“Arts for Guns”, a painting competition held on the 30^th of October

2010 at Stella Maris Secondary School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

The aim and purpose of the Mundus maris initiative in the Niger Delta is to provide a platform whereby scientific and relevant indigenous knowledge support action for a healthy environment, security for all and a good future for young people. In this context, we encourage artistic expression about the marine ecosystem in order to promote its restoration, conservation and sustainable use; and to further the study, understanding and respect of aquatic ecosystems and associated biological and cultural diversity.

On this note a painting competition with the theme “Arts a Substitute for Guns” was organised by the Mundus maris Team, supported by the Agricultural Support Foundation Team led by its Executive Director, Dr. (Mrs) Adaba Ibim Tonye. The competition was held on the 30^th of October at the Stella Maris Secondary School. Participants were from the University of Port Harcourt and University of Uyo as well as from various Secondary Schools mostly in Port Harcourt (Rivers State) and Oron (Cross River State) as listed below:

• University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State

• University of Uyo, Akwa, Ibom State

• Stella Maris Secondary School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

• Infant Jesus Model Secondary School, Oron, Akwa, Ibom State

• Faith International College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

• Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State

• Government Secondary School, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

• Sacred Heart Seminary, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

• Niger Grammar School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

The Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development in Rivers State was ably represented by Mr. Dimkpa Pene P.T.

The frontiers for Mundus maris included:

• A.T. Ibim, Executive Director Agriculture Support Foundation

• Ineba Bobmanuel, EU-INSIDE

• Wokocha Chima Chibuike, University of Port Harcourt

• Christian O. Amadi, Agriculture Support Foundation

• Davies I. Chris, Agriculture Support Foundation

• Solomon Tamunobelema, Agriculture Support Foundation

• Okonofua U.A., Fine Arts Department at the University of Uyo

• Stella Williams, Vice President, Mundus maris Board

Prior to the competition, several schools were visited to enlighten both the students and their teachers on the aims and objectives of the arts competition and exhibition. This was mostly done by Adaba, Christian, Davies and Joy, but also by Ineba. At the same time, social/government parastatals were visited and given invitation letters to come and witness the event. Several meetings were also held with students of the Universities of Port Harcourt and Uyo. They were made aware about the competition and exhibition and invited to participate actively. Click here for impressions about the different stages of the preparations. In the end, some of those schools were not able to participate, while others joint even without a preparatory visit.

 

On the 28^th of October 2010, Prof. Stella Williams, a founding member of Mundus maris, arrived in Port Harcourt and was received at the airport by Adaba Ibim and Chima Wokocha. She was briefed on plans, the implementation modalities and extent of preparations of the painting competition. On the 29^th of October, Adaba Ibim, Executive Director of Agriculture Support Foundation, convened a meeting of all frontiers at her house to make sure everybody knew his or her role in receiving the young people the next day and create good conditions for expressing their creativity. With last minute arrangements in place the crucial day was finally there, 30th of October, at Stella Maris Secondary School in Port Harcourt.

Participants were provided with drawing materials (card boards) including, water-colours (poster paints), pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, and painting brushes of all sizes. A sense of excitement took hold of the gathered young people.

 

Prof. Stella Williams briefed the participants one last time that they were expected to provide an artistic personal expression in relation to events/problems especially in the Niger Delta Area.

She explained the aim of Mundus maristoward this programme, which is to enhance the youths’ personal thoughts on what is happening in the Niger Delta environment as it is impacting on each person, but also on the community. Digesting own observations, results of research of different kinds and owning up to artistic expressions should allow to 'think outside the box' and explore novel ways to protect the sea and the communities in coastal zones. This, it is hoped, will promote restoration of polluted and otherwise degraded environments. Likewise, still intact ecosystems, and associated biological and cultural diversity should be protected.

She advocated the benefits for young people who, this way, explore alternative and richer modes of getting on with their lives. These explorations are not restricted to arts students. Creatively expressing in pictorial display the various problems affecting the region, militancy, oil spillage, climate change and other problems is one way of drawing attention and hopefully making them tractable. At the same time, it is an invitation to think about possible solutions, looking at protecting nature, promoting healthy food and solidarity.

 

She informed them that only twelve works of the participants would be selected at the end irrespective of the student’s field of study, be it in sciences or arts. Art teachers from the participating schools were on hand to assist the organisers in seeing through the programme of the event as planned.

The painting competition was stopped at 2 pm, in the afternoon. After this big effort, everybody was then served lunch. After a short address once again by Prof. Stella Williams, the panel of judges made up by Adaba Ibim, Chima Wokocha and Okonofua, went on to appraise the art works submitted by the participants so as to pick the best 12. Criteria used for judging the best works were as follows: (i) line, (ii) use of space, (iii) authenticity of the theme and (iv) the quality of presentation.

The results

All the participants were appreciated according to their age and levels of education. Then came the long awaited moment to accounce the results. And here they are. In recognition, all works that could be photographed appear in the galleries below. The prize-winning works will now be submitted to the See(a)Art exhibition in Hilden, Germany, expected to open 26 June 2011. See details on this international event here.

In the junior category the following students were selected for the 1st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th positions:

Junior Category (Junior Secondary School 1-3)

Senior Category (Senior Secondary School 1-3)

University Level

At the end of this intense day of togetherness and creative work, the Mundus maris frontiers thanked all young people and their teachers for the wonderful collaboration. They expressed hope that the passionate moments spent together would be kept in good memory and lead to interesting follow-up. Get in touch with Dr. Chima Wokocha directly, if you want to learn more about their work and / or collaborate with the groups in the Niger Delta or contact Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser..