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