Art Finds: Not So Much Thus Far, but I will find art for sure!

United Nations Drive wall mural - detail

Part of my dream while visiting Liberia for the next two years is to discover the "art scene." Of course I will find the classic, beautiful masks,  sculptures, and local crafts and well I already have at the "tourist spots" around town. I will wait until I travel with Vamsi out into the counties to find the real-deal as it were. And I still need to do some more research to find out what is what. Vamsi's colleague is expecting a visitor friend from Harvard who has an extensive collection of West African Art and I may just be patient and wait for his counsel.

It is my understanding that quilting is the national art of Liberia and President Johnson Sirleaf has been said to have installed huge quilts in her office to show her support of quilters. Yet, I have not come across even old quilts in the market - so the hunt is on...

More importantly, I would like to find contemporary art created by the vision, the inspiration, and the creativity of Liberia's young population. Unfortunately, I have yet to see much art at all - even street art/graffiti is sparse,  and when you find it it is usually made my rocks being scraped against a white washed wall. Ironically, a block north of our compound is the only colorful mural of sorts that I have come across in all my drives and walks through town. It is on a wall of a compound with no identifying marks and for me it is currently the only art in my life....

United Nations Drive wall mural - long view. don't make fun of my iphone camera photographs.