artwork by the kids

Thanks to those of you who sent in pics of your artwork by the kids from St. Mary Kevin. The pieces look great hanging in your homes, and I know the young artists will be thrilled to see these photos.

art teacher: michael

Have you ever wondered who teaches and encourages the talented young artists year round at St. Mary Kevin? His name is Michael. He is humble and gentle, so very sweet and kind. He teaches the children important skills and techniques, but he knows when it's time to step back and let them blossom on their own. He is like a big brother/father to all of them.

When young Brian was injured in a terrible accident a few years back, Michael immediately made his way to the hospital to sit by his side. When I looked over one time to see the Okecha brothers and Michael huddled around Brian, it was a beautiful thing. Like a family, he told me.

Michael is a talented artist, but he never flaunts that fact to the children… or to anyone for that matter. He is easy-going and polite. He is respectful of the kids. He takes his time with them, allowing them to make important discoveries about their own artistic possibilities - and about themselves as human beings, too. A better role model would be hard to find.

drawing alongside Oscar on a CTT field trip to Lake Victoria

I am proud to call Michael my friend. I have loved and admired him for many years now. The fact that he comes to SMK on a weekly basis to teach - and receives only transport money in return - says volumes about the size of this man's heart.

Here's Michael's story in his own words:

Michael Stanley Kolulye is my name. I was born from a family of 13 and am the fourth but the 1^st born of my Mum. I grew up in a simple home in Ngogwe my beloved grandmother. This SPECIAL lady nurtured me since my mum was always on the move for her business ventures. After completing secondary school, in August 2005 I joined Kyambogo University for a Diploma in Education Secondary (Art & Design), it was a fun because I was doing some thing I liked from childhood. If I didn’t do Art & Design, I dreamt of doing Engineering/Architecture. I started teaching 2008 after my last school practice, I continued with my students and some graduated last year. 

I came to know about the existence of St. Mary Kevin through a friend, Peter Damba. He used to talk about the place with great pleasure that I wanted to know more about the place myself. I called Mummy Rosemary and we met at her office in Kajjansi in 2008. She was a busy lady but gave me a chance after listening to my proposals. She took me to the school and introduced me to some people. I remember it was in the afternoon, she told me to start straight away if I could. Our first class used to be at the verandah of the Guest house near Mummy’s office. My first day went well though I left without seeing/reporting to Mummy because it was getting late & I could not find her. To my surprise, Mummy called to find out where I was only to tell her that I had left thinking that she was off campus. She tried to explain as she was busy with the kids at school. I remember asking me if I could come back to fetch transport money. This (phone call from Mummy) gave me much joy & determination to come back. I decided to come every Wednesday for the young kids & Saturday for bigger boys projects. There were a lot of difficulties but I believe the spirit I had in me & the fire I saw in the young kids kept me alive. I myself I never got a chance to try out the talent in me at an early age, & whenever I thought of this it renewed my interest in sharing with the young lads. Now I feel proud whenever I look at them all grown up with their talents & skills. 

Right now I am devoting much time into promoting my small business of Graphics Design, printing & commercial/advertising publications. I have two kids Ryan & Renah. Ryan now goes to school & he is doing well in Nursery/Pre-Primary.

smk kids' artwork

Top: painting by Oscar. Bottom: pastel by Issy

Have you ever purchased or been given a drawing or painting made by Brian, Willy, Issy, Nicky, Oscar, Ivan, Petra or any of the other talented young artists from St. Mary Kevin? Has the artwork found a place in your home or office? If so, please send me your photos, so I can share them with the artists themselves. They will be thrilled to see their masterpieces hanging on various walls here in America.

The above shot is from my own home. Drawings, paintings and dolls made by the kids are everywhere! These are two I recently purchased from our 6th Annual Friendraiser/Fundraiser.

Please send your photos to me at gbfeinstein[at]gmail[dot]com. I'd love to share them on the blog, as well as with the kids.

buy art + need a place to set your beer?

If you are a collector/lover of art and are unable to attend the Change the Truth Annual Friendraiser/Fundraiser on March 14th in Kansas City, fear not! You can still view the kids' paintings and even bid on them. Just go to this website and please, knock yourself out! Bid high, bid often.

