LAGOS, Africa’s prime culture destination, last weekend welcomed a new multi-disciplinary art festival, which seeks to unite all the artforms, and bring their creative products into one market square.
Art Arising Festival, an initiative of the Art Alliance 51, which has since 2014 staged various art education schemes, had a huge birth ceremony on Saturday August 21, with guests and art patrons trooping into the exhibition gallery of the National Museum, Onikan Lagos, where works in divergent forms by as many as 15 artists, had been mounted.
Co-initiated in 2018 by Juliet Ezenwa Pearce and Klaranxe Okhide, the core of the AA festival is fine and applied arts — in painting, sculpture, mixed media, textile among others, but performing arts, especially the spoken words variant of poety, as well as discourses around literature, are also in the the (festival’s) purview.
Saturday’s opening event began with readings by the poet and critic, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, famously called the ‘god of poetry.’ A wordsmith, the poet dished out verses that took terse jabs at the political leaders and cultural elites, whose actions and missteps have led to the erosion of national ethos and led to mental and social displacement of the ordinary people of the land. His “we shall vote with stone” is a daring confrontation of errant politicians who seize the people’s voices to satisfy their orgy of irascibility. He also serenaded the ‘serial coup plotter’ and former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, on his recent 80th birthday, reminding the ‘Maradona’ of Nigerian polity, that his selfish political decisions, especially the infamous annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election, has left the country stranded in a labyrinth of political instability; just as he rasped a certain section of the rights and civil society activists with their compromised ‘comradeship.’
This was followed by statements from some of the artists on why the festival is imperative and why they deemed it important to be part of it. Octogenarian Rowland Ogiamien, stated that the festival was long overdue. The artists, said the veteran, must help themselves as it is clear that the Nigerian State, will never show the needed commitment, nor give the support that the art deserves. He cited the template already set by the Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation, BOF, which for over a decade, has every year, staged the Harmattan workshop in Agbarah Otor, Delta State, through which many have been able to hone their skills, as well as give vent to their creative ideas.
There are two international artists featuring in the exhibition: Yves Magloire Ludovic Midahuen from Benin Republic and Ayeva Medjeva from Republic of Togo. Both expressed satisfaction with the festival, and promised to spread the gospel in their home countries. “The festival is good for the unity of Africa and the spirit of pan-Africanism. I am sure there will be more artists from Benin and other Francophone countries next edition,” stated Midahuen, who spoke in French at the opening.
Also featuring in the festival, which runs till September 3 at the National Museum and virtually, are panel discussions on art productions, publishing, nature of art market ad distribution as well as documentary screenings.
About Art Alliance 51
At the birth of the Art Alliance 51 group, in 2018, the co-cnvener, Juliet Ezenwa Maja-Pearce, said: “The primary aim is to promote the development of the visual arts’ industry in Nigeria by developing platforms for synergising the potentials of all members of the sector towards building a stronger industry.
“Our goal is to become the preferred platform for the visual arts’ community in Nigeria. We hope to become the preferred platform for independent artists, designers and consumers of visual arts’ products. All members since inception have been committing their time, as well as their financial, human and social network resources in order to be able to push this vision through.
“We are at the moment calling for more members, partners and supporters. We, the members, are tired of waiting for the elusive ‘other’ people to help us develop our sector. We have erroneously looked to the government and its organisations/parastatals to rise up to their responsibility.
“With the arrival of this artist-run group we are taking our sector in our own hands. All who have a passion for the rise of the visual arts’ sector are welcome to join us.”
About the Director/co-convener of the Festival, Juliet Ezenwa-Pearce
REPUTED to be a very hard-working artist and a reliable facilitator, painter Juliet Ezenwa Pearce, in 2018 teamed up with Klaranze Okhide as co-convener of Art Alliance 51 Artists Collective and they began organising the Art Arising Art Festival. The Alliance, according to her, is to give empowerment to the artists to begin to take their destiny in their hands as it is clear that the society is not yet read to put the art at the centre of national dream. A member of Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria, the Society of Nigerian Artists, the Female Artists Association of Nigeria, Business and Professional Women International, and The Art Gallery Owners’ Association of Nigeria (organisers of Art-Expo Nigeria). Since 2014, she has been involved in the Creative Young Minds art workshop, which takes place at her studio for primary and secondary school students. Juliet has long been outspoken about human rights issues especially as it affects the girl-child and women. She is an executive member of Echoes of Women in Africa, and Lagos Women 2030 , an off-shoot of UN Women.She has been described as a child rights and gender activist. She is a regular participant at the UN-sponsored art exhibition on female genital mutilation.
…The Co-convener of the Festival, Klaranze Okhide
AN Artist and Educator, Klaranze had her formal trainingat the Auchi Art School (1999), and did a post-graduate diploma in Education at the University of Abuja (2003). One of the founding members of Female Artists Association of Nigeria (Feaan) and the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Abuja, she has exhibited widely in Nigeria and abroad. She has won several awards and prizes, including the International Red Cross Society, Geneva (Women and War) 2000; and 2nd place winner, ‘Life in My City’ art competition 2008 by Alliance Francaise/Rocana. She derives great joy in creating art through diverse mediums as she promotes art at the youth and professional level through workshops, seminars, school art competitions and exhibitions etc.
