Dear Blen Supporters, The Blen Art Show represents more than a mere show. Over the years, Blen has devoted itself to producing and promoting quality artwork in all forms – traditional and contemporary, fine and graphic arts. This annual show, for which we hold a special place in our hearts, embodies our hopes for the future of Ethiopian art itself. In a country as ancient as ours, in a society which traces back beyond the Bible, in a civilization rooted at the dawn of humankind, tradition holds tremendous sway. We charge art with the task of preserving history, safeguarding our memories, and being our cultural ambassador to the world. Too often, the work that embraces the fantastic, powerful expression manifested in modern art is denounced as “un-Ethiopian”, a vague, undefined term. Art cannot be confined by geography, nor can it be bound by the prescriptions of the past. The pieces of the modern greats of Ethiopia, including those of Gebre Kristos, our honoree, reflect the sentiments of Ethiopians, and are therefore Ethiopian art. At our 4th Blen Art Show, as at the others, we destroy the myths of what Ethiopian art must be by recognizing the remarkable work of modern Ethiopian artists and allowing for a sphere of appreciation for their achievements. Ethiopian art faces another challenge; erosion. Art is undeniably important to the unity of a people – it is through art that our sorrows, frustrations, joys and hopes are shared. As an immigrant community abroad, and a community focused on immigration at home, we lose the entirety of ourselves. Our culture has been stripped down to the bare necessities of economic survival. We can argue intelligently about politics, but not beauty. We command our sons and daughters to become lawyers, businessmen, and doctors, but never painters, poets, or singers. We are engineering a generation of Ethiopians who will specialize in prolonging life and will have no idea how to appreciate it. Education is central to the Blen Art Show; we focus on not only introducing new artists, but also commemorating the accomplishments of the great artists of Ethiopia’s past. If we can instill a sense of understanding and approval of modern art into a few young Ethiopians and encourage them to pursue lives as creators of art, we can stop the terrible erosion of our culture, and our work will have been a success. Join in us celebrating the life and works of a man who faced all the challenges that arraign African artists; the venerated Gebre Kristos Desta. As we remember this extraordinary man, we will also introduce and welcome several new artists with remarkable promise. As long as they continue to produce fresh work, and as long as the public continues to love and encourage their art, we can be assured that the legacy of Ethiopian art, both traditional and modern, is safe. Ephrem M. Girma Blen Art Show Coordinator