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Overseas,
48" H x 58" W
Heat transfers of Congo, Africa and Kinshasa maps, painted and embroidered,
images, history, news text and stamps on brocade, satin, velvet
and sheers.
A brief history
of Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) is embroidered on the borders.
In 1971-72, my family moved to Kinshasa, capital of Zaire. Zaire was colonized
by Belgium until 1960. I was a junior in high school and my sisters and
I attended the American School of Kinshasa (TASOK) with children of missionaries,
US military and State Department, and wealthy merchant families fleeing
political turmoil in other African countries such as Kenya and the Cameroons.
We lived in a comfortable air conditioned cement block house in a compound
with other French, Belgian and US doctors' families. The neighborhood
was surrounded by a tall concrete wall and barbed wire fence guarded by
sentries at each corner. It was uphill from the Congo River rapids and
below the dictator Mobutu's military camp. We listened to Watergate news
on the BBC and VOA. The US propped up Mobutu during the cold war. He executed
his rivals and deposited the riches of the country's mineral wealth in
Swiss bank accounts.
Honroable
Mention, Florida Combined Talents 2007
Juror Merit Award, New Jersey Center for Visual Arts International Show,
2004 |
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