May 31st 2016, Millie Otieno boarded a flight from Nairobi, traveled through Amsterdam and finally landed in Portland Oregon on June 8th. This was her first travel experience out of Africa and her first visit to the states. June 8th was the beginning of a whirlwind week preceding The Recycled Rain annual exhibition at Portland's Ford building.
Millie brought with her the artworks of Kiviwosheg School students. Over a period of several weeks each student experienced creating art with colored pencils, acrylic, water color and gouache. The subject matter of each beautiful piece was a result of the studies of water conservation, habitat, wildlife and environmental social studies around the globe. Most notably they outlined the understanding of Kibera's water management crisis and the environmental and economic challenges it creates. This was Kiviwosheg's first international project involving all enrolled students.
In the weeks preceding her visit to Oregon, Millie invited her project partners, supporters and audience to experience a greater understanding of the region of Kibera through outlining the current state of affairs in Kibera and greater Nairobi. Emphasis was placed in particular on the region's double edged sword of natural resource management. In May, torrential floods swept through the region and even brought down a building. The May floods were reported by the international media and were a real time, case in point example of the region's great need for water management, treatment and distribution.
After arriving in Portland, in the week before the exhibition Millie visited our coastal ranges, habitats and estuaries. She learned about fresh water migration, soil and native plants near our oceans. Touring through the great Columbia Gorge, she visited the political hotbed Oxbow Springs and fisheries, learning about our native and farmed salmon, water quality practices of the region and water rights transfer processes. Our meeting with Columbia Riverkeepers was a unique one of a kind opportunity. At the time of the meeting the organization was exacting a first response plan of action to the Mosier train derailment, working directly with Mosier government, the state of Oregon, EPA, media and Yakima Tribes. It was a wealth of information and experience to take back to Kiviwosheg.
Each student wrote an introductory letter about themselves, their family, their daily experience in school, neighborhood and what profession they see themselves working in after completing higher education. These letters were placed between their works of art at the exhibition.
The opening was a first gallery experience for Millie and certainly a first as a contributor. Millie created two works of art which were also on display. The experience was most fruitful. The opportunity to share the Kiviwosheg School with the Portland art community, learn about art and ecology in another country and begin planning processes for building a stronger Kiviwosheg was a once in a lifetime experience.
