DESE, Icon Painter

Heloo how are you how is life going all with you this time?
how rae you getting on with your profession or job?
ever since I recieved your letter I was very much eger to write a reply to you but believe me that it was all unavoid able i was realy busy doing pictures (paint) so I am sorry for having not written any one to you for such a long time any way
I would like to thank you very much for your golden Assisstance
I get every so often I would like to thank you once agin
for you let me go language center and master it and you worthfull training in designing last year there fore i want you take it form me that I improved what ever deshigning is and some waht in language compitance.
I want let you know the following personalities of mine or my personality
1. Desalegn Tilahun Gebredingil
2. 04 47 75 14 18
3. designer (painter nad architecture)
4. 26 years old
5. married and have 2 kids and I support my family
6. creating new design is my hobby
7. shortage of capital and material block me not ot hasten my work
8. lastly want I want to forcast or say is I hope to be well know in my work throughout the world and contact with other professianls of my work rest hoping to see so long.

Thanks yours trainee
Desalegn

YEHUALA, Icon Painter

My full name is Yehuala Mered Ayele. I am a 36 years old painter and artisan. As a painter I do traditional church paintings, portraits and other paintings of commercial value. As an artisan I do leather designs and commercial writings. I am single, and I enjoy spiritual service and playing string musical instruments.
I was accustomed to sketch derogatory or taboo pictures of the human organs on the blackboard to get class mates enjoyed and have fun with that. I have gradually inclined and get immersed with the love and intrinsic beauty of paintings.
I do what I do, firstly, it is because of natural inclination to paintings. For this reason I just terminated my job from Gondar Printing Enterprise. Secondly, it is my livelihood.
Thank you God, The Most High, when I was kid I was against to social norm; when I entered adolescence I began digging the secret of art, now adult, I peacefully sip the benefit of what was referred to "taboo".

MOGES, Manuscript Writer

Thank you for have given me a chance to write you this letter. My name is Moges Melku. I am 25 years old, and I live in Gondar, Ethiopia. I'm a handy craft man.
I am found to be learning English Language because of the Abessinia Project's considerable help. I like both the language and the teachers. To your surprise before and after I started learning English language, I always wish to speak to you English languages as fluently as other English speakers. Secondly I always wish to exchange ideal with you without any translator and tell you what ever I want.
I am also hopeful of this to be successful in your considerable help.
One of the ideas I want to tell you with out any translate is the purpose of my teeth, before 3 years I had a car accident on my teeth because of this my teeth have been very ill and one of them has fallen down. I tried to be treated and have artificial tooth in place of fallen one.
But I couldn't have money to do this. So I hope you will solve my problem.
Your respectfully
Moges Melku
"With the best Wishes"

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.