BIG news in Switzerland

YIPEEE!!!!
1. The UP has published its new Swiss (fundraising) Bank Account on www.up.givengain.org- Yippeee (attached pic is the official signing at UBS)

2. Urs Koller, my dear friend and fellow artist, continues to help me develop the awesome MAFRIKA and the puppets are coming...

Thought I"d take the sneaky route of this UPdate and give you all the translated version of an article just published in the local newspaper here in Rorschach, Switzerland, about our work together. (for the origianl Swiss German article, cut and paste this URL - www.tagblatt.ch/.../stgallen/rorschach& jahr=2007&ressortcode=&ms=hauptseite - 36k -)


Moved faces for South Africa

The Clownin “Mafrica” UPlifts South African children with Urs Koller, who assists the UP

Rorschach. The Rorschacher artist Urs Koller creates figures for a South African organization, which wants to give a reason to children in hospitals and orphanages, to laugh.

Corina Tobler

Urs Koller closed its hand at something, which looks like a foam material ball. Then it opens the hand - from the crushed somewhat a ever more largely becoming face develops. The blond woman, who sits beside him, laughs bright at this sight up. Nikki Jackman, in South Africa a well-known actress, is to be regarded still until Monday with vest to attendance, among other things in order the mobile faces, which he creates for her.

30 seconds and everyone sang
Began Swiss-South African co-operation before approximately two years. In South Africa Jackman and Koller met for the first time. They were on first attempt on the same wavelength, say Jackman. It told it of its organization “UP”, which operates so-called “Care Clowning” in children's homes and hospitals. Koller accompanied a visit with Jackman and The UP people twice into children's homes. The memory to the moments in the Townships, the poor quarters of South Africa, affects him until today strongly. “We moved forward before a home, Nikki stepped out in their clown costume and began to sing. Within thirty seconds all children sang also, the hands in air”, he expresses emotionally.

“Mafrica” as symbol figure
When they one evening were chatting together-they sat, laughing and, then suddenly the idea had come to create a new Clown, says Jackman. SHE (the Clown) represents “Mafrica”, which brings the children with speaking faces to the laughter. The name, a mixture from “mA” and “Africa”, is located in purchase to the many orphans in South Africa. “Mafrica” is not however only used with the “Care Clowning”. Jackman wants with it also on the stage, in order to make attentive on the problems of South Africa. “I hope that a symbolic figure becomes.”

For a long time experiments
“Mafricas” equipment, the “alive” faces, are Urs Koller creations. A way to the production to find a considerable Tüftelei was, says it. “The material, which I use, is a special, flexible plastic, at which I experimented for a long time.” It is often to be found a “Materialfreak” and on technical exhibitions, says vests. He regards his art as mirror of the moment and works therefore gladly with new materials.

Astonishing genuine Mimik
The work for Nikki Jackman fits the direction of its momentary art. “I wanted to argue anyway with moved faces”, explain he. Besides the work on the figures prepares obviously large pleasure for it. Break out again and again it and Jackman in laughter, if it gives a spontaneous clown number to the best one. The aliveness of the faces surprises. Holes in the material make it possible to change with the fingers their Mimik. The very lifenear faces can express so as desired recent or old, mürrische, crying or laughing tendencies. Also the mouth movements do not only see with the experienced Clownin Jackman from and with the joy and the Schalk, which them radiate, bring it very truthfully children to the laughter.

Some joy to pass on
Koller and Jackman spend much spare time on “Mafrica”. For both that is natural: They estimate themselves as very lucky humans, because they can live on their art. “There it is the most beautiful, if we can pass on somewhat of that joy.” Koller does with its sculptures, Jackman with Care Clowning courses. Both are itself united: “The laughter of these children is simply priceless, counterbalances everything.”