The Undaji Art Club

2019

By Standing Voice

August 28^th, 2019

This year’s Summer Skills Workshop saw the third annual gathering of the Undaji Art Club: a group of people with and without albinism using the visual arts as a tool to explore their surroundings and process shared trauma. Under the expert guidance of Kate Winter and Inbal Leitner—professional artist-illustrators visiting Ukerewe for the first time—the group embarked on an ambitious, weeklong programme of training that stretched their imaginations, strengthened their observational skills, and developed their confidence with a range of artistic techniques and media. At the same time, less tangibly but somehow more palpably, they sparked a dialogue that went beyond language: a space of collaboration and healing, where scars of discrimination and violence could be addressed and overcome through the restorative practice of creating.

The workshop began by exploring a range of artistic media including watercolour, acrylic, pastel and pencil, as participants experimented to discover which materials suited them best. Participants were given sketchbooks and encouraged to record their surroundings on a series of field trips across Ukerewe. The group learned about colour mixing; light, shadow, and the creation of contrast; and how to draw observationally, as well as from imagination.

"I thought we would find people’s limited eyesight a challenge. We have been teaching everyone about the importance of looking and observing, but I continually have to remind myself that not everyone can see well. Those with albinism have these excellent ways of getting around the issue, they look very closely at things and also use cameras, which is good because it then means they can zoom in on the objects they are trying to draw. You get these amazing little break-through moments where suddenly someone just gets it!" — Kate Winter

Kate and Inbal brought to Ukerewe a collection of playing cards decorated by their students in the UK. All cards carried messages for their Tanzanian counterparts, introducing the artist, his or her dislikes, and a wish one day to meet. Members of the Undaji Art Club decorated their own set of cards, reciprocating these messages and returning them to the UK.

"It is easy to forget that a lot of these people have a really deep history of real hardship and neglect. I felt really emotional when I first arrived because I couldn’t quite believe how many people there were. You come here and you see first-hand how far this project has gone in terms of changing people’s lives." — Kate Winter

At the end of the week, participants worked together to create an exhibition of their work. Paintings, drawings and collages were proudly displayed in the main hall of the Umoja Training Centre for other training groups and volunteers to see.

"Standing Voice has created a kind of sanctuary. Everyone here is accepted and people come to integrate and learn. I knew I would be moved but didn't realise quite how much. Our group work with their hearts. Some of them were initially very reserved, but it was clear how happy they were to be here to learn new skills." — Inbal Leitner

"Anyone thinking of volunteering at the Summer Skills Workshop should come, without hesitation! It’s a life changing experience, and it’s amazing to be part of something that is genuinely making a change; a change you can see happening before your eyes." — Kate Winter

"We find art to be self-healing. We wanted participants to have access to a range of artistic media, as a means of understanding and sharing their stories in a new way." — Inbal Leitner