By Afrique Editorial Staff
Keneth Zehir, a talented Chicago painter by way of Dakar, Senegal, his ancestral roots, will have his art work exhibited at the Great-Fame-Up Gallery located at 1418 E. 53 street in Chicago for the entire month of August. In an interview with Afrique Newsmagazine, Zehir stated that the news about his paintings being showcased at the Great-Fame Up gallery excited him greatly. “It’s a dream come true” he said, “to have my divinely inspired paintings exhibited at the Great-Fame-Up gallery for the whole month of August.”
“pursue your dream as an artist...and never, ever give up”
Moreover, Mr Zehir assures those who appreciate the beauty and power of art, particularly painting, that they will not be disappointed when they visually experience his unique art work. His painting is unique, Zehir states, precisely because he does not use oil paints, watercolors or acrylic, nor does he use paint brushes or a palette knife. Zehir’s primary painting tools are his fingers and palms, a very creative technique.
Furthermore, Mr. Zehir’s artistic endeavors also entails humanitarian efforts. For instance, for over a decade, he has been a sponsor of Children International, a charity organization that assists in feeding and clothing children from many parts of Africa, the Far East and South America. Zehir gives roughly 10% of the revenue from his art sales to Children International. This, he says, “is my way of giving to the world community.” Afrique commends Mr. Zehir for his kindly humanitarian acts.
Still, another facet of Mr. Zehir's trajectory that may be unique is his life story. Born in New York City in 1950 from a Senegalese mother who died at the tender age of 22 of cervical cancer, Mr. Zehir was subsequently raised by an elderly interracial couple in Manhattan who saw his interest in art and enrolled him in an art school called the High School of Art & Design in midtown Manhattan, NYC. Four years later, he graduated with honors and went on to enroll at the Fashion Institute of Technology [ FIT] where he studied anatomy.
“Small things, done with great love, can and will change the world’’.
Zehir realizes that his painting is a natural gift, a natural skill he says comes from his mother, whose soul he now prays for on a daily basis.
Zehir’s mother would have loved to have seen his paintings being exhibited at the Great-Fame-Up Gallery. Similarly, the late Ms. Mirian Makeba, a famous African vocalist in the 1960’s, whom Mr. Zehir had the privilege to meet on a personal level, would have certainly been overjoyed to see his art work being exhibited in Chicago.
Zehir fondly recalls Ms. Makeba urging him to “never let go of his dream!” That dream is now becoming a reality, he says. Therefore, Zehir urges younger aspiring artists the same thing he was implored to do, that is, to “pursue your dream as an artist...and never, ever give up” This, Mr. Zehir says with emphatic confidence, because in the final analysis, he concluded, ‘’Small things, done with great love, can and will change the world’’.
By Afrique Editorial Staff
Held yearly during the Labor Day weekend, the African Festival of the Arts has become for many, the traditional way to end the summer. The festival features live performances by local and inter-national artists, fine art, handmade jewelry, sculpture and clothing by artisans from around the world and much, much more.
An amalgamation of global music traditions from jazz to blues; Latin rhythms to gospel; African and World Music will be featured on three stages!
In 1989, Patrick Woodtor, president, Africa International House, along with his late wife author and historian, Dee Parmer Woodtor, produced the African Festival of the Arts for the first time as a seasonal community event to honor African culture and tradition. Since its inception, the African Festival of the Arts has showcased legendary talent, including James Brown, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Isaac Hayes, Roberta Flack, Hugh Masekela, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars, Stylistics, Bobby Blue Bland, George Duke, The Dells, Kindred the Family Soul, among many other world renowned artists from all over the African continent and its splendid diaspora.
This year’s Festival will take place at the Washington Park in Chicago. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gates. Family weekend passes are family. For more information visit www.africaninternationalhouse.org.
On a different yet opportune note, we would be remiss if we did not mention the festival’s diverse culinary offerings. Let your taste buds dance in delight from the abundance of global African cuisine in the food court. Taste the many Cajun and Soul foods from the different corners of the U.S., Egusi from Nigeria, Wolof rice from Senegal, Jerk chicken, goat meat and fish from the Caribbean, and many hotter, spicy, delicious cultural cuisines of the African Diaspora.