Here are the two most popular pieces so far:

photograph by Opio Nicholas

Acrylic painting by Okecha Oscar

But don't overlook these gems:

Acrylic painting by Okecha Oscar

Acrylic painting by Okecha Oscar

Acrylic painting by Okecha Brian

Pastel drawing by Kiden Isabella

Acrylic by Okecha Willy

And now, drum roll, please….

Debuting here on the  blog right now at this very moment are the brand spankin' new, first ever Botticino marble coasters/tiles featuring work by SMK artists. These little lovelies are now available (and will be for sale at the event on March 14th). They are 4" x 4" with a cork backing. Optional heavy duty adhesive hangers make them easy to hang on the wall…. or you can use them in a functional way by setting drinks on them. They are $15.00 each.

Feast your eyes!

PS - It is not too late yo get your ticket(s) for the March 14th evening 'o fun at Boulevard Brewing Co. Please go here to buy tickets. We've got pizza, beer, African drumming and dancing, the new CTT film and loads of cool auction items you'll want to take home. Also lots of good company!

bidders, start your engines!

Willy

Nicky

Brian

Even if you can't attend the Change the Truth 6th Annual Friendraiser/Fundraiser, you can enjoy the impressive artwork made by some of the young artists at St. Mary Kevin's AND you can bid!

Visit this website to take a look. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

come have some fun and help us raise some funds

It is with much excitement that I announce the 2014 Change the Truth Friendraiser/Fundraiser!

Friday, March 14th
7 - 10 PM
Boulevard Brewing Co.
2501 Southwest Blvd.
Kansas City, MO

This is the first year we are selling tickets. They are $55 each, and you can get yours HERE. For that price, you get to come and have a good time with other CTT friends bidding on auction items and artwork by the young SMK artists. You get all the Spin! pizza and Boulevard beer/wine you want. (There will be gelato, too!) You'll get to see the new CTT film by Lynne Melcher and Cara Myers. We'll have be a 50/50 cash raffle. You'll even get a party favor this year.

There is a limited number of tickets available. Please purchase yours now!

Much more to follow...

save the date!

Annual Change the Truth Friendraiser/Fundraiser

Friday, March 14th

Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City

7 - 10 PM

We're mixing it up a bit this year: 

different venue

food by Spin! Pizza/ beer and wine by Boulevard

tickets are $50

party favors!!

Many things will stay the same:

art auction (paintings, drawings and photographs by the kids at the orphanage)

silent auction of cool items from KC area restaurants, spas, sporting events, etc.

CTT film by Lynne Melcher 

If you've been following/collecting the work of our core group of young artists, you will be amazed to see the maturity and sophistication evident in their most recent work. Just to whet your appetite, please take a few moments to appreciate this incredible pastel drawing by 15-year-old Issy. Her work just keeps getting stronger and stronger. This piece will surely be a highlight of the SMK Gallery on March 14th. 

If you're on our mailing list, you'll receive an invitation in the next couple weeks. You'll then be able to purchase tickets online. (If you are not on our snail mail list and wish to be, please contact me at gbfeinstein[at]gmail[dot]com. Hope to see you at Boulevard on March 14th!

artists who inspire me

by Opio Geoffrey

by Okeche Brian

by Okeche Oscar

by Opio Geoffrey

by Okeche Brian

While the team is on its way to Uganda - and we are waiting for blog posts and photos - I thought I'd share some more of the artwork made by the kids. One of the things I'll miss most about not being at SMK is the time spent hanging out in the art room with these - and other - really talented young artists. They inspire me on so many levels. Here are a few reasons why:

They paint until it's way past dark, even when the light bulb won't turn on due to (common) power outages. In other words, they have to be dragged out of that dark place, paintbrushes still in hand.

They use a pencil until it has reached "nub" status.

They work on a piece, then turn the paper over to work on the other side.

They talk and laugh while they are drawing, sharing ideas without the least bit of jealously or fear of having their ideas stolen.

If they have no idea for a drawing in mind, they look through old, tattered magazines and always find something, even if it is a lipstick or beer ad.

They mix colors as naturally and easily as they breathe.

They improvise, because they often do not have the tools or supplies they need and well, because they do this in practically every aspect of their lives anyway.

They do not gloat or boast when they have finished something they're really proud of. They might smile broadly for a few moments while they admire it, but then they just move on.

