The Visibility Artists have another art show this Friday, March 5

at “The Poison Cup”
1128 W. Armitage
Chicago, IL 60614

The opening reception
Friday, March 5, 2010
6pm- 9pm

If you have any questions please feel free to call Tina Zemen, Visibility Arts Coordinator
847-789-7155 x237

This party is to fundraise for seven non-profit organizations that raise awareness about education for all children, fair trade, and living in sustainable environment (think green!).
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Masquerade for a Cause!

Wednesday, April 7^th

Simone’s Bar 960 W. 18th St.

Time: 7pm to close 2am

Hosted by Ervin Lopez

7pm - 9pm: Looking for volunteer opportunities? internships? responsible travel tourism?

Meet and greet the seven non-profit organizations:

Los Patojos/Rising Minds, Chicago Fair Trade, Greenheart, Mayaworks,

Womancraft, Academy for Global Citizenship, UNICEF-DePaul U.

FREE appetizers: vegatable quesadillas, tortilla chip chicken fingers, empanadas, and more!

9pm - 2am: music provided by Chicago dj’s: Omar Perez, Rick Perez

21 to enter, $10 door charge

Buy your tickets in advance!

***DRINK SPECIALS***
$5.50–> Cupaca Chupacabra (micro-brew from Calexico, California)
$5 –> a tall boy of PBR with a shot of Jameson

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70% of proceeds will go the following seven organizations:

1. Los Patojos & Rising Minds
2. Chicago Fair Trade
3. Greenheart
4. Mayaworks
5. Womancraft
6. UNICEF-DePaul University
7. Academy for Global Citizenship

Paper Craft is a group of incredible entrepreneur women who make delightful hand-made paper from natural and recycled materials. They work with banana fiber, elephant grass, pineapple tops, and recycled paper. Fair Earth has been working with them for the past couple years, and we are excited to bring you some of their new products again this year!

Since last year, their workshop has expanded. In addition to making paper products, they are also making glass beads from recycled glass bottles and window panes. The glass is crushed to a fine powder, poured into a hand-made ceramic mold, and then fired in a wood-fueled kiln. The resulting beads are delightful!

Clay molds used for making recycled glass beads

Every time I speak with Harriet, the workshop manager, I am impressed with her vision, drive, and high attention to detail and quality. Not only are Paper Crafts’ products beautiful and meticulously created, they are also made by women who 100% OWN AND RUN their entire production center. The entire enterprise is owned by the women whose talented hands bring the paper to life, and then work to market it. I find this model to be inspiring and empowering. Many business models that I have seen and worked with have a stark distinction between the producers and the managers, ultimately limiting the skills development of the artisan members. Paper Craft’s model empowers all of their women to develop their skills not only in producing hand-made paper, but also in business management, client relations, marketing, etc. I am inspired by their work, and LOVE their products!

Thanks for your support!

Sincerely,

Holly Elzinga

Four women from the Paper Craft team!

Vats of paper pulp and dyes, and paper drying on screens in the sun

©2010 Fair Earth | Andersonville Galleria - 5247 N. Clark St. Chicago IL 60640

One of my favorite parts of the time I spend in Uganda working on product development is visiting the homes of our artisans.

Each time I visit I am flooded with a wealth of love, generosity, SPIRIT, and ALIVENESS that makes my heart glow.

A few days ago I visited Joyce and her three sons – Paul, Mark, and Solomon. Joyce is one of Fair Earth’s paper beaders. Incidentally, we are neighbors in Uganda, as their home is just a short walk from where I stay in Luzira.

I was greeted warmly and served a delicious lunch of matoke, pumpkin, rice, and soup upon arriving. I immediately noticed the incredibly creative Christmas decorations in their home – Paul, Joyce’s eldest son, had cut his old school papers into triangular shapes and strung them along the ceiling to create a festive holiday atmosphere. The breeze coming through the door made the papers flutter and cast sparkling shadows throughout the room – it was absolutely delightful.

We spent the afternoon looking through photos, exchanging stories, and then working on new products.

“My mom is a good mom,” Paul told me proudly as we looked through their family photo album. “She takes very good care of us.”

All three boys adore their mom. I gave Joyce some glass beads for her to use in supplementing her paper bead designs, and immediately the boys were looking for colors that would compliment their mother’s dress.

As the stories kept coming, I learned more about their love and respect for her—it is based upon a very real knowledge of how hard their mom works to put them through school. Joyce did not get an education, which means her opportunities for employment are limited. Yet she has worked tirelessly so that her children will have more opportunities than she does.

Her pathway to her current work – making beads from recycled newspapers and magazines – has not been easy. She worked for a year and a half with NO PAY for the current mayor of Uganda cleaning up the streets of developing neighborhoods. I was heart-broken by the story. With no money for transport, she would leave home before the sun rose to walk hours to their work destination, pushing forward upon the promise of pending money, which never came. After becoming weak and sickly from long days of work with no food, Joyce’s mom told her she would die if she continued and taught her how to make paper beads as an alternative. That was eight years ago. I asked her if she took any action to try to get the money she was promised, and she replied, “there is nothing we can do. We are poor and uneducated. We have no power over the government. We would maybe have a voice if we had a lawyer, but we have no money for lawyers. So we just move on.”

