DUBAI TO ADDIS ABABA

DOXYCYCLINE HYCLATE

Here I am in the medical center (forgot the name..) taking my travel related shots. Yellow fever (mandatory), meningitis (highly recommended) and  others I can't remember. I took the flu vaccine (the first time taking it in my entire life) and got a weakened strain, two days before leaving. Initially I was pissed off about it but It came and went quickly. Thank god! I was not looking forward to flying 18+ hours with the flu. 

And, I forgot to mention the Malaria medicine. Horse sized Antibiotic tablets (DOXYCYCLINE  HYCLATE) that I had to begin taking two days prior to flying.  It was prescribed for the entire month of my trip and for a full four weeks after my return. Total... two months and two days. Needless to say...I decided (after careful consideration and the advice of many kind and concerned friends) to stop taking them two days after I arrived. Plus, there were no mosquitos in Addis at the time and it wasn't Malaria season anyway. I'll save them for the next trip.

BREATHE

 Due to blessings disguised by circumstances beyond my usual sphere 

 of control, my trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, would become  a  

 foundation strengthening experience. In retrospect, I can now say... 

 thank god for limited internet access. The internet never became an 

 hourly destination like at home. As a result of Addis Ababa's high 

 altitude, less oxygen and the shortness of breath that followed, 

 difficulty breathing felt like a reinforced reminder to slow things 

 down... savor each moment...you are not at home.. breathe... no need to 

 rush...breathe.. don't forget to breathe. Add to that, the general 

 pace of the city itself.  The sum total amounted to another kind of 

 interaction with the city and its people. I knew that I had to inhabit 

 moments and experiences completely. Because of this, I decided early 

 during my visit that I needed some distance from the experience itself and 

 that I would post my images and thoughts after my return home. I 

 needed time to reflect and sort through my memories before sharing 

 them.

Upcoming Outbound Residency

Jayson Keeling will be in residence in Addis Ababa January 2 - 31, 2009. Check back here for updates on his experiences and reflections during his time abroad.

apexart's Outbound Residency Program

The apexart Outbound Residency Program relocates individuals who reside in New York City for a month long period to a foreign country. Participants, from different disciplines and at different points in their career, are recommended by noted individuals (critics, museum professionals, artists, etc.) who are familiar with their activities and believe their practice could benefit from a non-working visit abroad. Residents are discouraged from production and are encouraged to meet with the many individuals who live and work locally who have agreed to be a part of the program.


It is our primary goal to provide an alternative to the promotional and production-oriented emphasis that defines most residency programs here and abroad, and inhibits participants from having true experiences that will inform their thinking. In lieu of applying the ubiquitous pressure of production and career promotion, apexart’s program encourages residents to take a step back to consider, interpret and discuss artistic work and practices.


We provide residents with an apartment, airfare, mobile phone and a list of interesting contacts for them to meet with while in residence. We specifically discourage a promotional orientation and ask the recommender to keep this in mind. Our hope is that the time will be spent visiting, exchanging ideas and taking advantage of the local cultural climate. apexart strives to provide experiences that promote integration and interaction between our residents and the local community. In sending New York-based individuals abroad, it is our intention to provide new perspectives, strengthen dialogue and promote exchange, as well as to encourage the incorporation of new perspectives into the New York/US arts and cultural community. We believe that, when removed from the often overwhelming concerns of career and production, creativity, understanding and inter-cultural exchange will flourish more vibrantly.