in Africa. The centuries-old arts tradi tion is being kept alive on the con tinent by potters, bead and leather artists and woodcarvers. Fakeye I said. He says African artists are 1 finding greater acceptance of their j work in galleries and museums 1 throughout the world. The Smith- I sonian exhibit is one example of < that. Fakeye said. "In America. African art is 1 very much appreciated," he said. Several of his pieces are on loan at ' museums here: others have sold 1 for as much as $20,000. i But this country's love of African art has led to imitation, < which is not always a form of flat- I tery. j "We've seen African art with made in Hong Kong' on the back of it," said Yomi Durotoye, who teaches politics at Wake Forest University. They call the imitations "air port art," because it's commonly sold in airports to tourists and unsuspecting natives. True African art cannot be mass pro duced: it takes time to create and it often will not be cheap. Fakeye's creations are sold through galleries, and he says about a dozen sales a year provide him enough money to live com fortably. His smaller woodcutt ings take up to a week to com plete. In addition to masks, Fakeye's smaller pieces include carvings of figures from the Yoruba culture, like Sango, the custodian of ener gy, who is depicted variously in his work. The smaller pieces can be hung from walls or fit on mantels or tables. < "His carvings speak to Yoruba traditions." Yomi Durotoye said. The Durotoyes' house is filled with Fakeye's arts. They have col lected many pieces from African artists over the years. It takes Fakeye up to a year to :omplete his larger pieces. It took him about that long to carve the gigantic doors to the Nigerian Assembly; he has done similar doors for churches and schools. Fakeye's largest creation was completed in 1987. The imposing statue of Ife. believed to be the first women on Earth, stands near the entrance of Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University. Fakeye works with a variety of woods, from iroko, which is plen tiful in Nigeria, to mahogany, which he says is one of his favorites. To this day, he still goes through the painstaking process of woOdcarving with a bevy of homemade tools.. Now and then, Fakeye will use a chisel or other Western tools. Fakeye says age hasn't slowed his productivity down. In fact, he believes it has enhanced his per sonality. "The older you are, the better you get," he said with a smile. Though Fakeye doesn't plan any public appearances in Win ston-Salem this time, he says it's a possibility he will return in the near future for that purpose. See Artist on A9 ?II ? I 1 i I?LdlL ? ^ Photo by Kevin Walker Lamidi Olonade fake ye holds one of his woodcarrings at thm homo of Yomi Durotoye in Winston-Salom. fakeye, a world renowed artists, is in the country for a Smithsonian exhibit. Organizations offer last minute tax writeoffs by-Paul collins thl( mromc'll Goodwill Industries and Salva tion Army art two ol the local charities that provide opportunities for last-minute tax w riteolTs. Goodwill accepts clothing, fur niture. household items, comput ers. small appliances, boats, campers, automobiles and books. Goodw ill cannot accept mattresses, box springs, stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers and tires. Donors get a tax deduction and Goodwill gets additional funds for education, job training and job placement .programs for people with barriers to employment. Donations are sold in Goodwill Retail stores. Automobiles that are donated are used in Goodwill's Wheels-to-Work program linking a donated car to a welfare recipient who has a job but needs depend able ?ransportation to keep it. Goodwill provides receipts to donors at its drop-off sites, and attendants can validate itemized lists when they are presented. Goodwill has 13 attended donation centers throughout northwestern North Carolina, including: ? Main. 2701 University Park way, Winston-Salem, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 29. 30 and 31. ? Mount Tabor, 3327 Robin hood Road (across from Sherwood Plaza Shopping Center), 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 29, 30 and 31. ? 4883 Country Club Road (Cottman Transmission), 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 29, 30 and 31. ? Wal-Mart, 4550 Kester Mill Road. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 29, 30 and 31. / Salvation Army's Thrift Store, 1035 Northwest Blvd., is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 29, 30 and 31, and Salvation Army will have a truck in the parking lot at Target Department Store on University Parkway Dec. 29, 30 and 31 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Salvation Army does not accept items that need repair, because it has no one to repair them, said Warren Martin. Salvation Army accepts items including furniture, clothes, house hold goods and toys. If you wish to donate a car, call the Salvation Army at 723-6366. People who wish to make mon etary donations to the Salvation Army should date their checks by Dec. 31, 1999, and mail to the Sal vation Army at P.O. Box 1205, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Guide from page AI Salem, like the 1915 graduating class of the Slater Academy (now known as Winston Salem State University). The guide also lists African American owned shops, restau- > rants and hot nightclubs for the tourist to visit while in the Twin City. "This guide is something that the -A fncan American communi ty c :>e proud of," Burke said. > "It encompasses our history and includes African American busi nesses. churches and people who have long been a part of Win ston-Salem," Burke added. The CVB has targeted the minority market since 1987. The bureau attempted to gain more minority conventions and tours by showcasing the city as a potential meeting and conven tion destination at major minor ity conferences and meetings, including the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners fall and spring meetings. According to figures released from the CVB. minority-based conventions should generate a total of 10,850 room nights for the 1999-2000 fiscal year. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education is accepting applications and nominations for people to serve on its Equity Committee. This advisory board provides valuable feedback on issues regarding instruction, staffing, and resources among our 50 zone schools. If you are interested in being considered for the committee, or if you know someone who could make positive contributions to our schools, contact Amanda Bell, Assistant Superintendent, at 727-2787, for an application and more information. Application deadline is January 3. j|C \ Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools ^ MRk ^tfl |?r?\^ ~ "??*- ^^ WW Hi. | VH B-. - ^B v I R J B* ^HbR Bh^^R mmr, 1.%*, ^jHfBk vi MM* wSj Mimmmrn 1 a^H9^H Meatball: Directions:^ -? ^ A ^ I 2 Ik Ground Beef or Chuck Mix ground chuck, bread crumbs, ^^9H|H|PP||||^^^ ? 1 Vi qp I>ry Bread Crumbs egg, onion and milk together. ifVT Form 1 inch balls. Bake for 15 - ^11% %| 1/2 cap Mdk 20 minutes at 350". Pour % 10* S ltfcup Chopped OnHwte preserves and BBQ in a crackpot. w ^uce* . Place meatballs in crockpot and L - ^ m II "^MSI * V!:::"te^w >ujt- Smaller Packages 1291b. |: USDA Choke Boneless Top Sirloin Steal 199IRH w^m I mm* ? 14.5 oz. A Doritos \ Chips Buy One, Get One FREE] Each tnw.u xll he charged at half price Firm Green Cabbie Uw IK Assorted Varieties Lowes Foodsjca 3 Liter Cola^3 79' I 24 pk-/12 ox. Cans Bud Ice oijfljj Bud or Bud Light Suitcase! 1199 ?'? ^ ^ '? i ^w at* ~~ y^ x i
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 30, 1999, edition 1
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