Arts and Artists...Creativity Abounds

I promised to tell about the second gem in the crown of our Rwandan trip, remember? It was a visit to Ivuka Arts, a wonderful center where about 15 young Rwandan artists share space to paint, confer with one another, offer support and encouragement to one another, and show and sell their work. We met two of the artists, a pair of brothers named Emmanuel Nkuranga and Innocent Nkurunziza (I know- different last names, but we have learned that in Rwanda there is no such thing as a famiy name and parents name each child what they wish...both first and last names. Odd, I know, but there it is.)

Both of these young men are fluent English-speakers and both will be in the U.S. in the coming months, Innocent to have an exhibit of his paintings in Manhattan and Emmanuel to work with a cardiologist in Spokane, Washington, in a program using art with cardiac patients, both prior to and following surgery. Innocent is also working with our Rwandan nyanyas to help them learn some more crafting skills and Emmanuel works with street kids, using art to help them with self-expression, to help get them off the streets and off drugs, and to give them hope and a sense of possibility. A very special couple of twenty-somethings with deep social consciousness, boundless enthusiasm and optimism, and impressive amounts of talent.

Innocent and Emmanuel

The two artists surrounding the travling grandmothers

Ivuka Arts studio

The front wall

Unfortunately, the two most important people in making our Rwandan visit a success mostly escaped this photographer's camera. I did manage a shot of Simon, our guide, interpreter, and friend, when he showed us the Nyanya Project office in Kigali.

Though he looks serous here, he smiled most of the time he was with us and made our trip a great pleasure, as did our driver, Bosco. No way we could have done all we did without them. My deepest and most profound thanks to these two wonderful men.

And all too soon, our days in Rwanda were over and we were winging back to Nairobi where we will remain until August 1st, when we head to the Masaai Mara where
the Great Migration is taking place.
Lala salama, dear ones. Good night and sleep well. My thoughts and prayers and love are with you.