“A proudly Zambian new concept full of vibrant hope for a new start” … these are the dreams of the founding members of Kachere Art Studios. Recognising and being deeply concerned at the high rate of unemployment and high numbers of school “drop outs”, the project was started 18 months ago by Alexis Phiri with his vision of helping youths to get a new start through art. Kachere has ambitious plans, from their humble beginnings in the back garden of Alexis Phiri’s home in Olympia, where I visited them recently, they are due to soon relocate to their Kachere Art Village in Chilanga. There they plan to set up a campsite and a restaurant serving Zambian meals, as well as their art village.

I met some of the group of artists on my visit and had a chance to see some of their sculptures. Certainly impressive, and using a range of mediums from marble to wood and aluminium castings, the pieces are original and unique. Kachere Art Studios accepts both corporate and private commissions for pieces in any medium.

As well as providing a venue for artists to work from and an outlet for their art works, Kachere also intends to promote cultural exchange visits. They presently have two visiting artists in residence: Omar Barahona from Colombia, and Agnew Masango who comes from the Domboramwari (Rock of God) Art Village in Harare, Zimbabwe. They also recently welcomed the Nanzikambe drama group from Malawi who performed their adaptation of The Little Prince in Lusaka, and have received an invitation to send two groups of Zambian artists to Malawi on a cultural exchange. Several Lusaka schools have also expressed interest in bringing groups of students studying the arts to work with the group and share ideas.

Kachere is affiliated to the Visual Arts Council, but don’t want to restrict themselves or their experiences to the visual arts alone, rather embracing all forms of art, from drama, crafts, photography, to music and culture.

Well known Zambian artist, Quentin Allen and photographer, Stephen Robinson are associates. Together with Alexis they provide direction and advice to the group. In their short time together, the Kachere artists have exhibited at various local exhibitions and internationally with Zambia National Tourist Board at the World Tourism Market in London, and on the ZNTB road shows in the US and Canada.

Future plans include mobile workshops – where groups of artists will travel to remote parts of Zambia to work and interact to share new ideas. Environmental awareness and education is also part of their holistic approach and these mobile workshops will include tree planting and the sharing of ideas for ways of creating art works through recycling.

Kachere Art Studios also has a site in Katete which is being developed as a new workshop venue to enable more cultural interaction between visiting artists and the Chewa artists of this area. This site is scheduled to open in August 2007 to coincide with the Kulamba Cultural Ceremony. The cultural ceremonies of the Chewa people are famed for their colourful and decorative masks. They also have plans for a campsite and restaurant there for tourists to supplement their income.

Longer term plans include adopting derelict Lusaka city parks to create tranquil green areas for residents to relax in and view sculptures and other art works. The group is also committed to promoting world peace through the 2010 World Cup and hope to participate in this regional event.

The launch of the Kachere Art Studio is planned for 24 November and will showcase the works of their sculptors and painters (who include Tom Phiri, Jervis Michelo, Bisalom Phiri, Lenton Kunda, and Kennedy Lungu), together with crafts by Genny Kamanga whose work using recycled materials will be recognised by some ardent Lusaka market goers. Music including drumming, and percussion/instrumental music from Colombia is on the programme, as is local and Colombian food. An invitation is open to all, and will definitely be an event not to be missed. After the launch on the 24th, the artwork will be moved to their permanent (for now) premises at Plot 3737, Corner Kwacha and Mulobezi Roads, Olympia Park.

Their aim is to instill a value of national art and culture among the Zambian public and to provide hope for the youth by demonstrating that art can be a viable career. All is not lost just because a young person has left school early or does not have a good traditional education. One of the sculptors I met at the Studio told me that he had left school in grade four due to difficult family circumstances, and looking at some of his work, I can only agree with him, that one does not need to know how to read and write to create beautiful pieces of art. He is a testament to the founding vision of the group.

Membership is open to anyone who is interested, and the group welcomes visiting artists to join them. Kachere will be holding a two week workshop from the end of October to the first week in November, where training and advice can be given by the resident artists. “Even me”, I pondered out loud, “I couldn’t sculpt that if I sat here forever!” “Nonsense”, the artists chorused in unison, “everyone is an artist in some shape or style”.

A new concept indeed, one filled with confidence and pride. Just what Zambia needs, and it should be supported by Zambians buying or commissioning pieces for their own homes and offices here, and not only for exports to be marveled at and enjoyed by people abroad.

Visit their website: www.kachereartvillage.org for more information, or phone Alexis Phiri on 097 461-834

P.S. Message to husbands: Christmas is just around the corner …

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