Fulbright Research and Arts Fellow

I am the 2023-24, Fulbright Research and Arts Fellow, that will be heading to Botswana, Southern Africa. My host is the Okavango research institute (ORI) at the University of Botswana and I am excited! Many years ago my mentor and friend CCH Pounder shared a story of one of the most beautiful birds she had ever seen in Botswana and it was the “Lilac Breasted Roller" I too was fascinated, and it did inspire a small project on four birds from the four corners of Africa, including the Lilac Breasted Roller. The rest is now history and I am thrilled and is expected to return to Botswana late summer 2023.

As a research Scholar I will explore the ecology of the Makgadikgadi Pans (geomorphologically playas) and the Okavango Delta, using qualitative research methods to answer the questions: what are the ecological links between the Okavango Basin and the Makgadikgadi Salt Pond? And what are the ecological and sociological shifts that have taken place over time? In addition, to investigate the ecological balance between plants and animals at the Makgadikgadi Pans and the freshwater Okavango basin. Understanding the perceptions of these links, and the attempt to tackle the communication of ecological change over time through multi-media artwork, will provide a potentially important contribution to ORI’s mandate of outreach. Also working with the Maun Secondary school and Arc Arts Residency, this I hope will empower and bring a healthy discourse for everyone to partake and share. Thanks to the Fulbright Fellowship USA, my mentors Dr. Carolyn Cooper (Jamaica), CCH Pounder for inspiring this project, Dr. Mike Murray-Hudson (University of Botswana), Professor Anu Vikram, (USA) Angela Robinson for continued support and video today, Jeff Beall stills photos, Ann Gollifer (Botswana), My family, friends, my studio mates at 18th Street Olympic Campus, you are all an inspiration.

Thanks for all your love and continued support...The Arts Matter!