The FELA! dress

Coincidence or crazy!?! The night before the big opening gala for FELA! I was finishing up some detail on a dress I wanted wear. I had found the fabric at Haberman's (just 4 days before the event) and I thought a simple sheath with a pocket for my phone, as I always lose my phone at events, would be perfect. 

 

I thought the pattern on the fabric was great for all the talk about art through the process of creating the Big Top Tent we called "The Shrine," but unbenounced to me (becasue I had not yet seen FELA!) the copy on the dress was a line from the play. "The Time is Now" 

The compliment was when the NYC Producer Ruth Hendel asked where I had bought the dress... Whoo hoo!   or Yeah Yeah!

Fela Kuti

My latest project is a big one. On February 14, 2012, Music Hall will open a 3-week run with the 3-time Tony award-winning musical FELA! and to start it all off there will be a Fela!-bration Gala opening in a big top tent fashioned after "The Shrine" in Lagos Nigeria. My project is to throw a Nigerian/Valentine's Day party for 400 people!

The musical is based on the life of Nigerian musician and political activist,
Fela Kuti. Look him up!

This weekend's project was to make 24, 32 and 48 foot runners that top layered tables of satin and Nigerian fabrics. The theme is Unity. The pictures here are of the black burlap from getting it home in my little car (yes, the almost 30 yard roll of 60" burlap rested gracefully out the window)  to cutting it and painting it.

Here are the sections cut... 

Now that they are cut...

Time to paint!

I have been learning a lot about the different symbols of Africa.

But my favorite symbol is a heart, because throughout Fela Kuti's life all he was really fighting for

was his love of humanity. This heart represents Hope & Faith

The symbol for children

The finished product....