Imagine Chicago is now a partner of The Human
Elephant Foundation (HEF) which is dedicated to activating ecological
imagination, interdisciplinary conversation and sustainable practices. HEF
was founded by Andries Botha, an eminent South African sculptor and great friend
of Imagine Chicago. His most recent elephant, a life-size African matriarch named
Nomkhubulwane (pronounced Nom-koo-bull-wah'-nee -Zulu for Mother Earth), was made from recycled truck tires. She was made for the World Wilderness Congress in Merida
last November, has traveled throughout Mexico ( El Papalote Children's Museums
in both Mexico City and Cuernavaca and Cd. Juarez- they nicknamed her Nanabi in
Mexico), El Paso, and Fayetteville before coming to Chicago on March 28, 2010.
Since she is the first elephant (of the 12 made to
date by Botha for HEF) to grace North America, Imagine Chicago has undertaken
to take her on a U.S. tour in 2010 as an ambassador of beauty, sustainability
and the ability of human intelligence to harness its creative potential to
inspire a more vital future. She visits Chicago in June-July 2010. The WILD
Foundation is an
educational and conservation partner.
Nomkhubulwane arrived May 28, 2010 at IIT in Chicago will be on display there
(west side of State between 33rd/34th) until midday June 12. She then moves to
the south entrance of the Merchandise Mart for Neocon from June 13-16 and
finally to the North Terrace of the Field Museum from June 17-July 30. She is
available for free public viewing in all places. Fun educational activities for
families will soon be available online at imaginechicago.org.
The
elephant's creator, Andries Botha, is one of South Africa's most prominent
artists (see www.andriesbotha.net) and
hails from Durban, a Chicago sister city. His sculptures of King Shaka were just
unveiled by President Zuma and his statues of Nelson Mandela and John Dube for
the ANC memorial launched the new Inanda Heritage Trail last week.
Andries will be visiting Chicago from June 11-19, which coincides with the
opening of the 2010 World Cup and a week thereafter. There are multiple
public events listed below to meet with and hear Andries while he is in Chicago. This very
special set of cultural opportunities are all free. Please help us get word out
to those who might be interested in coming.
Andries Botha talks about the project (larger view)
The
elephant's creator, Andries Botha, is one of South Africa's most prominent
artists and
hails from Durban, a Chicago sister city. His sculptures of King Shaka were just
unveiled by President Zuma and his statues of Nelson Mandela and John Dube for
the ANC memorial launched the new Inanda Heritage Trail in May 2010.
If you would like to learn more about this project
and tour click here
for an HEF project tour brochure.
If you can help provide support for city to city transport
and/or the development of educational materials, please contact us to send you a funding proposal. Donations can be made to Imagine Chicago or The WILD
Foundation.
There
is still an opportunity for other sites to volunteer to host a visit during the
time period from November 2010 to February 2011. For do so, please contact
Bliss Browne.
Global Networks & Partnerships
