Mural #
129
The Kenyan Singing Tree of Hope That Through All Her Pain, the Motherland Will Continue to Support Life


The Kenyan Singing Tree of Hope That Through all of her Pain the Motherland Continues to Support Life was a collaboration between educators and students in Kenya, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and an important part of the Cultures of Innovation 2023 Fulbright Hays Group Project Abroad.The facilitators in the US included Nanci Goldberg, Detria Dixon, Erica Shadowsong, Nina Unitas, Ashanti York, and Beth Boza, and of course our catalyst Maureen Porter.
Each played pivotal roles in the conception, process, and completion of this particular Singing Tree project both at home and abroad.
Adam Masava and his artists from the Mukuru Art Collective in Nairobi, Kenya brainstormed the start of the painting and imbued it full of symbolic meaning. Mt. Kilimanjaro overlooks two African fig trees. One is bursting with life, rooted in love and care for the earth. The other has been deliberately harmed by human’s inattention to global concerns. Yet, as it falls the healthy tree catches and supports it. The hands holding a new seed show new hope for the future. The leaves on the trees and ground were created by school children in Limuru, Nairobi, Eldoret, and other areas of Southwestern Kenya. Each student decorated their leaf with their favorite word in Swahili, an image of something important to them, or a thing they appreciate in nature. The leaves were brought back to the US and added to the mural. The number of students in Kenya who helped with this step of the process cannot be fully estimated, as so very many of them made multiple leaves at each stop of our journey. They were so delighted and excited to use their creativity!
Upon returning from Kenya, students at Hilliard Darby High School in central Ohio continued to add to the mural. Darby students then made the addition of the unlimited potential symbolized in the universe as the border, and the flowing waters of a river and animal life throughout. Darby’s Heritage Speakers’ course added stars in the night sky filled with words of empowerment in their native language (predominantly Spanish), Kiswahili, and English. In total, over 50 students at Darby High School helped with various steps during this stage of the project.
The Kenyan Singing Tree of Hope That Through all of her Pain the Motherland Continues to Support Life was displayed at the Hilliard Arts Council from April 19-May 15, as part of a gallery show including artwork students created with Adam Masava during his visit to our school. The Singing Tree was the centerpiece of the exhibition, and was enjoyed but the public that came to the show opening and throughout the month it was displayed.
“How amazing is it that I am helping with a painting that began halfway around the world? How cool is it that we are sharing problems and solutions and even paint with people we have not met but would be our friends?” -Maddie Movshin, student (she painted the zebra)
“I think the Singing Tree provides such a wonderful format for creating a mural with many people. From the shared imagery of natural subjects such as trees, the heavens, and the earth…to the symbolic nature we each bring to these images, it is a painting that celebrates our similarities, uniqueness, and a hope for our communities.”
"I loved working with each of our groups in Kenya. Adam and his artists from the Mukuru Collective brought such insight to the symbolism of the base of the piece. They each added to it in theme and with their paint brushes. Their enthusiasm while painting was infectious and my hands itched to jump right in there with them. That same infectious enthusiasm followed through each stop as students and teachers helped us create leaves, animals, and stars to add to the mural. There were so many smiling faces, excited talk, and much sharing with each other what was being drawn. The students who helped carefully and thoughtfully picked their words and images, and were eager to share with each of us. I met many girls at Kakenya’s Center of Excellence who drew their futures as doctors and environmentalists. We learned about primary school students favorite heroes and animals. Working on this project allowed us to get to know one another in the way creating art together does, quickly, easily and with meaning." - Beth Boza
Facilitator:
Dr. Maureen Porter
Partners:
Location:
Mchumbi Road, Nairobi, Kenya