MONKEY BIZ June - July 2004 Click here to see installation of MonkeyBiz at Nancy Hoffman Gallery
Monkey Biz, #67, 39 x 16 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #72, 44 x 15 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #71, 42 x 18 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #69, 33 x 17 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #65, 47 x 10 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #70, 48 x 15 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #68, 33 x 15 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #64, 40 x 14 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #66, 45 x 15 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #81, 45 x 14 cm each, 2004
Monkey Biz, #76, 44 x 18 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #82, 42 x 42 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #86, 37 x 22 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #85, 50 x 23 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #84, 53 x 22 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #89, 83 x 28 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #91, 90 x 44 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #88, 55 x 38 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #90, 42 x 42 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #83, 50 x 24 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #75, 27 x 15 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #93, beaded doll, 2004	Monkey Biz, #92, 101 x 36 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #73, 43 x 23 cm, 2004	Monkey Biz, #74, 61 x 40 cm, 2004
	MORE MONKEY BIZ
Positively HIV published by Monkey Press Monkeybiz is a nonprofit organization in Cape Town, South Africa, devoted to the creation of jobs through the revival of the ancient tradition of beadwork in southern Africa. In 2003, Monkeybiz began Monkey Press, whose first publication is a book on HIV entitled Positively HIV. AIDS has had an enormous impact on the communities of the bead artists who supply Monkeybiz. The book includes lessons about HIV, exposing its myths and highlighting human rights awareness of the disease. The "Positively" of the title is not only a medical reference, but a message of hope and optimism. Monkeybiz has also opened a wellness clinic for the benefit of the beaders. Twenty Monkeybiz artists were commissioned to make special works to illustrate Positively HIV. The women whose works appear in the book were selected based on the strength of their artwork. They worked in groups, not unlike quilters, to produce the pieces that constitute the colorful images in the book. Positively HIV is a multimedia publication produced with the financial backing of the Norwegian government's Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and in partnership with ISANDI, a Norwegian company focusing on promoting crafts and culture from southern Africa. The Ministry of Education of South Africa is assisting in an initial distribution of 5,000 books to schools and universities in the Western Cape of South Africa. Although the book was written primarily for an audience of young people, 15-24 years old, its colorful illustrations of beadwork and emphasis on human rights and HIV awareness appeal to people of all ages from all walks of life. The text is in English and Xhosa. Included in the 68-page full-color book is a five-track music CD entitled "Statements" featuring vernacular narratives of the bead artists mixed into electronic dance tracks by the Norwegian group SaS. The music echoes the community's experience with this devastating disease. The first track, "Azula Umahambi Etheni" tells the tale of an older woman watching a younger woman grow thinner and die. In the closing hymn, "Come Down" there is an entreaty, a plea, and a prayer for "the Lord to come down again." Monkey Press's publication of Positively HIV is a statement in and of itself, combining art with health, healing and education. Positively HIV is available at Nancy Hoffman Gallery.