KAHLE, Manuscript Writer

I am very glad to write this letter. My name is Kahle Damte Areki. I live in Gondar, Ethiopia. I am an artisan, 25 years of age. In my leisure time I am trying to learn English laguage by the Abessinia Project's assistance. Besides these, I am working hard in selling Goods to manage my life.
Kahle Damte
With the best wises

AYESHESHEM, Icon Painter

My name is Ayesheshem Awoke Tadele. I'm a 30 years old artist, leather craftsman, and cameraman. I draw different pictures I prepare leather product such as wallet, bags, belts and others.
I live in Gondar, Ethiopia, with my wife, two daughters and my brother. I enjoy playing kirar (a traditional musical instrument) and planting trees.
Here in Gondar, the out look of my community towards work is backward (undeveloped). I don't have a comfortable place to do my works, and there is lack of support from the government to develop our skill. There are no opportunities to be employed in different organizations and enterprises.
My vision for the future is to develop my skill in drawing through further training.

EPHREM, Icon Painter

I am 19 years old, and my profession is painter of modern, traditional abstract and pictures. I also like watching films, playing football and listening music. I paint to earn income in order to support my family. I always have shortages in money and painting materials. My paintings should be better promoted so I can earn more.
I want my artworks to be famous and I want to be an appreciated artist in Ethiopia and abroad. I would also like to teach arts.
Currently I'm looking for cooperation in art via projects of paintings and designs. I want to be the best artist and working with the best artists.
Yours sincerely. Ephrem.

BERHANU, Artist

I am 27 years old Ethiopian Artist, Who is one of the young and up coming artists that are expected to be a difference making group in the art society. Recently I am teaching art at Addis Ababa University, School of fine Arts and Design in the department of Graphic arts.

I came from educated family, who could be able to understand me since my early child hood. I have one kid brother, who is studying on his first degree and one elder sister, an accountant by profession. After my graduation, I started living alone with my creative art works.

I have special interests of discussing about every issue, especially art with Ethiopian friends and different nations, helping people in any ways I can, spending time out of the city, having some fun with friends, listening music and watching movies.

As an artist, I might be inspired with any part of this probable world and things in it. On this stage of my experiment, it is better for me to say that I am influenced by my own perception and understanding things. Because I am not a kind of artist who strictly fallows the same way on the style he works and the material or media he uses. I do not put any restriction and limitation on my creative art works. Furthermore, I involved myself in art because it makes me feel immortal when I do it, noting else and this feeling lets me able to practice it with full of freedom.

I am an artist who is living his own happy life with everything around him. As an artist I can feel and know that the concept and dialogue of art has been changing time to time, as it has been measured by the creativeness of the artists in different periods. So, there is nothing that makes me afraid of raising and working with my philosophical ideas with different medias and presentations as well.

I have a vision of being a good artist, who can be able to raise ideas in new ways and convince people, specially the art society about my idea on the way I want it to. And displaying my art works with out putting a price on it. Oh… I miss that day, when my vision comes to existence.

Berhanu Ashagrie Deribew

Tel - 251-11-1232833

Mob- 251-91- 166 41 73

P. O. Box - 150043

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

E-mail- brisha2@yahoo.com

GENET, Artist

I am an Ethiopian woman artist, born and raised Addis Ababa. I have grown up in a family dominated by women family members. This usually finds its way to be exhibited in my art works, where in women are the center of my art subjects. Depicting my ideas from a woman’s perceptive, I like creating and exploring new ways of transmitting my ideas. The continuous journey in producing art and the changes I see in it helps me see and find myself in my works.

I have produced many graphic works and paintings. Currently, I am much into collage and print making techniques. I make hand made papers from natural fibers, which is a great compliment in my collage and print making works. I also make glass beads.

In the past, I have participated in many group exhibitions. I have taken part in group shows held in Lamu Fort and French Cultural Institute, Nairobi, Kenya (2006) during the 5th Wasanii International Artists Workshop, where in I presented a wind chain installation work on an open space. Besides, I worked as an art teacher in an elementary school and also worked as an illustrator for the British Counsel women to women publication (2001-2004). I have participated in print making- etching and Glass bead making workshops in Addis Ababa and in Kitingela(2003, 2004)

Presently, I run a studio called ‘Meftle’, where I work and also provide short term trainings on etching and paper making. I find myself in the theme of spinning, ‘Meftle’ in Amharic, which is a major activity in women’s life in Ethiopia and is the early process in producing the traditional clothes. Beyond that I see ‘Meftle’ as a process that transforms things, which are weak in to something real , strong and beautiful. The hand made papers I produce from the thrown natural fibers have the same idea of process and transformation. Even though I do different works that revolve around different themes, in all my works I reflect the idea of the process, which is integrated with the techniques I use and the thoughts behind my works.

MIKIYAS, Icon Painter

You know my Art work has been transferred from generation to generation. My father is a very know painter's of religious, traditional as well as modern paintings. My dad had been learnt painting from his clothe relative family. And also my dad learnt painting to me and to the rest of my brothers and sisters at our home (at our home's college).
I started painting when I was a child; I can say I grew with painting quarter of my life.
So paintings form me and for my father is a livelihood profession.
I do painting for the sake of satisfaction,( peace of mind), to stimulate my body and as entertain place.
Please add this golden idea to my profile "Les we Knock at the door it shall be open on to us"
See you soon.
Love
Mikiyas.

GARED, Icon Painter

I am happy my introduction with you .you know me .I am GARED GIDEY age 29 birth place Axum Ethiopia .I am married .I have got one son &a daughter .I was born from a poor farmer who was living in rural area .I grow with three sisters &a brother .now they lead their own life them selves .but earlier as we were orphan life was hook for us
My hobby of art began since my child hood while, I was churches student I draw different cultural items & modern I now send for you the following curbs paints of my own works
1, craft on a wood describe different curbs of my own
2, Inside the curb it has different paints express religious history
3, modern art that express natural phenomenon living style of rural
4, picture that express rural practices indifferent works
5,st. YAREDS picture who was church hymn and founder of modern rhythms.
6, chain that express different designs
Your sincerely GARED GIDEY
Axum Ethiopia
Thank you again

LIELTI, Icon Painter

firstly I would like to introduce my self I m Lielti Leake my work is I M traditional Painting and traditional medalist (cultural). How I start painting is because of my father was painter and then I interested by my father painting and then I start. even painting helps explain our feeling. Why I work is the Ethiopian traditional and cultural things to introduce and to explain my feeling.
The work shop in Addis Ababa was very pleasant. It was very interesting tome .I learned many things in the work shop .in my suggestion I wish the course or your workshop is continue.
Art is according to my understanding is speaking and much
Without in Axum in initiative to create to new things example workshop like in Addis Ababa the Abessinia project management helped me by different way. In English Course I develop more in speaking and writing because our teacher is excellent Graduated in English.
I’m sending you my painting it is about Ethiopia traditional culture.

best wishes to abissinia project management
Sincerely you're Lielti Leake