These stories of injustice fill me with frustration and ANGER. However, I am also inspired and hopeful to be a part of a fair trade movement which puts people FIRST – a movement where respect, fairness, and integrity take precedence, and where success NEVER comes at the expense of another’s exploitation.

I am also happy to be working with Joyce, and delighted to see the joy and hope not only in her face, but also in the faces of her children!

Thanks for your support,

Sincerely,

Holly Elzinga

©2010 Fair Earth | Andersonville Galleria - 5247 N. Clark St. Chicago IL 60640

Dear Friends and Supporters of Fair Earth,

I hope all is well!

I am writing to introduce you to one of our newest artisans - Cornelius - and his beautiful hand-made photo frames.

This is Cornelius.

Cornelius makes beautifully crafted hand-painted picture frames.

This is the front door of Cornelius’ one room home, which also serves as his workshop.

Cornelius inspires me.

Cornelius has a wife and four children. They live in the village near Kisii. He visits them once a month, and brings money for school fees, clothes, and other necessities. He cannot yet afford a place large enough to house all of them, as he cannot yet afford school fees in Nairobi.

Cornelius takes immense pride in his work, and he believes in himself. He told me that “the best is yet to come” – and that he knows if he keeps working hard to produce beautiful and unique picture frames, he will save enough money to bring his family home.

I met Cornelius “randomly” – otherwise known as a “divinely,” or “accidentally on purpose”. Sometimes the universe conspires to bring us what we are looking for, while also bringing someone else good fortune.

One of my missions on this trip was to work with our artists to produce picture frames. While speaking with one of our beaders, I happened to hear of a man named Cornelius who makes frames.

Cornelius’ striking work caught my eye immediately. I introduced myself, and we were engrossed in conversation about his craft, how and when he learned, his family, etc.

A couple days later, we walked from town through Muthurwa Hawkers Market and boarded a minibus to Kayole. Our particular minibus had loudspeakers and a TV screen at the front, and was blaring obscenely loud music videos from local DJs as we jolted over the sprawling landscape. Over an hour later, disheveled and with ringing ears, we disembarked near Kayole Primary school and he led us to his home.

“This is the origin of everything,” he said with a broad and proud smile on his face, stretching his hands out over the small one-room studio that serves as his home and workshop.

With great care and pride, he walked us through every step of the frame-building process. I wish all of you could see the look of satisfaction on his face as dutifully he explained, step by detailed step, the complicated process that goes into one frame’s construction.

Every single part of the frame is made by hand. He buys raw wood and brings it to the masons who cut it into boards. The board is notched and measured and cut at 45 degree angles with a hand-saw to make the frame structure.

It then must be nailed together, sanded, and perfected. At this time it is ready for painting or decoration. Cornelius has a wonderful design sense and puts exquisite detail into his picture frames. He tells me that “no one else in Nairobi can create my designs.”

The back stand for the picture frame is also made from hand-cut wood. After measuring and cutting, he uses a hand-drill to install the hinge. The stand is then covered with glue and black fabric.

I survey Corenelius’ one room workshop and am filled with intense admiration and respect. His bed is in the back, separated by thin curtain. Another curtain forms the doorway. Behind me is one window with no glass. And from this place hundreds of beautiful picture frames are produced with meticulous skill and care.

Cornelius learned to make frames (in the very rudimentary stage) in his secondary school program in Kisii. They had instituted a skills training program in handcrafts to preserve traditional crafts and encourage students to make use of their resources and creativity.

After getting married and having children, he decided to go to Nairobi and perfect his craftsmanship of picture frames so that he could support his family.

“How has business been for you? Have you been able to sell enough frames to make a good living?” I asked.

“Well, I have to say, after the past five years, business has not been fair.”

As a fair trade business owner, these words did not fall on welcome ears. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that there have been several people who have taken my frames on consignment, but have refused to pay after they have been sold . There was also one very large order which I have yet to recover from.”

He went on to tell us of an order for more than 5000 frames. Cornelius hired 18 people to help, and soon they were producing 100 frames a day – a number which again filled me with intense respect given the size and limitations of his workshop. After this order was delivered, he received only a small portion of the payment. The issue eventually went to court, where he learned that the person who had contracted him was bankrupt, and did not have the money to pay him.

After all of this, Cornelius still looks at me with hope-filled eyes and says, “But I am not worried, I am SURE the best is yet to come”

My heart was full as we were headed back to Nairobi. I sent Cornelius a text message saying, “Thank-you for showing us your workshop. You do very good work and I wish you much happiness and success.”

His response made my heart swell even more - “I was also proud of you. The way you accepted to visit that small workshop of mine. May God make our business prosper. ”

I am so excited that we are starting a business relationship with Cornelius that is FAIR, and can hardly wait to bring his products to you!

