Wherever I travel, I always have a weakness to discover pottery house to collect some tea pots. I met this German artist who has been to Mozambique eighteen years and trying to help the local disable and civil war wounded potters who lost their legs on mine. Mozambique cleaned up a lot of mine-field but still they have some in the remote areas. I met her accidentally with some Bangladeshi UN peace keeping force. Mozambique is now a very stable democratic country which economy is booming and also a favored nation of our "Millennium Challenge account" formed by US Congress. The Bangladeshi UN peace keeping force moved in other African nations but still they come to visit the country to meet some of their old local friends and government official to update their security force training. I met this kind German lady through one of them. I always like to do something for local community and with my limited art knowledge, I try to help local artist.
I have been to their factory(owned by government land but run by 15+ war wounded and disable potters). I was so impressed to see their color combination. Most of them have African theme and some of them have Portuguese influence. I still believe, they need to improve their quality and design. Most of them are clay and some are coated with light porcelain. All of them have bright color. Beautiful and lot of expression on them.
I am wondering if anyone can help me with some tea pot design web site, so I can invite the artist in my house and show them. They can also have some idea about different tea pot design. I will also help them to organize a tea pot exhibition with their existing collection and invite American and European government and corporate people so foreign buyers will know about their product. I can also serve free tea and finger foods. I think, I can help them to expand their market a little. Please if anyone know any information about pottery design, just send me the link off-line. Thank you advance. Ripon Maputo, Mozambique