Date of Face-2-Face Conversations: February 16, 2012 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
I had walked up to my appointment with Los Angeles filmmaker Bill Wynn on the arrangements to meet with filmmaker Al Thompson whose movie "Odessa", about a man and his daughter on the run from the mysterious shadow program that bestowed them with psychokinetic abilities in which they must avoid capture at all cost or be used as living weapons when I bumped into Nigerian-born creative artist, Nina Fabunmi's exhibition on display at the 20th Anniversay of the Pan African Film & Arts Festival on the complex of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles.
I had seen the sign and her work but wasn't sure if I knew her well and her work. She was gone running the events related errands when I arrived. I had asked her caretaker when would be timely to catch up with Nina, as I would like to know more of her work and what got her into the world of creative art. I was told she'd be back the next day. I came the next day at the exact time I was told she'd be there. I met her and we spoke briefly requesting an interview which she granted. We scheduled the interview for Sunday, February 16, 2012; and I came, from my other related assignments.
Nina Fabunmi was born in Nigeria. She studied Estate Management at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, but chose to take on the arts for the passion she had in it even though her parents did not want her ending up an artist. On why she chose to study arts in the United States, she said, "I'm here in the US because of the system hoping for the opportunity in learning the arts because art has no limit."
On Nina's interest besides arts, she's into Fashion Designing & Modeling, Sports (Taekwando, Basket Ball, and Swimming), Music, Photography, Reading, Writing Poetry and short stories and Creativity in general.
On Nina's passion for arts, she notes;
"My earliest memories are memories of me making art. I was born an artist and have grown in it. In this life , I have ventured into other vocations, but they all always lead me to my hearts desires! Art. With an MFA at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, I am tightening my skills and striving to be the best that I can be at what I do best, Art!"
From the Pan African Film and Arts Festival in Los Angeles held February 9-20, 2012 where she had an exhibition, Nina had exhibited at the following events: Art exhibition at Zozi’s Loft , 235 9th Street, San Francisco, 17th November 2011.Art Exhibition to Send forth Dr. Renee Sanders (Outgoing US Ambassador to Nigeria), Nike Art Gallery Lekki, 8th Aug 2010. ETA Fyne Art’diction Art Exhibition, Southern Sun Hotel, ikoyi, December 2009. Vlisco Fashion Show, 1st November 2009,– One of the Top 15 Finalist for Fashion Art Competition organized by AAF (African Artists Foundation) and exhibited at the Civic Center. October rain October 2009 National Museum Onikan, organized by Society for Nigerian Artists (SNA Lagos Chapter). Vason Open House Exhibition, Mydrim Gallery Ikoyi, September 2009. “Rencontre Avec les Artists, Aquarelles et Peinture a Huile, Besancon vu par Nina et Adejumo 20-24th Juillet , CLA (Centre de linguistique Appliquee), Universite De Franche-Comte. Naijazz 2008, NAIJART Art Exhibition, Studio 868, Bishop Aboyade Cole Street V/I, Dec 2008. “Lagos Hot on Artists” Art Exhibition and documentary, 23rd May 2009, Alliance Francaise, Ikoyi, Lagos. Exhibited at Eden Fashion Show, Didi Museum. 12th Dec 2008. Serendipity by ITA (Association of Informally Trained Artists) 6-11th Dec 2008 Didi Museum, Victoria Island, Lagos. Experience Nigeria 2008 Art Show organized by AARC (African Art Resource Center), Theme: Nigerians at Work 22nd- 28th Nov 2008; Beyond Imagination: 8th -14th November National Theatre Iganmu , organized by Multimedia Association of Artists (MFA). October Rain : 18-24th October 2008 National Museum Onikan, organized by Society for Nigerian Artists (SNA Lagos Chapter).
On a fast-pace degenerating Nigeria state, Nina said she wished the country had been more organized with its abundant natural resources and the brain drain in it's human capital, and totally felt disappointed while visiting Nigeria last December. Acoording to Nina, "nothing works with a filthy Murtala Muhammad International Airport."
Asking Nina what was her experience, she said "all had to be learned anew", which was the culture shock. For instance, learning how to use the bus lines, applying for library cards, transactions at the post office and things like that she appreciates because of a working system that brings in hope and lots of opportunities in how one could go pursuing his or her dreams.
Nina is also involved in volunteer work in the San Francisco Bay Area museum where she now calls home. Currently at the museum, she is on projects on African Diaspora and book on "Igbo Women's War."
A Man's Mind By Nina Fabunmi
