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The Maru A Pula Dictionary of Contemporary Lingo Item date(s): 2006? Ann Gollifer Medium: Calico Pages: unpaged Size: 146mm Technique: Embroidery Edition: Unique Place publication: Gaborone, Botswana Publisher: The artist Additional notes: I worked part time as an art teacher at the Maru A Pula high school in Gaborone, from 2006-2008. In the first term I had to invigilate an afternoon activity once a week, so came up with the idea of making books. I love books and especially the functional beauty and ingenuity of artists’ books so wanted to share the experience of creating such a thing with my students. I decided that I would also make a book to help encourage them through example. I was fascinated by their conversation and the mixture of languages they used to chat with each other in Setswana, Tsotsi Taal, English, American-English slang. I began collecting their words and asking for their meaning in context. I decided to use embroidery on a canvas strip with the eventual book making process in mind. My studio practice at that time involved lino, screen print and embroidery on fabric. I liked the idea of a dictionary made up of embroidered pages of cotton canvas. It would be a treasure, lovingly made in commemoration of my discovery that I really like teaching. I have to admit that I fell in love with my teenage students and the dictionary helped me form a bond of understanding between us. We had such fun in the afternoon sessions and we made some great books together. Exhibition notes: ‘Small editions’, Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts, Johannesburg. 14 October 2021 – 28 January 2022. Ref: GB/30107