Curator, Juliet Ezenwa-Prarce 
The Taiye Erewele corner at the Festival exhibition 
Festival Special-Guest Artist, Rowland Ogiamien, in session with the co-Conveners of Art Arising — Juliet Ezenwa-Pearce and Taiye Erewele;and a Festival Assistant at the opening on Saturday, Aug 21 
Painter, teacher, Kunle Adeyemi with a guest 
A guest at the exhibition 
Cross section of guests at the opening 
Writer, Igoni Barret and editor/publisher, Adewale Maja Pearce in a panel discussion on publishing on Tuesday 
Special Guest Artist, Ogiamien with the Curator, art promoter, Moses Ohimhokare (left), Obiora Ononye (alias Obi Leather) and one of the international participating artists, Yves Magloire Ludovic Midahuen from Benin Republic 
Some of the artists… Aluu Prosper, Rowland Ogiamien, Taiye Erewele, and international guest artist Ayeva Medjeva from Togo Republic.
Festival Programme outlines:
Saturday, 21 August 2021
11am prompt
Opening ceremony
Open microphone by Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
Exhibition, Poetry, spoken word, opening speech etc
View Festival on …. https://youtu.be/hQWYehwT40s
Art alliance 51 Facebook page
http://www.artalliance51.com.ng
Sunday 22 August 2021
12noon – 6pm
Exhibitions, video sessions for participants
Interviews, discussions
Monday 23 August
11 am – 1pm
Open microphone: Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
Performance art curated by Dr Odun Orimolade
Yusuf Durodola
Lanre Tejuosho
Taiwo Aiyedogbon
Tito Aderemi
Exhibition
Tuesday 24 August 2021
11am – 1pm
Open microphone: Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
Panel Discussion: Telling our own stories: publishing challenges in Nigeria
Speakers:
Muktar Bakare: Farafina publishing
Adewale Maja Pearce: The New Gong publishing
Dulue Mbachu: The New Gong publishing
Anwuli Ojogwu: Society for Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria
Igoni Barrett: writer
Wednesday, 25 August 2021
11am – 1pm
Open microphone
Theme: Gender sensitivity and safety in the new normal: An emotional intelligence perspective
By Chizoba Akunne, Executive Director Centre for Individual and Child Development Lagos
Lecture: Men, the sculptured art: Understanding the male gender from the lenses of the art by Mr Dayo Adeyemi, founder: The Catalyst Men’s Network International Lagos
Security awareness in the new normal post-Covid19, by Bridget Osakwe: national network coordinator, WANEP Nigeria
Thursday, 26 August 2021***
11am – 1pm
Open microphone
Colourism: An African perspective
Sponsors: The New Gong publishing, Yemaja Gallery
Discussants:
Helen K. Thomas: Writer and Academic Researcher
Igoni Barrett: Writer
James Barnnett: Fulbright research fellow
Adewale Maja-Pearce: The New Gong publishing
*******
Friday 27 August 2021
11am –1pm
Open microphone – Reginald Ofodile
Overcoming Art business challenges in Nigeria.
Discussants:
Seun Alli: JCAA No Parking Gallery
Jahman Anikulapo: Culture Advocates Caucus
Ugonma Adegoke: Bloom Art
*****
Saturday 28 August 2021
10am – 1pm
Open microphone
Film screening
Featuring: Documentary films by
Tam Fiofori
Kagho Idhebor
******
Sunday 29 August 2021
Awards celebration
Music, poetry, and entertainment
******
Monday, 30 August 2021
Exhibition
*******
Tuesday, 31 August 2021
11am – 2pm
Children and youth workshop
Security awareness post-Covid19
Presentation by ASP Kenneth O. Emegwamor, Academy police Training school, Ikeja, Lagos
Wednesday, 1 September 2021***
Academic discussion
Topic: A theoretical workshop with a theme:
Visual Arts Education Trajectories in Nigeria: Repositioning its Receding Reality.
Chairman: Dr Ademola Azeez, provost, Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos.
Discussants:
Dr John Adenle, Creative Arts Dept., University of Lagos
Dr Olusola Ogunfuwa, Creative Arts Dept., University of Lagos
Dr Odun Orimolade, Yaba Tech.
Dr Kehinde Adepegba, Yaba Tech.
Dr Olu Ajayi, Living Legends Studio
Mr Sam Ovraiti, Director, Harmattan Workshop
Mrs Favour Akatapo, Dean, School of Vocational Education, Fed. College of Education
Facilitator: Dr Kunle Adeyemi, Yaba Tech
Rapporteur: Dr Bolaji Ogunwo, Creative Arts Dept., University of Lagos
******
Thursday, 2 September 2021
Exhibition
Friday, 3 September 2021
Exhibition
4 -6 September 2021
Load down
11 September 2021
Evaluation get-together at Yemaja gallery
11 Abiona Close, off Falolu Rd, Surulere
12 September 2021
Virtual show ends
View excerpt on ……link YouTube and Facebook, website…..
YouTube videos continue.
