Its been a few months since i returned from Mali. In this time, I’ve been developing a number of international eco art projects, I have mentioned earlier in my blog. If youre joining me now for the first time I’ll briefly explain. Im a UK based contemporary eco artist and the biggest thing I’m working on is the Olympic Mile Project, nicknamed ‘The Mile’.
My idea is to create a mile long sculpture made of 100,000 donated, used sports shoes, in 2012, which will tour first in the UK and Europe and then travel to Mali. I’m hoping ‘The Mile’ will be the landmark piece at an Eco Art Festival that I’m aiming to set up with a fantastic African Curator, in Ségou in 2013. After the opening, shoes from ‘The Mile’ will then be distributed to people who need them.
Malian singing star, Salif Keita’s foundation which promotes the health, welfare and fair treatment of Albinos, will be amongst those who benefit from the donation of the shoes.
In addition, I’m collecting inspirational people’s sports shoes over the next year and then plan to make an installation with them, all about inspiration, including an opportunity to be filmed in the shoes of these heroes, before they are auctioned. This will raise both the profile of the Olympic Mile project and money which can then be used for this massive project.
I’ve had incredibly positive responses from everyone I’ve approached so far and am on the hunt for further contacts for celebrities. If you know anyone famous please do pass on my request for their old trainers, or other leisure shoes, signed please.
After originally meeting the World Music superstar, Salif Keita, during a festival in Ségou in February last, I met up with him again after his wonderful London, Barbican gig in April.
Never one to miss an opportunity to dance, id found myself invited to dance up on stage with the band!
The following day after a very positive meeting, discussing ecological issues, potential solutions, and my current artwork, Salif donated his trainers to my celebrity sports shoes collection, which will raise money for ‘The Mile’. Salif is the Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Sports and an inspiration to countless millions of fans across the globe.
I notice with delight that he’s currently performing the rest of his La Diférénce tour in the very same shoes I went out to buy for him (with his cash) to replace the ones he gave me for the project.
Meetings in the Middle of Somewhere 