Hangar 11

Rabi is exhibiting his modern African art for the first time outside of the US and for the first time in his native Burkina Faso. His sculptures feature found objects, brass, copper and steel.

Join Rabi for an exhibit of 6 artists, including his twin brother Raogo who creates mixed media pieces and their cousin, painter Harouna Ouédraogo. Harouna is the president and founding member of Hangar 11, a collective art workshop.

Hangar 11
Secteur 11
Quartier Kologh-Naaba
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Open Studio: December 13-17 @ 10am-8pm
Exhibit Open: December 18-25 @ 10am-8pm

Art enthusiasts can stop by Hangar 11 now until December 17 to watch Rabi and the others create their pieces.

Entertainment and refreshments will be provided during the Opening Reception on Friday, December 18 at 7:30-10pm. Refreshments will be provided during the Closing Reception on Sunday, December 20 at 7:30-10pm.

For directions or questions, please contact Harouna at 70-14-33-84.

Award of Excellence

Rabi received the Award of Excellence - Metal at the 55th Annual Art Fair on the Square in Lake Forest, IL this last weekend. The Art Fair on the Square is the Deer Path Art League’s signature event. This year 180 artists were selected to participate.

He also sold his award winning "Chronicles of a Warrior" to a really nice couple. We were a bit sad to see it go so quickly but know it's going to a great home.

A great couple from Argentina were our neighbors at the fair: Marisa and Daniel. We ended up getting a trio of Marisa's work. Check out her other paintings and if you're interested, we actually do have a few that we're trying to sell for her.

Ant Finds a Home

Rabi donated the Industrious Cooperative Ant, a sculpture he made for the MN DNR which was on display at the 2008 MN State Fair, to South St. Paul. It blends in pretty well at the Wildflower Levee Park. Check out the article about the donation. Rabi was officially thanked by the city at their city council meeting on July 20th.

Chronicles of a Warrior

From the display on Nicollet Mall today.

1st Place at 9th Annual Art of Recycling

Rabi was awarded First Place at the 9th Annual American Iron Metal Sculpture Competition, which is part of the 2009 Minneapolis Aquatennial celebration, for his piece "Chronicles of a Warrior." This is first year American Iron has not had 2 categories (large and small sculptures) but rather judged all sizes together.

With this sculpture, Rabi put his late father's stories into a visual form. Emilie Sanfo wrote many fable and stories, but did not complete this epic. Rabi's twin brother Raogo completed the tale of the warrior, and Rabi translated it into English for the competition to accompany the sculpture.

Chronicles of a Warrior

I am wounded and tired
From luring them in this place
In this valley…
Where their fathers killed my father
They are armed to the teeth
Some of them are even brandishing
Some of my own weapons that I had to leave
Behind on the battlefield
Now I am almost on my knees
But my shield is holding me from collapsing
They are so many…too many
Even for the Lord of Wars
Who broke his sword and his shield
They know that I am lost
But as the hunter still fears the wounded lion
They step back when I push a loud breath
The clouds are gathering so the sun
Doesn’t witness my fall
The valley is cold but my sweat is burning
My eyes and my wounds
I hear my heart beating…
I hear the voice telling me to stand up
And fight

The piece will be on public display Tuesday and Wednesday, July 21st and 22nd, on Nicollet Mall in front of the IDS Crystal Court (717 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis). Please stop by the IDS Crystal Court from 10am-6pm if you get a chance.

All entries will eventually be posted on the American Iron site and we will post photos too tomorrow.

New Website

We've finally launched a new website! Please check it out and tell us what you think. You can also reach us at rabi@yarbidesign.com or nancy@yarbidesign.com.

We'll still use this blog every now and then to update you on our thoughts and exciting news. But we wanted to move towards a site with a more useful portfolio. We still have a bunch of photos to upload so come back often to see the updates! We'll also accept online sales pretty soon via PayPal.

Website Feedback?

Thanks to a referral, I am currently building our website but I need some feedback. So let me know what you think! Our trial period ends in 2 weeks. It's a pretty easy platform to work with and I can make any changes anytime I want without having to go through a web designer. There are some things that I don't love about it, but I think it's the best I've seen for the budget that we have.

Let me know your thoughts!

Web Designer Needed

As much as I love the blog, I think it's time we get a full fledged website but we need help! We'd love to work with someone who already has a connection to our business. We prefer to do some sort of trade, so give us a shout if you're interested!

The Spider Has Been Returned

Great news! The spider was found back on the wall of the Q.arma Building this morning. Guess the prank wasn't intended for us. Good thing we didn't call the cops!

Kidnapped Spider

Have you seen this spider around?



Yesterday, Rabi found this ransom note attached to a can of Raid: Wasp & Hornet Killer.



Although he abided by the directions yesterday, we still don't have the spider back on the wall of the Q.arma Building. Rabi stopped at the Diamonds Coffee Shoppe after noon today and saw that the ransom money was still taped to the trashcan lid. The folks at Diamonds didn't know why they were the drop spot.

