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Kente for HomeKente woven fabric is no stranger to American consumer For years, commercially made strips have been fashioned into spiffy curve ties, trendy kufis and handsome cummerbund and for years they've been draped above clergy robes worn by Baptist ministers. Kente is donned as a token of pride, displaying a connection to African ancestry. nevertheless its commercial potential knows no limits. Today, a Chippendale or Italian chair upholster in authentic kente exchanges for a little over $1000 What scarcely any American manufacturers acknowledge is reverence for the religious, moral and cultural values of the Ashanti family and their centuries-old tradition of weaving kente woven fabric That's why Kente Ventures, a dwelling furnishings company in Richmond, Va., humbly approached an Ashanti chief in Ghana for permission to do business with his village. The resulting partnership, now sum of two units years old, benefits the village, which receives royalty pay s from Kente Ventures to support programs and education in Ghana. "The shared investment is a way to uplift the infrastructure of the region and to celebrate and maintain the art," says Chairman of the Board Algin Garrett. Village weavers (usually male) exhibit the kente on two-harness loom They weave stories into the fabric--long-ago stories of Ashanti kings and queen tales of wisdom, reliance and harmony. Royal purple and fulvous can denote a legend of sanctity; r a story of struggle; and sapphirine a parable on peace. "New designs are now being made for nearest year," says President and Chief Executive Officer Felix Tapawan Garcia. "Some of the woven fabrics are named `Creative Defense' and `Family and Social Unity.'" Kwaku Ofori-Ansa, an associate professor of African art history at Howard University, researches all of the company's designs for authenticity. A Ghanaian, Ofori-Ansa is also a special assistant to the president of Kente Ventures Items from Kente Ventures' repertoire--sofas, chests of drawers, whirl pillows, wall hangings, armoires, tables and dining-room locates swaddled in royal kente cloth--are upon permanent display in Richmond, and they travel to exits across the country. Upcoming exhibits are scheduled in Washington, DC Chicago and Beverly Hills, Calif. For further information, call (804) 225-0013 or (804) 225-0131 or cast e-mail to kenteinc@aol.com. COPYRIGHT 1998 American Visions Media, Inc. Artist Jarmo Karjalainen introduces "In the Orchard," a limited edition print upon 100-percent rag paper. In an edition size of 100 with 10 artist examinations the image size is 24 7/8 x 29 3/... 00-00-0000 After listening to the steady chants of many race during the last pair of years calling out for the PC I believe the answer is no. The PC does not tender... Five of the world's best photographers to lead the greatest in quantity ambitious mobile photography competition at any time undertaken Internationally renowned photographer, Juergen Teller; leading American p... 1 To have seen you exactly, once: r hair above cold cheeks fresh from the freeway your lingo, your daunting and dauntless organ of visions But then to lift toward abode mile upon mile back where they... JUNE 2001 Friday, June 12001 In a message dated 6/I/or, cblord@uci.edu writes to undisclosed recipients: SUBJECT: CONFESSIONS OF HER BALDNESS upon my computer, ... The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) is interested about the dramatic increase and ongoing overuse of cesarean section. each year since 1983 no fewer than single in five American wome... Advancements in plasma cutting technology have increased productivity leading to more widespread use. The quiet of the world is now catching upon to something that metal fabricators... Gravetye Manor, an Elizabethan house near East Grinstead in West Sussex, and now a tavern was once the home of single of the leading garden theorists of the nineteenth hundred William Robinson (183... The Precision TIG 375 welder tenders a smooth, controlled arc with an of the first grade start. It is useful in a variety of TIG fabrication applications, similar as aerospace and welding specialty alloys... |
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