Date: Feb 21, 2007

Internationally known sculptor to be artist-in-residence at Hofstra

Elkana Ong'esa will highlight his first trip to the states with an exhibit at Hofstra

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Kenyan stone carver and sculptor Elkana Ong’esa will be an artist in residence in the Fine Arts Department at Hofstra University for the first two weeks of March. Elkana will display 15 of his soap stone carvings from March 5-16 at the Rosenberg Gallery of the Fine Arts Department in Calkins Halls. A reception and presentation by the artist will take place on March 14, 2007.

Elkana Ong’esa chose Hofstra for his first visit to the states because of an old friend, Hofstra Professor Arthur Dobrin. The two met and became friends in 1966 while Prof. Dobrin was a Peace Corp volunteer in Kenya and Elkana Ong’esa was in secondary school. The two have remained close friends throughout the years.

“Having Elkana at Hofstra for me is a completion of my Peace Corp work,” said Prof. Dobrin. “When I met Elkana forty years ago as a high school student I would have never dreamed that he would become an artist in residence at the same University in which I teach.”

Mr. Ong’esa will meet with sculpture classes during his stay at Hofstra. Students will have the opportunity to learn from his experiences, depth of technical knowledge and aesthetic abilities in the art of sculpting.

“I am very pleased to offer our majors the opportunity to meet and learn from Mr. Ong’esa.” said Daniel Devine, co-coordinator of the Three-Dimensional Area of the Department of Fine Arts. “Meeting an accomplished sculptor like Mr. Ong’esa will build enthusiasm in the students for sculpture and present them with a living example while they pursue their studies.”

Mr. Ong’esa most prized pieces of art work can be found all over the world such as in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the Caltex Oil Company base in Texas, the U.N. headquarters in New York, the Coca-Cola Olympic Museum in Atlanta, and most recently at the Changchun World Sculpture Park in northeastern China.

Hofstra University provides a dynamic college experience tailored for innately ambitious, outcome-oriented individuals. Students find their edge at Hofstra, through small classes, a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence, cutting edge technology, extensive library resources, internships and special educational programs that appeal to their interests and abilities.

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