TURKANA - METAL PRINT, by Sophie Binder, is a beautiful piece of work...with a beautiful story behind it (read below).

This is an original piece, measuring 23 x 33 inches - private collection. Wood burning and watercolor hexaptych (6 maple panels) mounted on painted aluminum.

About the piece, by Sophie:
I approach art as a storyteller - each piece existing as a lasting imprint of experiences, encounters, adventures or discoveries. It may reflect my personal journey, but it is meant to travel broadly, and hopefully touch more souls. Sometimes I create art to narrate the story; sometimes the story evolves from the process of creation. This piece, "Turkana", is the latter.

Her name is Alayakot Lopuul Ekal. She lives among her people of the Turkana tribe in Northern Kenya in the village of Moite on the Eastern shores of Lake Turkana. My dear friend JD has traveled to her village every year to live among the Turkana for months at a time, eventually adopting Alayakot's nephew Damian in order to help him fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor.

Because this piece is inspired by photos my friend took of this family, I had the very special opportunity to exchange messages with Damian about his aunt and the Turkana people.

The conversation warmed my heart. Outliers they may be, but Damian could not wait to tell the world about them.

The Turkana tribe still lives life according to ancestral traditions, Damian explained to me.

The beads around his aunt's neck represent her and her family's efforts to make her more attractive, beautiful and ready for marriage. The more beads donned by the daughter in the family, the more attention given by a possible husband, who - if interested and willing to wed - can pay as many as 30 goats, a camel, a cow and a donkey as a bride price.

Alayakot had a husband, a fisherman of the Ng'ipusho clan. But now, in her late 30s, she is raising 6 children alone after losing him in a capsizing boat accident. Her leaf-like earrings indicate that she is an officially married woman, as does the copper ring around her neck - a piece highly cared for (and symbolically similar to a wedding ring, but considered safer worn around the neck in Turkana tradition). All her life she will wear this ring, the color of which represents the clan she married into - the Ng'ipusho clan.

"I am proud of you, and through your work so many people will learn about Turkana, my tribe, which not so much is known about them, thank you for choosing us (…)" - Damian