Artist Statement
While traveling in Africa, I visited the Kazuri Bead Factory near Nairobi, Kenya. In the Swahili language, “Kazuri” means “small and beautiful”. Each individual ceramic bead is shaped and painted by hand, using clay dug from Mt. Kenya.

What impresses me most is that this factory, begun in a garden shed with two women, in 1975, to help needy women — especially single mothers — now employees over 300 women who are trained to create the colorful and unique beads. In an area of high unemployment, the workers are often supporting an extended family of twenty or more. The Kazuri factory is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, and a model Afrian company that provides health care, day care, better than average salary, education, and credit and savings plans to it’s workers.

For me, it is special to know that by using these beautiful beads in many of my pieces, I am helping to support and empower women in Kenya, and making a difference in the lives of these women and their families.

About Bobi Ashley
For as long as she can remember, art has always been an important part of Bobi’s life. Her father, uncle and father-in-law were all artists. A day doesn’t feel complete unless she has an art or craft project going on which she can work. An Art Minor at San Jose State University, she has mastered media of all kinds: clay, drawing, water colors, oil painting, pine needle basket weaving, crocheting, knitting, quilting, macrame and photography. About five years ago, she was introduced to beading by a friend who was using it as therapy while recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Bobi fell in love with all the colors, shapes and styles of beads; and was fascinated by all the ways they could be combined. She feels that making beaded jewelry is the most creative and satisfying art work she has ever done. Each piece is unique one-of-a-kind wearable art. Her “Kazuri” bead work, and free style peyote bracelets, were met with enthusiasm at the recent “ART ON THE RIVER” annual show and sale at Eagle Crest Resort, in Redmond, Oregon.

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Artist Code: BA