THE BLACK ROCK RESIDENCY.

By Nii B. Andrews.

The Black Rock Residency is the brain child of renowned African-American artist, Kehinde Wiley. 

It will open next month in Dakar, Senegal.

The inaugural year of Black Rock will run from June 2019 through February 2020. 

Participants will be invited to live and work on-site; on the Black Rock compound for between one and three month intervals.

The architecturally stunning Black Rock property was built and developed by Kehinde Wiley over the past decade.

It comprises a residence and studio space for Wiley along with three single-occupancy residency apartments with adjacent studio spaces.

The Senegalese architect Abib Djenne designed the compound.

“Whenever I’d ask around, Djenne’s name kept popping up,” Wiley says. “I wanted someone who would consider and highlight the natural surroundings: the light, the water, and of course the black volcanic rocks that line the shore.”

Wiley with Senegalese designer Aissa Dione collaborated on the interiors.

Successful applicants for the residency program will be offered room, board, and individual studio space. 

In addition, a modest stipend is provided for incidentals and art supplies.

English, French, and Wolof constitute the three primary languages of the program and local staff are on hand to teach the languages and assist with living in Dakar.

Black Rock is located in Yoff Virage, approximately twenty minutes northwest of the Dakar city-center at the westernmost edge of the continent. 

The project takes its name from the shoreline which is blanketed in black, volcanic rocks.

ARTcapital GHANA warmly congratulates Kehinde Wiley on establishing the residency; we pray for its total success.