Saaji Fimbi

The West African country of Niger serves as inspiration for this exhibition.

"Saaji Fimbi" features monochromatic imagery from artist Gretchen Beck, professor of art and chair of the art department at Concordia University in Irvine, California.

In the Djarma language, Saaji Fimbi means the frailest of landscapes. Once strong, bountiful and covered with trees, the southwestern part of Niger, West Africa suffers from desertification.

Eroded and barren this part of the Nigerien terrain now fails to provide the Djarma and Fulani people with enough food to eat.

The monochromatic imagery in this exhibition will explore this dichotomy of forces through charcoal, graphite, ink and mixed media drawings.

The exhibition will be comprised of a solo exhibit of Beck's work and a group exhibition of her advanced drawing student's imagery.