ART AND THE COMMUNITY EXHIBITION AT MAKERERE ART GALLERY REPORT By Tusiime Mathias

 REPORT ON ART AND THE COMMUNITY EXHIBITION AT MAKERERE ART GALLERY

By  Tusiime Mathias

The Art and Community Exhibition was opened at Makerere Art Gallery on 9th July 2015
Mathias Tusiime the artist was presenting Research and Innovation on bark cloth paper.

When asked about his ambition, this was what he said. “I have been researching and experimenting with Uganda's natural resources to encourage more sustainability and environmental friendly products as well as value addition to domestic production. With the creation of bark cloth paper, I hope to offer students an alternative material to imported paper and an incentive to plant more trees.”   

Art works are made on Canvas produced locally from indigenous materials like grass, sisal, sugar cane husks, maize covers and other materials around the community. This innovation was one of its kinds in Uganda, if not in the whole world and has won several awards including the current one at Bilpin International Ground for Creative Initiative (BGCI) Environmental award 2015 in Australia.

Secondly, at the same day the Artist launched the community program called Uganda Community Art, Skills, Development and Recycling (UCASDR). Sales from the exhibition went to facilitate the Grass root community skills development programs activities through [UCASDR]

Uganda community Art skill Development and Recycling (UCASDR) is a program that   links Art and Craft to environmental concerns through recycling skills development and innovation in Uganda. It also uses Art and Craft to address health issues and also entrepreneurial skills development to the local communities.

“Our vision is to develop and build regional skills development and Innovation centers that will provide basic skills to unprivileged people in the community,” said Mathias Tusiime.
The UCASDR project major goal is to promote Innovation/ Creative skills, Environmental Sustainability, Rehabilitation and Therapy within Communities in Uganda.
It helps to bridge the skills acquisition gaps between higher institutions of learning and the grass root communities, and to easy access/enhance of research in the grass root communities

As one of the activities there was an opening by the chief guest, Assoc. Prof. George William Kyeyune, the Director Institute of Heritage Restoration and Conservation.

The exhibition was accompanied by a live band, some performance by the local artists, and a Mural painting activity which was sponsored by peacock paints and the exhibition ended on 1st August 2015.

I thank the College of Engineering Design Art and Technology (CEDAT) for standing with me and for the sponsorship. I specifically want to thank the Principal of CEDAT, Professor Henry Arinaitwe, the College Bursar Mr. Stephen Kayima and the Head of Department of Fine Art, Assoc. Prof. Francis Xavier Ifee of the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts (MTSIFA) for the enormous inspiration.

Without the financial and technical support of the staff mentioned above, my innovative skills and the program would not have been successful.

I hope to do more innovative programs for the development of my University as we build for the future irrespective of the challenges faced.

I thank Joyce R. Gottelieb -USA, Pepsi Cola, Peacock paints for the support, Mr. John Bosco Kanuge, Mr. RaymondNsereko, Mr. Joseph Sematimba, the Curator of the exhibition Ann Kucma, and lastly Prof. Philip Kwesiga

 photographs and video at the opening of the art exhibition, also this information can be accessed on http://tusiimemathias.blogspot.com

 Tusiime Mathias

Artist at school of Industrial and Fine Art-Makerere University,