Some artistes with governor Ambode
Nigerian artistes want government to spur artistes-in-residence programme through the provision of grants for them to undergo training that would enable them found their bearing.
The artistes-in-residence programmes give artistes the opportunity to live and work outside of their usual environments, providing them with time to reflect, research and produce works.
During residency, artistes can explore new locations, different cultures and experiment with different materials or tools, like study abroad programs, it can also be at home.
Residencies are often aimed at young artists and could end up having a long term impact on their life and work. Some residency programs are incorporated with institutions, museums, universities or galleries.
Recently Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, CEO Alexis Gallery, officially announced that she had six artists in residency for its maiden edition.
According to her, the residency is aimed at promoting artists from across Africa and African arts in general and for them to provide diversity in content, perspective and style.
“We plan to organise it every three or two months as Alexis Galleries has in eight years of existence supported artists in the promotion of their works and organisation of exhibitions with them.
We are trying to see how we can put the artists on a greater pedestal with our residency programmes, workshop and lectures.
“The residency is free, I did not collect a dime from them, and I just want our artist to improve to meet international standards, she said.
The one-month programme started May 14, 2018 and will end in June 14, 2018 and the works will be exhibited in October this year.
Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, noted that the gallery has a deep appreciation for the positive role which artists are playing in the development of African Arts. We hope to get a milestone results from this residency.
The artists are: John Oyedemi (painter); Samuel Tete-Kancharn (painter/sculptor), Oyelusi Olasunkanmi (painter); Olorun yemi Kolapo (painter); Sunday Effiiong (metal sculptor) and Oluwole Omofemi (painter).(NAN)
