My Cultural Projects are where Art and Anthropology meet — and fall in love.
Anthropology has long been an academic discipline of words, but in my books I explore culture from the viewpoint of a visual artist — and I get my hands pretty dirty doing it.
During my travels through the rural West African countryside, I sought to immerse myself in the culture of the places I visited. My goal was to understand how the lives of those living in traditional societies are informed by a fundamentally different view of the world than is found in Western society. And because I’m a musician, I explored how other cultures use music to create powerful, sacred experiences that reinforce their relationship with the natural world.
After the travels are over, what I’m left with is stories — stories of real people facing unique challenges living on Earth. I create art that carries these stories inside them. Art, it turns out, is a pretty handy vessel for communicating both information and emotions. I therefore attempt to make my research beautiful, and my art thoughtful and informed.
My cultural projects take the reader off the beaten path, to glimpse a sliver of the human experience they might not ordinarily see. Along the way, we might just catch a better glimpse of ourselves, too.
Cultural Projects:
Click the thumbnails below to learn more about a project.
Cultural Presentations
Dave weaves art, music, and storytelling together into an entertaining and informative cultural experience.
Drawing on Culture
Dave Kobrenski takes readers on an artistic journey of cultural discovery into the heart of West Africa.
Djoliba Crossing
Discover the music and culture of West Africa in this beautifully illustrated account of an artist’s adventures in the Niger River valley.
Kassa Flute Co.
Hand-crafted West African flutes, and an apprenticeship with a master flute-maker