They reach into their imaginations for scenes they can only dream of ever actually seeing or experiencing, and they don't feel sorry for themselves that this is the way it is.

They instinctively help the younger or less experienced artists in the room.

They give the artwork to me to bring back for our CTT fundraisers or as gifts to team members, pen pals or sponsors without any hesitation whatsoever, even if the painting has taken several days to complete. They take pleasure in sharing.

They take the time to teach me things about shading and perspective and such. And I mean time: a whole day if that's how long it takes for me to finally understand. Time seems to take on a new meaning in the art room. It stretches on forever. I love that.

I'll miss my art club friends and the congenial time spent with them, especially Willy, Oscar, Brian, Issy and Nicky.

[Please note: these pieces will be included in the silent auction at the Change the Truth 6th Annual Friendraiser/Fundraiser on March 14th.]

gallery artists

Brian made this sign to hang next to the group of paintings

It's official. A small group of our most talented young artists from St. Mary Kevin Orphanage now have their work hanging in a gallery.

The gallery is called AidChild. It's located at the equator,  so it's not one you can hop on over to for a good time on First Friday.

I first discovered AidChild Gallery back in 2006 when Thatcher, my photo workshop leader, took us there for refreshing fruit smoothies and some very tasty guacamole. All of the work exhibited there is by African artists. My guess is most clients are tourists, stopping in the area to take pictures at the equator sign, have lunch and shop at the many craft shops that line that section of the road. AidChild donates a huge chunk of their sales to organizations that assist some of the 2.2 million orphans living in Uganda.

When I was there last August, I suggested to the very nice manager that she take a look at the work being made by some of our artists from SMK.

Fast forward (well, nothing happens FAST in Uganda) to December, and some of that very work has been stretched, delivered and now installed on the walls on the AidChild Gallery. I felt like a proud Mama when I received word (and pics) from Melissa that this had finally come to pass.

Willy, Brian, gallery manager Sylvia, Nicky

Nicky, Willy and Brian (there are others… time will tell if we get to replenish the current inventory) deserve this recognition and exposure. I am so happy for them!

all i needed to hear today

OK, my day has just been made. Young SMK photographer Nicky, whose works I featured earlier this week (please scroll down to view them), sent me the following missive after seeing the post:

"that just made me speechless. am so great full to learn how to take photos coz every time i move around i wish i had a camera. photographs made me realize how beautiful the world is.......you are the best teacher ever."

printing new work

Nicky

Today I've been printing some work. The images were not made by me; they are the creations of my amazing St. Mary Kevin Orphanage photography students.

Issy, Nicky and Brian are gifted artists. Put a musical instrument, a sketch pad, a blank canvas - and now a camera - in front of them, and you'll quickly be blown away.

I worked with these teenagers for only a few days this past August. By the end of the first, they were done with the old point and shoot cameras I had rounded up and brought over. They were hungry to learn much more. They wanted to know how to create movement, make things go out of focus or look very sharp. They wanted to know how to use light to their best advantage. They wanted to know about using different lenses. They were curious about how to approach potential subjects.

Yikes. I decided to let them take turns using my SLR. My Canon 5D Mark III.

[Me: Put the strap around your neck, and keep it there! Do not run with my camera. Do not climb any trees or large ant hills with it. Whatever you do, please bring it back to me in one piece!]

These young artists wanted assignments. They wanted to walk all day long with me and take pictures and watch ME take pictures. They wanted honest critiques of their work and assessments of their assignments. They wanted to see all of my pictures and hear me talk about why I made this one and why I liked that one. They wanted to know how I did this and when they could learn how to do that. They talked easily of what they felt worked and didn't work in their own pictures, of how they could make improvements, see more clearly, push themselves further.

It was exciting, exhilarating and inspiring (for me, absolutely!) It was great fun, too.

Other than to my own kids and to a class at Operation Breakthrough years ago, I had never really taught photography before.

These high school students made it easy. Their passion for image making was/is a beautiful thing. I maintain I have so much to learn from them.

(These photographs, and more, will be for sale at the Change the Truth Annual Fundraiser in March.)

Issy

Nicky

Brian

Brian

Issy

Nicky

Nicky

Brian

Brian

Nicky

Nicky