Sandaliya by Melissa Wiederrecht

Sudan
Omdurman
Brown dust, hot air
Broken system, broken roads
Sweet sandalwood incense rising in smoke
Ladies wrapped in every color and every pattern
Morning milk tea with cookies out under the mango tree
Hopeful graffiti of revolution on every street wall
A thousand guests, a million cups of coffee
The two Niles converging at one point
Mixing, sorting, moving on North
I will leave for my home soon
But I won"t forget
Omdurman
Sudan

This piece was made while I was visiting Sudan and during the time I started meetings to build a school using the charity money collected from all the amazing collectors of Sudfah.  I was inspired by the contrast between the ubiquitous dirt and broken system of Sudan and the beautiful colorful culture and people.  The colorful forms represent to me both the long flowy garments of the ladies and the smoke and aromas rising from the unique incense and perfumes of Sudan.

25% of the proceeds will be donated toward building a school for an underdeveloped community in Sudan.