Equid Opening - a Great Success

Thursday night's opening of the works by Australian artist Natalie Scholtz was held at the American Language Center Riad at Batha in Fez

The exhibition opening was well attended by a wide cross section of visitors and locals. Amongst them His Excellency François-Xavier Tilliette, the French Consul General, the highly respected Caida of Batha, Mme Ilham, Police Colonel Abdullah, Dr Gigi Kay from the American Fondouk and M. El Cohen chef des scouts de Fez.

Dr Gigi Kay (American Fondouk) chats with François-Xavier Tilliette and Caida Mme Ilham

Natalie Scholtz is a visual artist from Western Australia. As a drawer and painter Scholtz depicts the gesture and emotion of objects in her immediate environment. Scholtz's works range between bold and colourful representation of form, to subtle suggestions of shape through sketchy line.

Natalie Scholtz was thrilled by the exhibition reception

Special mention should be made of Natalie's artist residency at the American Fondouk, the free animal hospital in Fez, which was made possible due to the generous sponsorship of the American Fondouk, ALIF, and the American Language Centre in Fez. The Fondouk also contributed a unique publicity event for the opening - stationing donkeys and mules at various points of the Medina with signs advertising the exhibition - a nice touch!

It pays to advertise!

From the last week of January through February 2017 Natalie was given the opportunity to paint, draw and document the work, ethics, and equids of the American Fondouk and broader Fez community. The full-time work that goes on behind the closed doors of the Fondouk, is one of restoration and the nurturing of life. Scholtz explores the physicality of the working horses, mules and donkeys. The angular and sometimes fragmented character of the working animals from Fez tells a story of livelihood, community and culture. Scholtz enjoyed making aggressive charcoal lines that follow the strong skeletal shapes of mules and playing with sandstone colours found in both the coat of a horse and walls of the Medina.

The work on display in the exhibition was as varied as it was excellent. Depicting horses, donkeys and mules in postures of work and relaxation, the works on paper in water colour and acrylic paint showed their angular forms, expressions and personalities. Some of the works were more traditional in their use of colour and style, while in others a multitude of colours had been used, giving a more impressionistic feel. One of the paintings had mules and donkeys amid a jumble of traditional buildings, and gave a sense of the organised chaos of Medina life.

The Study of the Equid Exhibition continues at the ALIF Riad, 6 Derb Drissi, Batha, Fez Medina, daily (4-6pm) through until March 26th. It is highly recommended.

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Horse Whispering in Fez

A recent visit to Fez by famed French horse whisperer Jean-Francois Pignon offered local mule owners a different way of working with their animals

Brought to Morocco by the American Fondouk, Mr Pignon has an extraordinary reputation for communicating with the most difficult of horses. Since 1991, he has held spectaculars in arenas worldwide, featuring horses guided by him using a silent language of trust.

For Director of the American Fondouk, Dr Gigi Kay, the hospital for working equids in the Fez Medina, seeing Mr Pignon's methods changed the way she worked with horses, mules and donkeys. "I saw Jean-Francois a few years ago and his show was so amazing, I realised I had been working with horses all my life, and I hadn't understood how fully you can communicate with them."

"Then in May 2014, I did a workshop with him, and he showed us his technique."

Usually Mr Pignon is highly paid to perform and teach, however, he offered to come to Morocco free of charge to assist local mule owners.

The mules and donkeys of the Fez Medina are a hardworking bunch of older animals, that can be relied upon not to kick fellow pedestrians. The source of their owners' very modest income, they spend their days labouring up and down the narrow alleys carrying large loads. They are generally unused to kindness, as they are not pets.

"I don't expect them to take on Jean-Francois's techniques, but I do want owners to see their mules more as a partner and less as a machine...to inject a little love into the partnership," said Dr Kay.

When one work-worn mule met Mr Pignon, it first ignored him. "The mule seemed zoned out. It had obviously worked so hard and it was old, used to a difficult life. But the animal was still able to respond to him."

After twenty minutes of guidance and kindness, the aged mule followed him around. The mule owners were astonished and, as one giving voice to all their thoughts said, "Look, it's following him like a dog'."

After the demonstration, Dr Gigi Kay overheard more than one mule owner saying, "He's so soft; we are too hard on our mules."

The mule owners had plenty to think and talk about

Visitors are welcome at the Fondouq. 

See the animals and have a close look at the interactions between the team of vets, technicians and the owners of the animals. Drop-in visitors are always welcome as well. We suggest you arrive in the morning. Also visit their website HERE

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Animal Rescue Fez Style

A mule had a lucky escape last week when it fell down a manhole in Fez. The cover had been removed, and the animal backed into it without seeing the hole

Fortunately, rescuers from the American Fondouk, aided by onlookers, were quickly on hand to extract the poor creature. Firstly it was given a tranquilliser, then a man was lowered head down into the hole, to the side of the animal, to pass two ropes around its hind quarters. A carpet was put as protective padding between the flanks of the mule and the rope.

It took considerable strength, and eight people, for the 400 kg animal to be extracted. Despite a few leg injuries, the mule is recovering well at the American Fondouk.

Photos and story courtesy of American Fondouk director Gigi Kay. 

The American Fondouk is open daily for visits from 8 am to noon. For more information CLICK HERE. 

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