10 | 2024 Nakivale YTC Artist News
On Top of the World, Art Haul, Painting En Plein Air, and Bringing Art to New Refugee Arrivals in Rubondo
Welcome to October! This post is part of a “month-in-the-life” series chronicling a young refugee artist collective called “Nakivale Young Talent Community” in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. This and related content is located on the Refugee Artist Support Circle section of The Creative Convergence.
To catch up, read the June 2024, July 2024, August 2024, and September 2024 posts!
Subscribe specifically to this section for free (click here to go to your settings for subscribing to The Creative Convergence to toggle on or off subscribing to the the Support Circle). As a subscriber you receive monthly digests full of stories, art, videos and pictures featuring the struggles and successes of 15 talented emerging young refugee artists living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. Upgrade to paid and you can become part of the Refugee Support Circle; 100% of your $8 monthly subscription goes directly to NYTC to support their material costs. Plus you receive artful perks! Learn more more about that here.
October Ushered In New Priorities
Once the dust settled from our exhilarating September 28th online Art Exhibit and Auction, there were two things to focus on in October:
send our newly recovered leader Akon Deograce to Kampala to buy art supplies and materials and safely deliver the 14 pieces purchased at art auction to our partner Faces Up Uganda for prompt express shipping to buyers.
attend to the important business of safety, security and wellbeing of the artists. We had nearly lost our leader and we could not in good conscience run a Center that did not attend to the water quality and sanitation problems. Solution! New toilets and a handwashing station (more to come in November!)
On Top of the World
But first, the artists, anticipating materials and paint, were itching to get into nature for rejuvenation and inspiration. They had already experienced an exhilarating high from hosting their art exhibit, it was time to get that natural high and perspective that can only come from climbing a mountain!
A mountain nearby is a favorite amongst locals to visit. With the help of their videographer friend DR Lee, they were transported in twos and threes by bike to the mountain for a day on top of the world. They danced, they sang
Art Auction Delivery & Art Haul in Kampala
Shortly after the Auction closed (in early October), the artists took the paintings off of their wooden frames, rolled them carefully and sent them with Akon on the 9-hour ride to Kampala.
First, a car from the Settlement to the nearby city of Mbarare and then a bus ride to Kampala. He arrived safely, found lodging, met with some friends, and found his way the next day to the Faces Up Uganda Community Center. At Faces Up, staff received the art and gave Akon a tour of the facility. The next task was to hit the art shops to purchase the precious Peacock Paints, paper, brushes, palette knives, and a case for carrying artwork.
I received my art auction purchases within 7 days! Total cost of shipping? USD$40.
We’re Painting Again! En Plein Air
Immediately after returning from Kampala, Akon and artists set to creating the frames and preparing canvasses for a special all-day “painting in plein air” visit to a local market.
The artists, eager to paint again and inspired by their surroundings, set up their easels at a local market. They painted in front of the community, taking their cues from the buildings, the sky, and the people around them, and answered questions posed by curious children, youngsters, and adults.
Back at the Center, More Painting
It had been three months since many of the artists had painted. They had that much time to work in graphite and in their sketchbooks. They came to the easel with fresh ideas and perspective. And many of them a new style!
To check out all of the new paintings that the artists created in October, visit this new gallery post!
Sanitation & Security!
Clearly something needed to be done about having bathroom facilities and a hand-washing station at the Center. Withou facilities, artists and students must leave and some do not return as they live far away. Together with Stand Up for Justice, now a regular partner for NYTC, we raised funds to build a two-stall latrine with tank and handwashing station. The work will be completed next month!
We also hired a security guard to stay at the Center overnight. The art is now seen as a valuable commodity as are the supplies. The artists, fearful of thieves, requested a security guard and we were able to help them do that. Moise has been with them for half of October and everyone is feeling more comfortable with having a strong man around!
A Visit to Rubondo
The artists rounded out the month with a visit to Rubondo, a location in the Settlement that receives the newest refugees. It is also an area with a mind-boggling number of street children and orphans, single teen mothers, and extreme poverty. The artists as refugees themselves understand the gift of art and wanted to give what they could to the newest group of arrivals.
They played games, sang, and painted the children’s hands. The artists dream of opening up a satellite art education center in Rubondo so that children there, many of whom do not attend school or have any structure or support in life, have an expressive outlet that is safe, secure, and supportive. Until then, the artists commit to traveling there as often as they can.
And, so much more!
This month was just as active as any other month. There's just not enough space to post it all! If you’d like regular updates on the artists, follow the NYTC Facebook page. Or, upgrade your subscription and you will get weekly updates!
Thank you for reading the October monthly installment of NYTC Art News!
If you prefer to support with a one-time donation, add your tip to the Nakivale Tip Jar here! Managed by me, Emily, of The Creative Convergence. Every penny helps. Funds pooled for the NYTC collective and arts program purchase paints, brushes, paper, canvasses, and fund a food program for the children that attend free art education Monday through Saturday year-round.
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