KDI Blog Lastest happenings and insights from KDI
KPSP03: Helen’s Story Part 2
Second Visit: March/April 2012 Using scientific research and local observation, I developed designs for a series of community art plaques that could add color and information to the Kibera landscape. The images took the complex relationship of soil, and parsed it roughly into soil and food production, soil and community health, and soil and ecology. [...]
Haiti in March: Returning Home
Leaving Bonneau and the Northwest of Haiti was an entirely different experience from the one we had on arrival. Wanting to spend a day in Port-au-Prince to check out soil stabilized bricks being produced for a GHESKIO project, we left St. Louis du Nord by bus in the middle of the night. An overnight crowded [...]
KPSP03: Helen’s Story Part 1
Inspiration Abroad: Embedded Practice in Kenya by Helen Lessick Introduction As an artist, I am interested in creative practices outside my studio. I have initiated and created permanent artworks in an arboretum, wastewater treatment plant, County executive offices and rural grange. My projects have investigated trees, earthworms, food, water and especially soils. Of course this [...]
Haiti in March: NWHCM
One of our two projects in Haiti is a fee-for-service project with the non-profit organization Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. This organization has been serving the Northwest of Haiti, the poorest region in the country, for over thirty years. NWHCM has numerous programs throughout the region including orphanages, health clinics, and agricultural development. They have a [...]
KPSP03: Public Art
For the first time, KDI has been working with an artist to create a permanent art installation for a Productive Public Space. Los Angeles artist, Helen Lessick has been working since October 2011 with KDI staff in Kenya and community members from KPSP 03 to manage and create a number of pieces that will be [...]
Haiti in March: Day 2-6
After arriving safely in St. Louis du Nord we spent the next few days taking full advantage of our time in Haiti with full-day community workshops, site visits, measuring topography, and completing a pilot project. While we spent most of our time in Bonneau we did make a short site visit to the Far West, [...]
Haiti in March: Day 1
At the beginning of March we headed to Bonneau for a week of community and client meetings for our two projects in the Northwest of Haiti. The team consisted of Chelina Odbert (Executive Director), Joe Mulligan (Board Member and Civil Engineer), Jessica Bremner (Program Director), Amy Linsenmayer (Landscape Architect), Andreas Quednau (Founding Partner, SMAQ), and [...]
KPSP03: A PPS UNDERWAY
This past spring and summer KDI’s team in Kenya completed an RFP and site selection process for our third project in Kibera. Like KPSP01 and KPSP02, KPSP03 sits along the river running through Kibera. A larger site then KPSP02, KPSP03 will include a playground, poultry farm, improved drainage, flood control, kiosks, and a community center [...]