Blog Entries for art4africa

Saving gorillas, one print at a time

art4africa

Tracking the extremely elusive and endangered Cross River gorilla is an activity best done in silence.

Daniel Taylor and his wife, Ginette, barely spoke as they took careful steps over treacherous ground in the jungle of southwestern Cameroon's Lebialem Highlands.

Led by a former poacher and accompanied by three or four other people, the Coquitlam couple was hoping to get an up-close look at the Cross River gorilla.

Single file, they quietly negotiated t [...]

Cross River Gorilla Art Class, Atonga

art4africa

After a long and difficult drive on steep tracks full of gullies, we arrived in the afternoon in Atonga village. The headmaster of Atonga Primary School called the children back to the school and we introduced the project to the teachers and children. A thunderstorm was approaching and it was extremely hot and humid.

We were invited to conduct the film showing in the Fons’s palace. The Fon of Atonga, although very old and blind, also joined for this special event and p [...]

Art Class at Njentse Primary School, SW Cameroon

art4africa

In Njentse, the school children and teachers were waiting for us when we arrived at 10AM. A meeting was held with the chairman of the school board, the headmaster and teachers in which we explained the programme and activities of that day in more detail. We also discussed the overall education and wildlife art activities, which are part of this expedition, and how these activities are embedded in

a long term community development and conservation project in the area.

Since we di [...]

School Art Classes in Fossimondi, SW Cameroon

art4africa

After the film showing the children went back to the school for the workshop. It was decided that we would work with a group of 40 pupils of 8-9 years old. Artist Daniel Taylor explained the theme of the art workshop, the Cross River Gorillas, as well as the use of materials like brushes, water and paint. For these children it was the very first time that they were using paint and brushes.

{gallery}art_workshop_fossimondi{/gallery}
Daniel de [...]

Great Apes Film Showing

art4africa

This morning we arrived around 8:30am at the Fossimondi Primary School, welcomed by groups of excited children. A brief introduction meeting with the headmaster and teachers followed. Since we wanted to show a great apes film to the children prior the the art workshop, all the children of the school were asked to go to the Fon’s palace. A 10 minutes walk but most of the children were running all the way down to the palace as you can see in the video.

The Fon’s [...]

Gorilla Nests and Tracks

art4africa

Early in the morning we got up, had a quick breakfast with our powder drinks and we packed the tent. We made some photographs of the magnificent views on the forest valleys below as well as a short video of Louis introducing the highlands and adjacent villages.

It was decided that the team would split up, with Daniel and Ginette taking the road going up the mountain and slowly making their way back to the village. The second team, including Louis, Arend [...]

Canadian artist Daniel Taylor is travelling to Africa

art4africa

Coquitlam artist Daniel Taylor is travelling to Africa with his wife Ginette Taylor to paint the endangered Cross River gorilla.
As Daniel and Ginette Taylor pack their bags for a month-long trek through western Cameroon, they're doing their best to prepare for the unpredictable.

The Coquitlam couple will leave B.C.'s cold, wet fall behind for the stifling heat and humidity of the tropical jungle as they search for the Cross River gorilla. With fewer than 300 living in the wild [...]