Fair Earth will be carrying a large selection of his frames – they will be available online and for purchase at the Andersonville Galleria come March. Remember—the best is yet to come!

Thanks for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Holly Elzinga

©2010 Fair Earth | Andersonville Galleria - 5247 N. Clark St. Chicago IL 60640

Friends and supporters of Fair Earth,

First of all, if you would like to receive updates via email, please email me at info@ourfairearth.com and I will add you to the list!

I hope all is well with each of you. In Uganda, we have been very busy working on our new line, focusing extensively on stream-lining our production capacity, increasing quality control, and expanding our product line.

More stories about our producer groups are forthcoming – but meanwhile I wanted to share some of our experiences travelling in this beautiful country.

On our second day in Uganda, we found ourselves catapulted into the waters of the Nile on a whitewater excursion. The experience was breathtaking, wild, and exhilarating. Click here to see photos!

A couple days later, still breathless from the explosive White Nile, we found ourselves gently cruising down the river’s slow-moving current, watching hippos surround our boat and observing hundreds of crocodiles lined up along the shore..

Water Buffalo, Sacred Ibis, and Hippos on the shores of the Nile

Our boat cruse brought us to the frothy basin of Murchison Falls. The next day we hiked up to the top – where the ENTIRE NILE RIVER explodes through a narrow cleft in the rock only 23 feet wide to the frothy pool 140 feet below – absolutely phenomenal to witness!

View of Murchison Falls from above

Nick, Kiran, and our guide at the top of the Falls

Holly at the top of the falls

Enjoy the photos here!

Sincerely,

Holly Elzinga

©2010 Fair Earth | Andersonville Galleria - 5247 N. Clark St. Chicago IL 60640

“You see, I have everything I need” my friend Robinah told me as she held out her hand to survey the small room accommodating a bed, bunk bed, couch, and coffee table where she lives with her children and grandchildren. Her home is accessible through a winding dirt road that goes through the market, over a small plank, and into a courtyard where her room is one of many. She pointed to the bed where her grandson Michael was sleeping. “You see, here is the bedroom. And the dressing room is here,” she said with a laugh as she showed me the 1′ x 4′ crevice between the bed and the wall, above which all of their clothes hung from three hooks.

“And here,” pointing to a shelf right next to the bed housing cups, plates, tea, and rice “is the kitchen. And here,” pointing to the couch and a small end table, “is the sitting room, dining room, office, workshop, and lounge. It can even be a library,” she laughed as she scanned the book lying on the couch.

“The bathroom is outside, but that is good because then we can always be sure to be able to say hi to our neighbors. So you see, I am very blessed.”

Robinah is one of Fair Earth’s paper beaders, and yesterday I spent the day with her and her family at their home in Kampala.

Their residence is small – but overflowing with ABUNDANT creativity. The volume and quality of beautiful products that are produced in this home challenges and amazes me!

Robinah with grandchildren Michael, and Millie

As we were walking up to the entrance of their home, Robinah’s granddaughter Millie came running towards us with exuberant energy. She called “Mama! Mama! Mama!” and threw her arms around me. Millie was our stand-up comedian the rest of the day. She is three years old and absolutely delightful.

Fair Earth is offering

50% OFF EVERYTHING

at the Andersonville Galleria on January 22, 2010!

Come find some AMAZING sales!

Meet Margaret – one of our beaders

The first time I met Margaret, her captivating smile and confident personality captured me. I was later drawn in even more by the quality and creativity of her work, as she intricately bent wires and wove beads to create the lively forms of butterflies, elephants, frogs, lizards, scorpions, giraffes, birds, and many other animals and critters. We started working together last year, when she had only been beading for a year’s time. She learned to make beaded critters from a friend, and with a brave entrepreneurial spirit invested in supplies. Her determination to succeed has rewarded her. She currently employs four other people and has established a dignified business that supports herself and pays the school fees for her two children, Evelyn and Mary.

We visited Margaret’s workshop today, which is located in the front room of her home in Dagoretti where she lives with her two girls. A small table was set up with stools around it, where she and three of her workers sat beading. Two women were stringing beads onto wire with amazing precision and skill, while another wove the beaded wire around a previously constructed wire frame to create the finished masterpiece.

When I asked Margaret what I should tell her customers in America, she said, “Please tell them thank-you for buying my work so that I can send my children to school.”

So, on Margaret’s behalf, THANK-YOU!

Margaret’s work is currently available at our retail location at the Andersonville Galleria – all of the beaded critters and beaded animals you see there are made in her workshop!

Sincerely,

Holly Elzinga
www.ourfairearth.com

Below is important news from Chicago Fair Trade.

On Monday January 11, with your help, we can move Chicago a major step closer to supporting fair wages and working practices for developing communities abroad.

Chicago Fair Trade is a non-profit organization that works to grow the Fair Trade movement in the metro area by increasing consumer demand and access to Fair Trade products. With our membership organizations and individuals, we contribute to sustaining communities around the world, enabling them to invest in their villages and businesses, protect their environment, and ultimately lift themselves out of poverty.