Work is going well, we already have two articles currently being edited as well as photos. So far contributors have been respectful of deadlines and been attending our meetings.
The key work right now is to look for funding for subsequent issues of the paper. We have managed to scrape together enough to publish our first issue but after that we need another source of funding. We are looking into some grants from embassies that have a keen interest in supporting the arts, but these grants can take some months to be approved. So we are have to be creative. We have a possible idea for raising some money but this idea is still in its early stages, stay tuned for more!
Despite these financial issues we are so heartened by the amount of support we are receiving from artists who feel this kind of newspaper is long overdue. For them and many others, we will continue the work.
We are also working on a website that will help promote The Art Pages, this is still very much under construction and we have to make allowances for our temperamental internet, but it is definitely getting there.
I was jetlagged and decidedly underwhelmed at finding myself back in Lusaka. Nevertheless I dragged myself into the gallery as I had promised. And this was a good thing.
We had a great deal to catch up on as I had been away for over two weeks, and I was full of stories of the art community in Asheville. I was especially eager to tell them about all the great free art and culture magazines I found in the area.
After much discussion we came to the conclusion that our blog, although nice in its way is simply not reaching local people. This is unsurprising considering how expensive the internet is here – no fibre optics and it is slow as can be. My good colleague Zenzele happened to have with him an art newspaper called 'Art Bakery' that he had picked up during a residency in Cameroon with Goddy Leye. It was a simple, 4 page publication in black and white.
With my inspiration from Asheville and Zenzele's from Cameroon, we realised we had a very special opportunity. And so our art paper idea blossomed.
To be continued...
"THINGZ and TIMEZ" is the theme for an exhibition by Lusaka based Artists from the 'Roots of Expressions' -(ROXS), an affiliate to the Zambia National Visual Arts Council. This show runs through from 25th to 29th June at the Alliance Francaise in Lusaka, Zambia. It is a reflection of how their work has changed over time, taking experimentation as a guide when approaching nature for inspiration. Roots of Expressions has shown its creations at the National Museum, the Henry Tayali Gallery, the Alliance Francaise in 2008 and some of its works can be seen at Iseni House in the Dutch church in Kabulonga.
ROXS objectives are to collaborate with other art organizations locally and internationally with the aim of stimulating the Development of Art.
Contacts can be made by e-mailing studios.rootsofexpression@gmail.com or visit roots of expression on facebook. 
