Neuenschwander Studio
Ronna Neuenschwander is a well-known Portland artist who has been actively working and showing in the Northwest since 1977. Her unique sculptures are informed by her experiences in the United States and Mali, Africa. The work blends African and American elements though the use of natural and recycled materials. Ceramic is Neuenschwander’s primary media, but she also uses natural and recycled materials to create mosaic surfaces that enliven her figures with a dignity and playful elegance. Her work is represented in numerous collections including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian, Washington, D.C., the Portland Art Museum, Oregon, and the ID Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte, NC.
Ko-Falen Cultural Center
The Ko-Falen Cultural Center, located in Bamako, Mali is the inspiration of Baba Wagué Diakité, a Malian artist and writer now living in Portland, Oregon. It has been his dream to share the culture of his home country with the people of his adopted home.
Ko-Falen Cultural Center seeks to promote cultural, artistic and educational exchanges between the people of the United States and Mali through art workshops, dance, music and ceremony. We believe that a greater understanding and respect between people can be reached through these personal exchanges.