A Night at the Gallery

Statements I never imagined I’d make in Sudan: I went to the most amazing art gallery last night.

            

                            

The oud

     That’s right! It was the opening of the Free Art Center just east of the airport in Khartoum and it was a fabulous event. When I arrived I was greeted by the artist who opened the center. I saw a variety of art different styles of paintings and sculptures. The most delightful part of the night was listening to the live 6 piece classical band featuring a man playing the Sudanese guitar called the oud. It was the best part of the night partly because it was so unexpected but mostly because they were really talented. I have some video but it doesn’t do the acoustics justice. They served bottled water, soda, popcorn, and dates and most of the audience was women.

The program stated the mission of the art center as the following:

Free art center has emerged as an ambitious collective initiative from a group of artists and parents with the purpose of incorporating art in its different forms into our daily lives and using it as an effective tool in the development, advancement, and enrichment of the Sudanese society. Turning art into an active and dynamic contributor rather that a passive aesthetic and inert extra. Art should never be an elite’s luxury. Art should be a public commodity. Art should touch life.

So basically this whole place made me really happy. 

I haven't been exposed to that much Sudanese art and music but I have also attended a reggae concert since being here. Sudanese love reggae music, especially Bob Marley. The audience was packed of moslty men but some women, mostly young people, wearing beanies and rasta colors. There is something very cool about being part of an audience all singing "Put your guns down." Reggae music speaks to a lot of Sudanese.