ethiobserver

The Ethiopian Millennium Arts & Crafts Exhibition was opened in Crenshaw Mall in Baldwin Hills. The Exhibition was sponsored by the Ethiopian Historic Conservation Council (EHCC) in cooperation with the Museum of African American Museum of Art, which is located at Macy’s in the top floor of Baldwin Hills Mall.

The opening ceremony which saw a gathering of many Ethiopians and Americans, and dignitaries representing the Consulate Generals of Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Japan, to mention a few, was opened by Mr. Allen Webster, Presiding Judge in the County of Los Angeles, and Board Member of the Museum of African American Art. He opened the meeting by welcoming the guests and giving a brief history of the Museum. He gave great credit to Mrs. Berlinda Jamerson, President of the Board, for her untiring work in organizing the event.

Judge Allen Webster then introduced Mr. Iasu Gorfu, Director of EHCC, who also gave a brief history of how and why the organization was formed and recognized two of the artists in the audience whose work was being exhibited: Mr. Yohannes Tesfaye and Mr. Nebiyou Tesfaye. He also recognized and Mrs. Goudaye Demesse, Secretary of EHCC, for her untiring work in organizing the event.

Mr. Gorfu then concluded by reading an Amharic poem, “My Mother Ethiopia”, and by making an impassioned plea for all to support EHCC and the cause for which it stands. He then invited to the podium the Ethiopian Consul General, Ambassador Taye Askeselassie, to inaugurate the event and officially open the exhibition.

Ambassador Taye Askesellasie welcomed those present and made a short speech about Ethiopia ’s place in history over the last two Millennia by reading quotes from Homer’s Achilles and various other sources. He then declared the Exhibition officially opened.

The exhibition represents traditional and the modern Ethiopian arts & crafts and has well over fifty paintings, drawings, carvings, and various arts-crafts as well as life size and miniature pieces of native musical instruments and paraphernalia. It is an eye opener for those who do not know about Ethiopian arts and paintings, and well worth spending the time visiting. We strongly recommend it.

The exhibit will remain open all through July and into August, closing on August 8^th, 2008. For directions and hours of opening, the museum can be reached at:

(323)294-7071 or 294-7084.

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