April 3 - August 3, 2008
Namibia is a vast and arid land of wide open spaces, one of the most sparsely populated in the world, yet with a
fascinating diversity of tribes, customs and languages. I arrived in the then South West Africa in 1979 at the height
of the struggle for the country's independence. For the next 23 years I made Namibia my home, sharing it with its
friendly people and observing historic social challenges and changes brought about by war, by peace at Independence,
and by development pushing roads, water carriers, homes and shops into the remotest areas, confronting ageless
traditions with inevitable modernization. These paintings are an attempt to express my gratitude to the people of
Namibia for sharing with me their beautiful lives and land.
Above: From the remote northwest corner of Namibia, a Himba woman displays her married status with her erembe headdress. It is made from the skin of a goat's head which is fastened at the back of the head by two thongs. Himba women smear their skins and elaborately plaited hair with a mixture of rancid butter, ash and ochre, sometimes adding a fragrant herb. This provides protection from the harsh climate and gives the skin a deep reddish glow. Headdresses, clothing and jewelry form an important part of Himba culture.
- View a 3 min. video with the artist about this exhibit
- Read "Colors of a Country" - May 31 Gainesville Sun interview with Volkmann
About the Artist
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Volkmann studied art education at university before traveling in 1974 to
southern Africa where she remained to live and work for 28 years. Her artistic career has included
commissions as varied as art workshops, portraits of a king, coin designs for several different countries,
seven issues of postage stamps, book illustrations, greeting card designs, murals and paintings for private
collectors. A commissioned book, Glimpses of Namibian Life: A Moment in Time (1997), includes 30
paintings depicting life in Namibia among its native peoples. Mary Jane co-founded an educational and
charitable trust in northern Namibia with a regional center for development and marketing of Namibian arts.
Her paintings have been displayed at museums and private galleries overseas and in the USA and are in
private and corporate collections. In 2002 Mary Jane and her family relocated to Gainesville, where she
currently resides and has her studio. Florida landscapes have inspired much of her current work.
To see and learn more, visit www.maryjanevolkmann.com.