Taking over where we left off from the last post. We left the art market and caught a yellow yellow to the SCCA, Savannah Center for Culture and Arts. This is a gallery started by an artist named Ibrahim Mahama.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Mahama_(artist)
Last two posts on the Tamale weekend Trip:
@leifasaur/tamale-weekend-visit-day-1
@leifasaur/tamale-weekend-day-2-the-art-market
Ibrahim has done a lot for the art community in Tamale. This is is first gallery and now he as 2 others. He has used his international fame to really build some great art studios in his own community. He is best known for draping entire buildings in burlap sacks that are sewn together. One of my posts in this series will be on his other amazing gallery that we visited Red Clay Studios.
It was easy to see when we were close and approaching. The road was red and muddy our yellow yellow dodging some big puddles as the red brick building grew in size. There was a large school in front of it, even though it was a large building that is not what stood out. It was the red bricks in a sea of concrete and some large banners. An open building face is also welcoming because most places in Ghana hide behind walls.
You always know a place is going to be good when you see some happy children leaving. The doors are within doors and they are a massive wood work. The people doors during the day time are a glass door, but there are big wooden doors to cover then during their closing hours I am sure.
As you enter you are greeted directly by this tall black and white piece to set the mood for the whole space.
Just beyond the entrance wall the space opens up to massive white walls and high ceilings. The major work dominating the room was the 8 panels of what almost looks like cracked dry African clay spread across the floor. As you look at it each though are different in their textures and hue. One of the curators of the gallery then joined us and told us a bit about it. It is an experiment in bioplastics. Plastics made from natural things. This one for instance is made from a popular food in Ghana called Waakye. This is black eyed peas and rice cooked together with a certain leave that gives it a red color. This combination was blended with water and made into different consistency and that is what you see before you.
Another work concentrated on layers, colors and light with a grain on an overhead projector.
Some very classic feeling pieces.
Maybe you can get a feel for the size of the building and layout. On the one side was another 3 stories of open balconies.
The first of these balconies was a library with a bunch of great art books and some big tables. There were some young girls doing some paintings at the table it was a great space for kids to enjoy art, and books also.
You can see the balconies here. There is currently nothing on the top floor.
A couple of last shots on our way out those big wood doors.
Remember we still have another major visit on the agenda for the day. Next stop Dzigbordi's family house again this time we will be seeing her aunt and all her cousins.