A Short Walk in the Gambia Bush

As you all know from reading this blog, I am a big fan of Jason Florio’s work, and have featured his Makasutu portraits here. Well, Jason and Helen Jones will be going to The Gambia on November 1 to walk the 700 mile length of the country, in order to raise money and awareness for “Gardens for Life,” and create a modern account of life in rural Gambia. They will be covering their own personal expenses for the expedition, but need to raise money for such on-the-ground costs as local guides, buying two donkeys to carry their supplies, emergency medical insurance and the like.

Their goal is to raise $4500 by October 23rd. Please give whatever you can to help them. Donations will be taken today starting at 7:10pm and be accepted through Friday, October 23 at 10:10pm. To find out more and how to donate, visit here

As Florio says, it “takes but a few minutes to help us to put one foot in front of the other and to raise money for the charity (any donations over the target amount will go directly into Eden Projects ‘Gardens for Life’ in The Gambia--registered charity).”

Florio is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, and has visited The Gambia for thirteen consecutive years. With this project he wants to create a unique multi-media interactive website that can be a living document of the oral histories of Gambians in their own country.

This has all the makings of a great photographic adventure, and a lot of people dream of doing something this bold. If you can make a donation you can have a small stake in the outcome. Keep checking back for their progress, as I hope to be able to keep track of what this duo is up to after they set off.

Jason Florio Makasutu Portraits

I’m really late with this since the show has been up since Feb.5, but I urge you to see the amazing Makasutu portraits taken by photographer Jason Florio, on exhibit at Messineo Art Projects/Wyman Contemporary Gallery, 227 W. 29th St. in New York City until April 25 (http://www.messineowyman.com/).

There is a timeless quality to Jason’s portraits, almost as if they were taken in the 19th century. In their direct gaze, the people of Makasutu (in The Gambia, Africa) unflinchingly challenge us to look back and connect with them. Jason photographed many of the subjects against a black cloth and got a variety of effects depending upon the lighting.

I’m a big fan of Jason’s work because he finds a way to reinvent things that have been done millions of times before. His unmatched curiosity and the deep connection he makes with his subjects shows us a fresh world. In his portraits the people are relaxed and open to us without guile. We are transported into their world.