Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Many of you have read about my chief project for April – and now I need your help. Details about the project follow, but the upshot, as I mentioned in my manifesto, is that the budget for legacy projects won’t cover the upfront costs needed. We will get the funds back, so in essence, the project won’t cost the tribe, but I’m asking for one-time donations to help get this done. Consider your donation going directly to the school, since that is where it will go…

Please send donations to me through PayPal at: kaz@stanfordalumni.org

So, what is Zaishu? The Zaishu is a portable, simplified Zen structure for generic, low to the ground use. Its construction is indebted to Japanese traditions of respecting the texture of natural materials and using no nails or glue. Its subtle visual detail of combining straight lines and broad curves has been translated from a Kimono that was placed flat on the floor.

Based on a program of participation, creativity, responsibility and evolution the Zaishu Project is an international collaborative event, recording patterns, designs and cultural texture from around the world on sheets of plantation grown veneer. This visual information artwork is then cut by laser into smaller components that slot together without nails, screws or glue to create a small portable seat / table / box called a Zaishu. The smaller edition for children is called the Baby Zaishu.

As April Chief, I want to help Tribewanted produce, with the assistance of the community, a limited edition of 50 Baby Zaishu chairs, the proceeds of which will go to benefit the Mali District School. In order to capture a broad swatch of the artwork and patterns in Fiji today, I want to include patterns from the oldest tradition of masi, or stencilling, onto tapa, which is bark cloth; incorporate the woven mat patterns, which are more specific to the north of Fiji and we have used on Vorovoro; and lastly, a symbol of what modern Fiji has come to embrace, the ubiquitous flower patterns seen on bula shirts everywhere.

By using silk screens of the patterns, we can include everyone in the production. And, along the way, we can stimulate more discussions about traditional and modern arts in Fiji. The catch is that the materials require initial up-front costs, in addition to the monthly chief budget. So, donations of any amount can help us get to our goal.

Vinaka!! And stay tuned for updates! The following previous entries have more information on the Zaishu Project and its founders, the art itself, and a video of how to assemble a Baby Zaishu:

The Zaishu Project blog
http://www.tribewanted.com/users/259/blogs/779

Forecast: looks like April will be Zaishu month on the island…
http://www.tribewanted.com/users/259/blogs/1087

April chief manifesto blog (which has a video of how to assemble a Baby Zaishu)
http://www.tribewanted.com/users/259/blogs/900