mardi 29 octobre 2013

Uburanga Arts Studio Goals

UBURANGA ARTS STUDIO



We believe that arts heal people physically, mentally, emotionally!!

ABOUT UBURANGA ARTS STUDIO
Uburanga is a Kinyarwanda term that translates in English to beautiful.
Throughout the past two decades, Rwanda has faced many developmental challenges due to the genocide that plagued the country in the 1990s. It is this fact that inspired visual artists of Uburanga Arts Studio to commit their lives to developing and inspiring the artistic and cultural communities of Rwanda. 
Until recently, Rwanda’s art industry has suffered greatly. Art and culture have rarely been the focus of development, and they are often overlooked by those looking to invest in Rwanda’s future. It is the dream of the artists at Uburanga to revolutionize the country’s art scene so that Rwandan art and culture can be appreciated locally and throughout the world.
Uburanga Arts Studio was founded in March 2010 by Bakunzi Jean Bosco, and has quickly become a center for the visual arts in Rwanda. At the studio, artists are given access to art books and are given a safe and quiet space for their talent and inspirations to grow. In order to ensure the success of Rwandan art, artists are also taught the tools they need to promote their work and they are given a space to hang their creations.
At Uburanga Arts Studio, the artists have seen first-hand the positive impact that art can have in one’s life. For example, Bakunzi Jean Bosco, a survivor of the 1994 genocide, used art to reconcile with the past after losing his parents. As a young boy, he was able to forge friendships with other children who were also living at the orphanage, Gisimba Memorial Centre (GMC), in the 1990s. It was during this period that he began his lifelong commitment to help heal others by teaching them skills that could give them an artistic outlet for their stresses. Most importantly though, he learned that art is the ideal way to develop a country peacefully while reducing poverty, promoting gender equality, saving the environment, and having a positive impact on the rest of the world. It is for this reason that Uburanga Arts Studio, as an organization, will forever be committed to bettering Rwanda’s art industry.
Currently at the studio, there are eleven artists from different backgrounds who work together to make the studio a success. The artists have all been brought together with the same belief: that art has the power to heal people, and the world, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

UBURANGA ARTS STUDIO AND THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Uburanga Arts Studio is committed to furthering the sustainable economic, social, environmental, and cultural development of Rwanda. 
By helping to develop Rwanda’s art industry, we believe it is possible to: 
Eradicate poverty through job creation and job training in the art industry. At Uburanga Arts Studio, we focus on teaching artistic and craft-making skills to orphans and vulnerable children so that they may have a chance at life. We also share workshop, exhibition, and promotional opportunities with the budding and established artists of Rwanda;
Promote gender equality and empower women by existing as a non-discriminatory studio. Our doors are open to anyone who demonstrates a commitment to their own artistic development, as well as Rwanda’s;
Ensure environmental sustainability by promoting the use of recycled materials in our works and reusing products such as paper, canvas, and frames as much as possible. Our artists often focus on depicting natural scenes in their pieces so as to share with the world their passion for our fragile natural environment; and develop a global partnership for development. At our studio, we strive for artistic and cultural development through cooperation with other countries. The success of Uburanga Arts Studio is dependent on the kindness and generosity of our visitors who have opportunities to share their ideas with us, tell others about their experiences at our studio, donate time, supplies, and funds, and learn from our stories, as we will also learn from theirs.       
                                                        

OUR COMMUNITY PROJECT
As we all come from different backgrounds, we understand the importance of involving children and youth in art and art therapy. Art serves as an outlet for individuals who have suffered trauma and stress.
At orphanage centers, such as Gisimba Memorial Center(GMC) in Kigali, Rwanda, children are left with too much idle time, allowing them to participate in unproductive activities. With this in mind, Bakunzi Jean Bosco has volunteered his time and resources at GMC since 2008. The children and youth are taught how to draw and paint, how to make paper beads, how to design beautiful jewelry pieces, how to design greeting cards and postcards with traditional Rwandan scenes. 
These activities allow the children and youth at GMC to express themselves creatively, to work productively individually and in groups, to develop necessary life and career skills, and to have hope for the future. 
Uburanga Arts Studio also has a community development project which welcomes orphans and vulnerable children from the Kimihurura neighbourhood surrounding the studio. Within the inspiring environment of the studio grounds, free lessons are offered by artists of Uburanga to over 25 of these children girls and boys, two times a week. Through art lessons, children are encouraged to work creatively individually and in groups in order to create beautiful greeting cards and other crafts. As these children come from disadvantaged families, all proceeds from the sales of these cards and arts and crafts goes directly to supporting the children’s school fees, health care costs, and nutritional requirements. 
     
              Uburanga Arts Studio also organizes events that help the children discover and develop their talents through sports and culture. This also furthers healing and reconciliation in our community.
With Youth Football For Peace uburanga arts Studio has been able to bring together more than 300 children under 12 years old every year since 2011, so they can compete peacefully as well as show they talents in football. learn more about the project on http://youthfootballforpeace.blogspot.ca/
   

                                                                      OUR VISION
The artists at Uburanga Arts Studio have a dream to continue building our project so that we may be able to increase the number of opportunities available to artists in Rwanda. We hope to also become a base for artists of other media such as photographers, fashion designers, filmmakers, and writers and poets. This will also help us to interest more youth so that we may continue working them, as they are the future of our nation.
Uburanga Arts Studio is known as one of Rwanda’s leading art centers. We hope this will continue, in order to benefit the future of the Rwandan art scene and the upcoming artists who will always get inspiration from its existence. Our dream is that our arts studio will one day be a permanent base for contemporary art in Rwanda.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information on our project and initiatives, please do not hesitate to contact us. 
Uburanga Arts Studio is located in Kimihurura on Rugando street, take the cobblestone road behind Lemigo Hotel.
P.O. Box 5721, Kigali, Rwanda
Visit us at:
www.uburangaarts.com
Or please call or e-mail us at:
+250 788605924
+250 788944960
uburangaarts@gmail.com or jbbakunzi@gmail.com 


jeudi 4 juillet 2013

JEAN BOSCO BAKUNZI BIOGRAPHY.


