06 September 2010 - The Gambia Experience - Press Office
The award-winning Mandina Lodges at Makasutu forest are pleased to announce that they will be hosting ‘Wide Open Walls’, an eco street art project scheduled to take place in The Gambia 12 – 26 October 2010. ‘Wide Open Walls’ will see the Mandina Lodges welcome eight top street artists from around the world: London-based graphic artist, Eelus http://eelus.com/ is the designated ‘curator’ of project and will be joined by the following artists: Logan Hicks, Christian Guemy (C215), Will Barras, Broken Crow (John Girder & Mike Fitzsimmons), Lucy McLauchlan and Ben Eine.
The purpose of ‘Wide Open Walls’ is to paint the village of Kubuneh, which the artists will travel to by boat along the River Gambia directly from Makasutu. Kubuneh is part of the Ballabu Conservation Project, the ongoing green endeavour by UK owners of Makasutu, Lawrence Williams and James English. The concept of the Ballabu Conservation Project is to create an 85sq kilometre conservation area, incorporating 14 Gambian villages, which, in time, will become self-sustaining. The Eden Project - introducing its Gardens for Life scheme to The Gambia - is an active supporter of both the Ballabu Conservation Project and ‘Wide Open Walls’.
Lawrence Williams of Makasutu – who has been to art college, as well as being qualified as an architect - has the Village Elders’ blessing for the street art event and is delighted that his vision is now coming together:
“A couple of years ago I started working with the renowned Gambian artist Njogu Touray on a street art project under the name of ‘Bushdwellers’. This involved our painting walls in the villages around Makasutu and then moving on to paint canvasses during the rainy season. The fact that this has now progressed to become ‘Wide Open Walls’ is such a triumph - I cannot wait to see such talented artists join together in what is a very unique way.”
Exclusive to The Gambia Experience and part of the specialist’s ‘Luxury Collection’, The Mandina Lodges at Makasutu are situated on a tributary of the River Gambia in the heart of the African bush. Expert guides are available at no extra cost to help guests explore the wildlife-rich 1000-acre forest, both on foot and by canoe through the mangroves.
For those who are not holidaying in one of the eight lodges, the tour operator offers day trips to Makasutu as an excursion option. It is expected that ‘Wide Open Walls’ will also become an excursion choice in its own right, inviting holidaymakers to view the art and also explore the Ballabu villages and meet the locals. ’Wide Open Walls’ is actively supported by key bodies within resort, including the Gambia Tourism Authority.
For more information about the Mandina Lodges at Makasutu, please call The Gambia Experience Reservations Dept on 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk
For more information and interviews regarding ‘Wide Open Walls’, please visit www.thegambiablog.co.uk
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