Wednesday, December 14, 2011

African art, giving tree

Both benefit women and children


By JENNIFER LIEBRUM
Express Staff Writer

Beaded artwork like this horse are painstakingly threaded by hand by artists working in South Africa, then sold abroad and the profits returned to their communities. Courtesy photo

There are many ways to make your Christmas money work long after the holiday is over.

This week, stop by Gilman Contemporary Gallery in Ketchum where what shoppers buy can impact locally and globally.

Thursday, Dec. 15, marks the return of the limited-edition exhibit of South African beaded artwork to Sun Valley. These art pieces are made by a contingent of Capetown bead artists to be sold outside their country with proceeds going directly back to fund programs there.

"Monkeybiz employs women that are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS," said Jane Letourneau, the Ketchum voluntary facilitator for the woman-powered company. "One hundred percent of the profits go back to Africa."

Letourneau said there are 150 pieces, mostly animals, ranging in price from $25 to $850.

"They are very intricate and run from the very tiny to quite large," Letourneau said. "But they are all unique."

Each piece is signed by the artist.

Monkeybiz has become a model for income generation and women's empowerment at the grassroots level. Last year's sale raised $10,000.

Similar items have been snatched up by celebrities like Halle Berry, Kevin Bacon and Donna Karan.

The party starts at 4:30 p.m. with wine, beer and appetizers.

For more information on Monkeybiz Bead Project South Africa visit www.monkeybiz.co.za.

Those in the giving spirit can pull a tag from the "giving tree" in front of the gallery. The tags have requests from local children and women who are clients of the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. People are invited to take a tag, fill the request and return the items unwrapped, to the gallery.

Last year, a Grinch stole the tree before all the tags had been fulfilled, said gallery director Casey Hanrahan.

"Luckily, the community rallied and everyone on the list received their request," she said.

Gilman Contemporary Gallery

Where: 661 Sun Valley Rd. at Spruce Avenue, Ketchum.

When: Thursday, Dec. 15 at 4:30 p.m.

What: Wine, nibbles and charitable shopping.




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