Introduction by Ambassador Robert P. Jackson and Babs Jackson

As my wife, Babs, and I began to identify art to display at the American Ambassador’s Residence in Yaoundé, we looked for cheerful, colorful paintings, textiles and objects that would underscore links between the United States of America and the Republic of Cameroon.  We also wanted to combine this art with our private collection, showcasing American and African artists during our stay in Cameroon.

The importance of peace and tolerance figured prominently in our choice of a tapestry that emphasizes the triumph of peace over hate, and what could better highlight U.S. efforts to promote regional stability and tolerance of diversity in the troubled Central African region and Gulf of Guinea?  “Peace Over Hate”, a quilt by Shirley Jo Rimkus-Falconer, immediately appealed to us.  The people traveling through air and carrying a positive message around the world are really everyday people serving as diplomats, rendered in the medium of textiles.  We were so charmed by looking up in the sky that we never really noticed the darker “hate” appliqués at the bottom until the work was installed at the residence.  We are still focused upward. 

We also selected several colorful oil paintings by William M. McClanahan.  Our first post together as a married couple was in Zimbabwe where we marveled at the beauty of zebras.  When we saw “Living Stripes,” we simultaneously smiled at each other and knew we wanted this painting in our home.  We were drawn to the artist’s sophisticated use of color and pattern.  The cool colors of “Living Stripes” and “Iceberg” are striking together.  Moreover, Cameroon – like Zimbabwe and many other countries -- has national parks with wildlife that are unfortunately threatened by poachers and scarce water supplies.  We nonetheless want to encourage tourists to view these beautiful animals.

The warm colors of “Black Gold” create the ambiance to welcome guests into our dining room where sharing food with visitors from around the world is our joy.  “Black Gold” sustains the warmth of hospitality with panache.  Looking at Black Gold in another light, Cameroon is an oil producer and is home to the Chad-Cameroon pipeline, which brings oil from Chad to the Gulf of Guinea.

Jacob Lawrence’s “Supermarket Flora” is a place to linger and look at the colors of the flowers before deciding which to take home.  Look close and see that there is a woman reaching out who gets to stay and enjoy the scent and beauty of the flora.  In Yaoundé we are lucky to have flowers year ‘round in the garden.  One of our staff makes beautiful floral arrangements for use in the residence, and we continue to enjoy the artist’s flowers on the wall.

During the summer before we arrived in Cameroon, we were visiting Maine.  When we told friends in Castine that we were looking for art to display in the residence, they urged us to see Jill Hoy’s paintings.  We immediately connected with her colorful, sun-filled, joyful canvases.  “Connie Jones’ Annabelle Hydrangea” has a small American flag in the painting that echoes the full-sized flag flying on the flagpoles outside the ambassador’s residence and the Embassy.  In addition it is a memory of Maine homes with flowers blooming in the summer when we usually visit Rob’s family and our friends in New England.  “Robin, Daylilies, and Dazzle” calls to mind those Maine summers, especially long walks along the water in Castine and Portland.  It also has a calm and quiet mood in which one is dazzled by the beauty of the light on the water.  It’s a time to enjoy nature and to reflect without rushing.  Rob’s mother is a native of the State of Maine, which has a beautiful coastline, magnificent fall foliage, and breathtaking landscapes.  These two works by Jill Hoy emphasize the state’s natural beauty while also giving glimpses of life and key values.  So we take these memories with us even when we leave that place and season to live in different parts of the world with tropical weather.

Babs’ family lives in the southern part of the United States in and around Atlanta, Georgia.  Like Georgia, Cameroon is famous for its forests; so when we found unique wooden bowls that glisten in the light, we thought those would be ideal symbols of the forests and the products into which they can be transformed with appropriate management.  For years Babs has admired wooden bowls created by Ed Moulthrop, who is now deceased.  Today his son, Phillip, and grandson, Matt, continue to transform large chunks of wood into magnificent objects that are a joy to behold and to touch.  Babs’ sister and brother-in-law, who have a collection of Moulthrop bowls, put us in contact with Phillip who introduced us to Matt.  Needless to say we connected and are thrilled to have “sculpture” from both of these men in our home.  Guests are in awe of both of the bowls, “Spalted Red Maple Bowl” by Philip Moulthrop and “Honey Locust” by Matt Moulthrop.  Visitors cannot believe that the bowls are made of wood -- single pieces of wood at that.  Individuals want to touch the bowls to add to their experience of such beautifully crafted objects.  Friends literally gather around to stare at the works of art, and we are so honored and proud to have both Moulthrop creations in the residence.

Two previous ambassadors, the curator at ART in Embassies, and the Interior Designers at the State Department advised us to “think BIG” for one wall.  Katherine Mann’s “Byzantine” fills the bill and then some.  This seven-panel painting graces one living-room wall, making a colorful, dramatic, addition to a very large room that needed the vibrancy of the painting to fill it with exceptional life.  It’s a jaw dropper!  Images seem to flow from below the sea, continue to roil on land, and exhale into the air.  We have since discovered that Cameroon’s rainy and dry seasons, its tropical coastal areas, labyrinthine traffic, and buzzing factories and workshops seem to move with a similar cacophony of vibrant colors and energy.

Finally, we have mixed in a little humor.  “The Great American Diet” by Petra Haas features a can of Diet Coke next to a generous slice of chocolate cake covered in frosting with red cherries on top.  Yes, we have all made that mental rationalization on calorie intake.  Thank you, Coca-Cola of Atlanta, Georgia, for providing variety in your product line for those of us who need support as we enjoy the delights of life on our road to getting slim!  The World of Coca-Cola seems to have spread to our corner of Yaoundé where Coke is readily available.

In sum, this collection is intended to celebrate small pleasures and important values that both Americans and Cameroonians can appreciate.  We hope you will enjoy these 11 works of art.

It is thanks to the ART-in-Embassies Program, especially curator Imtiaz Hafiz, that friends and guests at U.S. Ambassadors’ Residences around the world become familiar with the amazing artistic talent of the United States.  We thank the ART-in-Embassies Program for making this possible and thank the lending artists for their generosity in making American art available to a worldwide public through these venues.