                                             JEAN BOSCO BAKUNZI BIOGRAPHY
                                                        
“I see painting as a special medium that allows me to explore my ideas, creativity, and emotions. When I am producing art, I feel free with my style, and I am empowered to enjoy the movement of my tools. In choosing my subjects, I find inspiration in nature, my surroundings and everyday life…”

Bakunzi
I was born in 1985 in Kigali, Rwanda. While I have been an artist my entire life, I have been creating art professionally since 2005. I am influenced by many artists; however, I am a self-taught artist.

As I have grown in my career, my work has become semi-abstract, and I sometimes show surrealist expressions. I often use a comb to create textures within my paintings. The comb helps me create fluidity and movement, allowing me to fully express my feelings in my work. Throughout my career, I have been motivated by the belief that “art has the power to heal people physically, mentally, and emotionally.

With this belief in mind, I founded Rwanda’s leading art centre, “Uburanga Arts Studio” in March 2010. This studio brings together the most skilled and talented artists from all over the country with the goal of developing Rwanda’s fine art scene.
I donate my time teaching arts and crafts to orphans and vulnerable children. I have also spent time working and volunteering at Rwandan orphanages and hospitals painting bright and playful murals that have been sponsored by both private individuals and NGOs.

Organizer of Youth Football For Peace Tournament in Rwanda; with a goal of promoting Peace and Reconciliation and encourage children to take care of their skills. This Tournament happens every year since 2011 in Kigali-Rwanda.

EXHIBITIONS

SOLO:
2012
  • The Sparkling  Waves (umuhengeri) at Culturhaus Niederanven; Luxembourg.
  •  Life and Challenges at B.A.N.D (Black artists network’s in Dialogue) Toronto, ON; Canada                   
2011
  • Strength mixed media art exhibition at Uburanga Arts Studio
  • Thousand Hills at Banana Hill Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya 
2009
  • The Feelings at Kigali International Airport, Kigali, Rwanda
  •  My Dream, at Heaven Kigali, Rwanda 


GROUP
 2012
  • Rwanda meets Rheinhessen (Ruanda trifft Rhernhessen) at Kaiserbad Gallery in westhofen, Reineland-Palatinate, Germany.   
  • Hello East Africa at Inganzo Art Gallery; Kigali, Rwanda. 
2011
  • Uburanga Art Exhibit at United States Embassy, Kigali, Rwanda
2010
  • Creative for Change: A benefit art exhibition for Rwandan Street children at Hallway Gallery, USA
  • Rwanda Goes East Africa at Goethe Institute, Kigali, Rwanda
  • Ivuka Arts Studio at United States Embassy, Kigali, Rwanda
  • Uburanga Arts Studio Launching Exhibition at Uburanga Arts Studio, Kimihurura, Kigali, Rwanda
2009
  • Jazz Band for Peace: Celebrating Rwanda Commitment for Ending Violence against Women and Children at Serena Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda. 
  • East Africa Biennale (EASTFAB) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

PUBLICATIONS
  •  East Africa Biennale 2009
  •  Hello East Africa 2010 
  •  The Sparkling Waves 

AWARD
  • 2012 ARTS AND HEALING NETWORK AWARD




MY WORK
The Human Face. Acrylic on canvas(40"x76")

The World As We See It. Acrylic on canvas(36"x50")



Elegancy. Acrylic on canvas(24"x32")

Immigration. Acrylic on canvas(24"x32")



Cerebration. Oil on canvas
(12"x24")
A Maremade Close To The Red Mountains. Acrylic on canvas
(24"x32")
   
Emotions. Acryilic on canvas(36"x40")



The Sparkling Waves. Acrylic on canvas.
(26"36")
Contact me by E-mail: jbbakunzi@gmail.com


lundi 1 juillet 2013

UBURANGA ARTS STUDIO

                ART HAS THE POWER TO HEALS PEOPLE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY!!

Uburanga means "beauty", Uburanga Arts Studio was founded in March 2010, by visual artist Jean Bosco Bakunzi, with goals of developing fine art and to always have a positive impact on Rwanda’s society and culture. 
Visit us at Uburanga to enjoy creativities and a unique display of art works, from our visual artists community.
We could offer you a space to paint, participate in exciting workshops, art lessons for children after school, and enjoy our peaceful and relaxing atmosphere to hang out!

Umushayayo by Karekezi Richard.

Add caption
                                              Painting of Bakunzi Jean Bosco (Resurrection; Acrylic on Canvas

Street Art by Will Karekezi
Children's time at Uburanga Arts Studio, we focus on also sharing our skills with children, so art can be kept alive in our community and get more people, boys and girls to understand more about art, this builds a great future for art scene in Rwanda)



Street Arts by Benjamin Rudahigwa Mwizerwa


Street art by Jean Bosco


For More information about us:

E-mail us on: uburangaarts@gmail.com
Call our cell phone: 0788 605 9 24.
Visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Uburanga-Arts-Studio/


We are located in Kimihurura on Rugando Street, take the cobblestone Rd behind Lemigo Hotel.


We are open to the public seven days a week from 9 am to 7 pm