Give us a buzz if you see the spider around. Obviously we're hoping the Wasp & Hornet Killer doesn't work on spiders and that this prank ends well with the safe return of the sculpture.

3-Minute Egg

Rabi was featured on the Twin Cities' Art Seen 3 Minute Egg during Art-A-Whirl.

Bronze Casting at Art-A-Whirl 2009

Rabi demonstrates bronze casting during Art-A-Whirl at the Q.arma Building.

Excelsior Art on the Lake

We just got our postcards in the mail today for Excelsior Art on the Lake and what a surprise! Rabi's "Femme de Baam" is featured on the postcard! Yeah. Hope you can join us for the 29th annual exhibit.

Excelsior Commons
Lake Minnetonka
Booth #191
Located 10 minutes west of I-494 on Hwy 7

Saturday, June 13 at 10am-6pm
Sunday, June 14 at 10am-4pm

Art-A-Whirl 2009

Check out Rabi's studio and his work in progress at the Q.arma Bldg during this year's Art-A-Whirl!

Q.arma Building
1224 Quincy St NE
Minneapolis, MN

May 15 @ 5-10pm
May 16 @ 12-8pm
May 17 @ 12-5pm

Art-A-Whirl is an open-studio and gallery tour of NE Minneapolis. It is an enticing event that calls and welcomes local and regional visitors who want to see the art being produced in the NE. Need a map? Click here.

More than 500 artists participate in AAW, including potters, tile makers, painters, sculptors, musicians, photographers, glass blowers, printmakers, and textile designers. They showcase their art in warehouses, galleries, homes, storefronts and cafes.

Beyond featuring over 30 artists for the upcoming Art-A-Whirl, the Q.arma Building will be hosting the following on Saturday, May 16:

Music
12pm: Fields of Green
1.15pm: Clear Skies
2pm: The Poor Nobodys
3.15pm: Bankrupt in Panama
4.30pm: Telepathos
5.45pm: Nightinghales
7pm: Chastity Brown

Events
1-2pm and 3-4pm: Bronze Pour Demonstrations by Rabi
2-3pm: Chain Saw Carving Demonstrations by fellow artist Kevin
All day: Pottery Demonstrations by fellow artists Anthony and Nick
All day: Youth Poetry Reading by Tru Ruts Studio

Movies, Brats and a Bonfire
Weather permitting. The lights go down, the film starts up. We’ll of course be showing Barnstormers, a delightful short film showing many artists painting on the side of an old barn, and a few others!

Rabi will also have work at the Frank Stone Gallery all weekend long, and a piece at the NEMAA Silent Auction.

L'age du Fer Closes

Thanks again everyone for showing up for Rabi's first solo exhibit "L'age du Fer" at the Frank Stone Gallery. We had a great Closing Reception with RPCV author Alice O'Grady. Check out some photos from Friday night!

Merit Award

Rabi earned a Merit Award at this year's Spiritual Art Show for "True Forgiveness." This year's jurors included Sue Canterbury (Minneapolis Institute of Arts), Paul Neseth (LOCUS Architecture) and Michelle Westmark (Bethel Unversity).

Be sure to stop by on Thursday, April 2, there for music by Singleton Street Bluegrass Band at 7-8:30pm.

Kolbe Center

Pope John Paul II School

1630 4th St NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

March 29-April 3

3-7pm

MinnPost Interview

Rabi was also interviewed for MinnPost's Arts Arena Blog. Check it out!

Rabi's Interview on KFAI

Listen to Rabi's interview on KFAI today. Hosts Salif and Charlie asked Rabi about art, life and politics in Burkina Faso. They also played songs from Burkina as well as highlighted his exhibit at the Frank Stone Gallery. The interview started at about 48:30 into the program. Enjoy!

Spiritual Art Show 2009

Stop by the Kolbe Center to view this year's Spiritual Art Show. The Northeast Minneapolis Juried Spiritual Art Show started 9 years ago, and has grown to where over 1,000 visitors attend its five day run. In 2008 those visitors saw over 70 unique works of art. Rabi tied for 1st place in 2007 and is excited to participate again this year.

On Thursday, April 2, there will be the Spiritual Art Festival with music by Singleton Street Bluegrass Band at 7-8:30pm.

Kolbe Center
Pope John Paul II School
1630 4th St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

March 29-April 3
3-7pm

Thanks for the Great Reception

Thanks to all of you who showed up at the opening reception of L'age du Fer! We had an awesome turn out despite the early rain and had a lot of fun.

A big thank you too to my family who came from Wisconsin (with cheese in hand!) and Illinois. My mom and dad have been incredibily supportive of us through it all. My dad even labored hard to provide the base for "Le Prince du Ciel."

Thanks too to Until the End who played a great set for everyone. Their music really added to the ambiance of the night.

And finally, thanks to Laura at the gallery and of course Lynn and Frank for the opportunity to show at their space.

Enjoy some pics from the opening. Hope to see the rest of you next Friday at the closing!

Rake Certified

Rabi has officially been certified by The Rake's Secrets of the City for his show. Yeah!

Book Reading at Closing Reception

I am excited to announce that RPCV author Alice R O'Grady will be reading from Ashanti Saga: The Fort at the Closing Reception March 27. This is an amazing opportunity for us since Rabi studied in Ghana and I am a RPCV from Burkina Faso.

About O'Grady
A member of Ghana 1, the first U.S. Peace Corps group to go to work anywhere in the world, O'Grady taught science and biology in a secondary school in Ghana. She then served as Deputy Director of the Peace Corps in Western Nigeria, and returned to Ghana to teach at Accra Academy seconday school on contract with the Ghana government. She is a staff writer in the summer for the Chautauquan Daily newspaper at Chautauqua Institution, New York.

About Ashanti Saga
Set in 1900 West Africa, it’s the first of a projected series of five books that takes the reader through the twentieth century with an African family.

Frank Stone Gallery
1224 2nd St NE
Minneapolis, MN, 55413

Closing Reception
March 27
5-9pm

Exhibit Details
March 19-29
Thursdays thru Sundays
12-5pm

L'âge du Fer Opening Reception

Please join us for the Opening Reception of Rabi's first solo show at the Frank Stone Gallery this Friday. Local band Until the End will perform. Please RSVP:

Yes! I plan to attend.

No. I cannot attend this event.

Frank Stone Gallery

1224 2nd St NE

Minneapolis, MN, 55413

Opening Reception

March 20

5-9pm

Exhibit Details

March 19-29

Thursdays thru Sundays

12-5pm

Please stop in, enjoy a glass of wine, and learn more about Rabi's work. Invite your friends!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

L'âge du Fer

Frank Stone Gallery
1224 2nd St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Gallery Hours
Thursdays – Sundays
12-5pm

Opening reception
March 20th
5-9pm

Closing reception
March 27th
5-9pm

ABOUT THE EVENT:
Please join Rabi Sanfo at the Frank Stone Gallery March 19-29. He will be exhibiting his latest body of work at his first solo show titled "L'âge du Fer" which means "Iron Age" in his native French.

Local band Until the End will be performing at the opening. Please stop in, enjoy a glass of wine, and learn more about his work!

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Burkinabé artist Rabi Sanfo immigrated to Minneapolis in 2004. Starting his business Yarbi Design first in his garage, Sanfo put his welding background into use by creating metal furniture. Since then, he expanded his work to include metal sculptures, and in 2007 relocated to the Q.arma Building in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. Although his artistic techniques have evolved over the years, the core theme of his work remains: to share the history and culture of his native Burkina Faso.

Arstist Statement
My art is contemporary African art inspired by my country, Burkina Faso, and Africa in general. Through my art, I want to share the rich and impressive history and culture of West Africa. The shapes of my sculptures, furniture and decorative objects are inspired by words, stories, fables and situations that come into my mind, and my culture. By the magic of bending, grinding and welding, I try to give these inspirations a form, an expression and a touch of life so when I get lost in a deep contemplation, I feel like they are living.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit http://www.yarbidesign.blogspot.com/ or call 612.227.8960.

High resolution images are available upon request. Please see the sample images attached.

21st Annual Multicultural Forum on Workplace Diversity

Rabi is again creating the Friend of the Forum and Winds of Change awards for the University of St. Thomas Multicultural Forum. Rabi created the inaugural sculptures last year. He will also have a booth at the Resource Fair on March 4 at 9:30am-5pm.

St. Paul RiverCentre
175 West Kellogg Boulevard

St. Paul, MN 55102

March 3-4, 2009

Awards presented March 4 at 1pm

Mother Earth
Steel
20"

Creative Blood

Come out this Friday for the opening of Creative Blood! This show will highlight the work of creative family pairs or groups.

Altered Esthetics

1224 Quincy St NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

March 5-28

Gallery Hours

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1-7pm

Saturdays at 1-5pm

Opening Reception

March 6

7-10pm

Until the End at Opening Reception

Until the End will be playing a set at the opening reception of Rabi's show. Again, that is March 20th at 5-9pm. Be there!

Solo Show in 1 Month!

Rabi's solo show "L'age du fer" at the Frank Stone Gallery is just around the corner. We are lining up music for the opening and closing receptions on Friday, March 20 and 27 at 5-9pm.

Otherwise, the gallery is open Thursdays thru Sundays from 12-5pm.

Stay tuned for more info!

R is for Rabi

Big thanks to Chris Colaianni for the cool pic!

We Are Here!

Rabi and I have been plugging away behind the scenes. Fear not, we're still around. Rabi is always in the studio, preparing for his first solo show at the Frank Stone Gallery in March.

Save the Date: March 19-29

For a sneak peak at some of his new pieces, check out the photo gallery: