Ambassador

Ambassador's Speeches

Vernisage 5

Honored Guests,

I am pleased and proud to welcome you to the fifth vernissage in the "Ambassador’s Art in the Atrium" program.  As many of you know, this program is intended to educate and expose American embassy staff members, our many daily visitors and our dear friends to the remarkable diversity and richness of Ivorian art and culture. In doing so, we not only celebrate Ivorian traditions, artistic expressions, and heritage from throughout the country, but we also magically transform this beautiful hall into a dynamic and colorful cultural center.

February is Black History Month in the United States.  This grand exhibition is at the heart of the embassy's programs and activities we are organizing to celebrate and highlight the history, inventions, contributions, and achievements of African-Americans in the United States.  The theme chosen for this year's Black History Month is "From Slavery to Freedom," and so we challenged FEDARTCI to work with that theme when choosing their paintings, sculptures, masks, ceramics, cloth, music and other objets d'art for the February exhibition.  I think they saw our challenge as their opportunity, a means to show how in Cote d'Ivoire, no matter what the circumstance or experience, the human spirit can be liberated and blessed through artistic, cultural and musical expression.  I think the varied and dazzling works of art surrounding us in the Hall show they met the challenge successfully.

All of our exhibitions have been memorable and special, but I think this show is especially so.  The reason I say this is because our partner in this event is the FEDARTCI, a group of talented artisans, performing artists and cultural promoters who we first met during an intensive Arts Management seminar led by American Cultural Envoy Ed Johnetta Miller.  During her program, participants expressed a wish to work together -- not only for their own economic good, but also to bring greater attention and  prominence to Cote d’Ivoire’s numerous artistic traditions.  In less than two months (but only after extensive planning sessions and meeting) the FEDARTCI was formally launched right here in this hall, I'm proud to say. 

I have a surprise announcement for our FEDARTCI friends tonight.  The American Cultural Center has kept our colleagues in Washington abreast of the rapid development of the FEDARTCI -- your general assembly, the creation of your website, and this exhibit at the embassy.  Our Washington colleagues were very impressed -- something not easily done -- and have offered a second grant to Ms. Miller to return here in May to give FEDARTCI members further training and counsel.

One last surprise – I also have here a message from Ed Johnetta Miller herself:

Congratulations on forming the FEDARTCI, words can't express how happy I am to see all of you united.  Double congratulations on the exhibition at the American Embassy.  I am so proud of all of you.

I just returned from Albany, Georgia. and will be headed to Mississippi next week to do an arts management workshop for farmers and crafts people.  You should know that I use all of you as an example of how to work together--a real united force.  Hope to be with all of you soon.   

This exposition is truly a cause for joy and celebration.  It represents a respect for tradition and an embrace of new ideas.  It represents a tribute to Americans who have their roots in Africa.  It represents the best of American and Ivoirian culture combined.

Vive la Cote d’Ivoire, vive les Etats-Unis, et vive l’amitié ivoirien américain !