An artist hidden in the bush

 

Several months ago, Maureen, one of the Chimwemwe Ladies, showed me some drawings that her son had done.  They were quite good.  When I was in the US in Dec., I got some drawing paper, colored pencils, and note cards for him.  Last week he had returned from his grandmother's village and came to the school.  I gave him the sketch pad and pencils.  A couple of days later he returned with several very nice drawings. 

 

Erna, our mentor teacher, has had some art training and offered to help him.  When she saw his work the other day she said, "I can't help him.  He is too good."   However, she did show him how to use pastels.  On Thursday and Friday he worked in our large Assembly Room while the children were having school around him.  He was there for about 4 hours each day working the whole time.  Thursday he did an almost exact representation of the cover of an elementary age language book.  Friday, Erna set up a still life and he drew that.

 

Now the interesting thing that I have discovered is that he is made fun of in the village.  I don't know if he is slightly autistic, or just socially different or challenged. Even as he works in the classroom and children gather around to admire his work, he doesn't speak to them or really respond to them.  Apparently he has no friends and doesn't hang out with people his age.  He is in his early 20s.  I noticed some of our workers stopping and really looking at us when I would be talking to him.  It seemed strange, so I asked someone about him and got this info.  So now the word is getting out that he is talented.  Maybe it will affect his standing in the village. 

 

If there are any trained artists out there who want to teach art for a bit, you are welcome in Zambia!!