KUONA RELOADED, SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE BY KUONA ARTISTS, DESPITE SHADOW FINANCIAL SCANDAL OF MISSING KUONA FUNDS.
Kenya Art Fair to open despite Kuona Trust offices closed while forensic audit underway
By Magaretta
wa Gacheru (margaretta.gacheru@gmail.com
Paul Njihia and Fred Abuya, both Kuona-based artists draw caricatures of guests at Kuona Reloaded as part of fundraising initiative by artists. All photos by Margaretta
Even though
Kuona Trust’s Board of Trustees shut down the Trust offices last September so
that one of its major donors could conduct a special audit of Kuona’s accounts,
all the studio artists based there have vowed to do everything in their power
to keep their precious art center alive and strong.
That power
was dramatically manifest this past weekend when the artists organized a
multifaceted event entitled ‘Kuona Reloaded’.
The Russian Ambassador bought Rosemary Ohoro's "Mother and Child" during Kuona Reloaded. the Ambassador is a keen supporter of the Kenya contemporary arts
Part art
fair, fund-raiser and live music concert, what was ‘reloaded’ at Kilimani-based
art center was clearly the artists’ spirit, recharged after being demoralized
by all the rumors circulating that “Kuona was dead.”
“Just
because the offices are closed doesn’t mean Kuona is dead,” said Meshak Oiro, one
of the 35 artists based at the Trust who was quick to debunk the talk of the
Kuona’s demise.
Deaf jewelry designer and painter Wilson Mwangi having fun with artist Nadia Wamunyu at Kuona Reloaded. His necklaces, pendants, wall hangings and rings were displayed during Kuona Reloaded and are also sold at the Kuona shop
Working
collectively, they created a central committee made up of five (namely Gakunju
Kaigwa, their chosen Chairman, Thom Ogonga, Dennis Muraguri, Alex Njoroge and
Kevin Oduor). After that, the immediate issue was raising funds to meet the
minimum requirements to keep the Trust afloat.
The most
conspicuous fundraiser opened last Saturday morning after almost all the
artists donated one or two works for sale (at a ridiculously low price) to the
opening day art sale of Kuona Reloaded.
Starting
from 10am, friends of the Trust floated into the gallery and within the first
hour, artworks by everyone from Dennis Muraguri, Patti Endo, David Thuku and
Onyis Martin to John Siver, Jessica Atieno, Longinos Nagila and Rosemary Ahoro
had red ‘sold’ stickers under them.
By the end
of that first day, practically everything on the gallery walls was sold. There
are still some paintings and sculptures on sale there through this weekend. Plus
a myriad more are available in Kuona’s shop together with jewelry, gift cards, hand-painted
bags and t-shirts.
Another sign
of artists solidary is that all their studios are open and the public
encouraged to come, see and buy art at prices set by each creative; then, a
percentage of each sale goes towards saving one of Kenya’s leading art centers.
Gor Soudan, his wife and newborn child had a delightful time at Kuona Reloaded
“We’ve
already covered this month’s rent,” said Wangari Murugu, one of the four
trustees. The other three are Chairman Chris Ngovi, Rahab Nderu and Maggie
Otieno who on Saturday presided over a raffle of artworks by both Kuona artists
and alumni like Michael Soi who contributed one of his popular hand-painted
bags to the cause.
Above: Art by Aron Boruya (above Gor), painting by Stickky Muriithi, Jewelry by Cindimillie and photo of Photographer Joel Add to dictionary in his studio at Kuona Trust..
The
committee also opened their spacious grounds for artisanal vendors like
Cindimini Jewelers to rent space and sell their hand-made crafts and clothes.
A local reggae
band also performed throughout the afternoon and into the night. Tunedom Reggae
was so good a band that many people couldn’t resist jumping up on the grass and
getting their reggae moves in gear.
Tunedom Reggae perfrmed at Kuona Readed
Tunedom Reggae performed live most of the Opening day of Kuona Reloaded.
By now the special
audit has been completed. Commissioned by the Swedish NGO, Forum Syd, its
results will soon be shared with the artists and other interested parties
involved in financially supporting the Trust.
That
includes Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs which actually commissioned
sculptor Kevin Oduor (the artist responsible for creating the Dedan Kimathi
statue) to create a life-sized sculpture of the late Nobel laureate Professor
Wangari Maathai.
Kevin has
yet to complete the work since he never received the funds required to buy all
the art materials. The Ministry is concerned because they already paid
USD10,000 directly to Kuona Trust by cheque, yet Kevin didn’t receive a spec of
that money until the Ministry queried Kuona’s former Director Sylvia Gachia as
to why funds hadn’t been released to the artist.
Alex Njoroge's Gazelle was one of the Kuona artists' works selling at rock-bottom prices so that funds could be raised to save Kuona Trust
After that, Kevin
received a fraction of the funds he needed, but then, the questions started to
fly and he hasn’t seen his money nor Sylvia since the offices were shut.
Meanwhile, the
Kenya Art Fair opens officially today through this weekend at Sarit Centre.
Originally organized by Kuona, the Art Fair was on its way to becoming one of
the most anticipated art shows of the year. But that was before the current
cash crisis came to light and most Kuona artists have distanced themselves from
the Fair until the current scandal gets resolved.
Bags painted by Kenyan artists like Michael Soi, John Kamicha and Dennis Muraguri are selling at Kuona Trust, The GoDown and elsewhere.
That
resolution is bound to come soon since not only the artists, but the donors and
the Kenya Government are keen to get to the bottom of the ‘missing millions’ at
Kuona Trust.
Above, Thom Ogongo was selling his woodblock prints during Kuona Reloaded while David Thuku's Bottle top Clock was not for sale in his studio
In the
meantime, Kuona Reloaded runs through this weekend as the artists continue
working in their studios.
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