By
Tajudeen Sowole
Barely
two months after the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Rivers State Chapter chose
a new leader, signs of change has started emerging, so suggested a fundraising
partnership with another group to tackle sickle cell.
Chairman, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Rivers State Chapter, Diseye Tantua, speaking during the exhibition as artist Vera Bou Tamous Farah and others look on |
Led
by painter, Diseye Tantua, the new SNA of Rivers State recently supported a
charity exhibition titled Hope, held
at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt and organised by the Sickle Cell
Interactive and Management Association (SCIMA). The show featured members of
the SNA and a guest artist.
Tantua who was in Lagos after the
exhibition stated that Hope was the artist's contributions to raise funds for
sickle cell awareness in the state.
Exhibited artists included a Lebanese, Vera Bou Tamous Farah, Tantua, Segun
AIyesan, Perrin Oglafa, Micheal Kpodoh, Ike Francis, Perekeme Kentebe, Charity
Iyingima Ide, Johnson Uwadinma, Woko Joy Aguru, Ekeoma peterkingsley, Timi
Kakandar,Millicent Okocha, Uzodibie Amaka,Emeka Ifediora, Promise Onali,
Asiegbu Uloma, Steve Ogbolu, Kenny Odili and Obiora Anamaleze
Works exhibited, Tantua stated, included
one, each by SNA members while a chunk of the exhibits were from Farah. “Each member from SNA had one
of his very good works for the exhibition and we have 25 from a visiting artist
from Lebanon, Vera. I had eight works.”
Farah’s bio says she is an artist whose
passion and profession cut across the creative genres. She is a painter,
sculptor, dancer and interior decorator, She studied sculpture n Italy and
holds a diploma in interior design, a diploma in fashion design and is founder
of the Vera Farah School for painting. Farah also teaches dance and old
artisanal art of glass and jars.
Tantua described the charity exhibition
as a successful outing for the partnership. “We were able to raise about N15 million naira."
From the total fund raised.” And “50 percent" he disclosed, was given to
Sickle Cell Interactive and Management Association (SCIMA).
He explained that the amount due to
SCIMA "was to be used for drugs, awareness campaigns and talks that would
be held from time to time to aid those in need of drugs and others who had not
come to the realisation of care for the ailment.”
Speaking on the new leadersip of SNA
Rivers, Tantua noted the potentials of artists in the chapter and assured of
exposing as well as maximising the artists' potentials.“We have a lot of artists in
Rivers who spend more time keying into the Lagos market and exhibiting more
outside the country. As chairman I am looking at ensuring more exhibitions in
the state, building up the hub and encouraging people to collect pieces, invest
in art and appreciate their own culture and arts.”
He argued that
the signs of good times for the artists were already showing just less than one
month in office as chairman of the Rivers State SNA. He however noted that art appreciation in the
state was still at a low level. Seeking the supports of the artist to raise the
value of art in the state as well as support the campaign against sickle cell,
Tantua said "we are going to
be having a lot of seminars and workshops to support the organisation.”
Parts of his mission statement to the
artists included “to work with most oil companies in the state, the government and
partnering with private individuals to see how we can have once a year
exhibitions since it takes a lot of planning to succeed.
“We will be having exhibitions as a group to showcase what we are doing,
not forgetting there are a lot of professors and lectures in the state.”
Students
“We have to encourage them to appreciate and study arts. From time to
time we will also have visits on the schools we have over 200 newly-built ones
and we will see how to nurture them to accept themselves as artists because it
is a gift. There is no force to art.”
“Rivers and Bayelsa SNA were together. As of last year, there was a
division so we have Rivers and Bayelsa SNA. Since the states are close, we look
forward to working together for major events from time to time.”
Other
things
“Galleries have come and gone. We have had a lot of showrooms which act
as galleries as well but for proper galleries, we have not had a main one.
Maybe because the awareness has not been pushed on, it is what we call
aggressive marketing that brings art to the doorsteps of collectors.”
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