In March of 2004 the American artist Alexander Kanevsky of national notoriety and international recognition arrived in Nairobi airport where was met by delegates from Kenya Ministry of Culture, led by Mr. Silverse Anami, its director, who asked Alexander whether he would paint aught for Kenya, whereto Alexander replied “Depends on a feeling I would get from thine people, animals, land…”. “What can we do for you?” Mr. Anami expostulated. “Take me to lions” Kanevsky replied.
Thus on the 23rd of March under Mid Afternoon’s 100 degrees heat, whilst Steve Kuriah, the driver, was taken by steamy heavy honey dues of slumber, two reproducing lions under the bushes sharing into Steve’s dispatch, Alexander’s lids closing but bid themselves up lest to miss aught of lions’ interplay.
And our eyelids gave in, Alexander saw the whole painting “ Africa” that he would complete in a year thereof.
First circle of pride, power, and fecundation of the land composed by lions and a woman between them.
Next circle of security and immutability of the land chiefly consist of elephants.
Videorama of Savannah breeding its lighthouses – prophets giraffes concluding the vision.
In a moment Alexander Kanevsky conceived it he saw upon horizon mountains beginning to move… In a minute they took shapes of elephants.
“Now it is confirmed”,- Alexander’s smile touching the providence.
It would take a book to tell the rest of Alexander’s African tale.
In few words to highlight him climbing Kilimanjaro whereupon Horrombo point our Artist almost froze his septic self forthwith his gangrenous feet, wherewith having survived he visited the Massai Tribe, Zanzibar whereafter back in Nairobi over the dinner meeting with Najib Balala, the minister of Culture, and Silverse Anami have disclosed his vision that was commissioned to be painted and hung in the Kenyatta International Conference Centre at Nairobi.
Alexander also conducted workshops and lectures for Kenya’s artists as well as round table ideological discussions with Kenyan Governmental authorities whereupon by Honarable Gerard Besseling and Silverse Anami was called “the prophet”. Lydiah, Gerards’s wife was contracted as the model for the central figure of the woman in the first raw of the painting.
A month later Silverse Anami with the US ambassador of Kenya visited Kanevsky Art Gallery in new Haven.
“Alexander”, the ambassador said,-“We have another man who is of Kenyan roots and, like you, is for Kenya, he is in Illinois running for the US Senate, we’d like to introduce him to you. Can we bring him to your Gallery next time? His name is Barack Obama.
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