The fairy tale "Monkey" inspired me to create my Monkey series. In 2000, I had an exhibition with artists Robin Steiger and Ellen Draper based on the book and now I'm returning to the theme.
Shaunda and Pam Tsosie from the Navajo Nation will always be remembered as great ambassadors and really good sports. They hit the ground running in Sydney and didn't stop for 4 days. The reaction of the school kids to Miss Navajo Nation was inspiring. The time they spent with us and the ceremony of breaking the ceramic pot August 14, 2003 were priceless. |
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Back to the monkey. Does anyone out there want a monkey? I plan on creating fourteen monkeys, one monkey for every continent in the world and eight in Australia.
Why not BE A PART OF IT?
The first monkey "Jah Lastafali" was installed on the Parade of Heroes in 2004.
On the tortuous path to enlightenment (symbolized by the lotus leaf on which the monkey stands) there are many detours. In this detour, the monkey is part of a Japanese reggae band.
Reggae music started in Jamaica and then spread all over the world. It was originally championed by the Rastafarians. They believe that the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was a modern prophet and adapted the colors of the Ethiopian flag (green, gold and red) as their own. The reggae chant-Jah Rastafari is interpreted by the monkey in her Japanese English as
"Jah Lastafali"
Isn't globalization amazing?
Want a monkey on your continent? Let's talk.