Contact:
- Erin Dengerink Madarang Â鶹´«Ã½, 360/546-9551, dengerie@vancouver.wsu.edu
- Nancy Macklin, Ant Hill Foundation, maclong@comcast.net
- Sheri Byrd, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360/546-9602, byrds@vancouver.wsu.edu
VANCOUVER, Wash. - Miniature sculptures and drawings done by sixth grade school children in the southern African national of Zambia Currently are on display in the Washington State University Vancouver Library until Sept. 18. The artwork will be auctioned off in late September to help raise funds for the children's village.
Local resident Nancy Macklin visited small villages in Zambia this past summer as part of the Ant Hill Foundation which is working to raise money to help build homes and support the education of the children in Zambia. The Ant Hill Foundation takes its name from the 100-plus year old ant hills found in the area. The ants' waste is left in huge hills (up to two stories high) and is used to make bricks for homes by adding water and putting the mud in a form to dry in the sun.
Macklin brought art supplies with her on her trip and arranged to spend an afternoon with the children creating art. Macklin and her fellow travelers took an instant photo of each student and asked them to do a self portrait. The children who experimented with pipe cleaners also created small sculptures. Macklin said she found the children's choice of subject matter interesting. There were many beds, chairs and tables. Most children do not have beds in their house nor tables and chairs, although they are familiar with beds from the local Malaria and AIDS clinic. There were cars made, which are also not a common possession in the area. The other pieces are of the things they use and see every day: pots, plates, tea pot, animals such as buffalo, and a mortar and pestle.
To find out more about the Ant Hill Foundation contact Nancy Macklin at maclong@comcast.net.
Entry to campus exhibits is free. Â鶹´«Ã½ Library is open Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Â鶹´«Ã½ is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. Parking is available at parking meters or in the blue lot for $3 per day. We offer 16 bachelor's degrees, nine master's degrees, one doctorate degree and more than 36 fields of study. Visit us on the Web at
Image: Exhibits from a display of Zambian children's art at Â鶹´«Ã½ through Sept. 18. Click thumbnail for high resolution image.