Iowa City resident Ann Tanna met Frederic during her time in Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1998 to 2000. Tanna grew to appreciate the art, and sought out ways to support her newfound friends once she returned to Iowa. Tanna returned to Togo in January of this year with financial support and supplies, such as computers, to help support the health program. A portion of her collected donations was given to Frederic to purchase fabric, dyes and wax needed to continue his work. Animals in the Jungle is one of the cloth hangings that make up the Batiks of Africa display at The Frame Station.
Most people barely make a living.
They live very much hand to mouth. From January to the end of March, when Tanna returned to Iowa City, Frederic worked from dawn until nightfall creating 49 batiks that will be displayed at The Frame Station Gallery. The exhibit opens from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, with African food and music. Tanna is a customer of The Frame Station, and told gallery owner Pat Carney of the work she brought back from Africa. Carney looked at the cloth pieces and agreed to promote a show and sale in support of the artist, even though the work is much different from his usually print and paper works displays.