How it was at Carrickfergus African theme celebration

Some months ago I used this blog to promote a charity event that would take place at Carrickfergus, northern Ireland. I helped Rosetta translating information to Portuguese language as I thought Portuguese would like to particiapte as we have a past in what african land concerns and not just the actual PALOP's - Portuguese Language Expression Countries. Money raised was to be sent to African institutions that fight african children sexual abuse. The reception wasn't what I expected but at least one Portuguese artist took interested in it. (Rosetta's Portuguese friend Isaura was already participating.) Paula Pereira participated at the charity event and even attended it. Here are some photos of the event and a text summarizing what happened. My two collages were sold at the charity exhibition!I am so pleased!

"The United Nations declared 2011 year International Year for Peoples of African descent so disabled Carrickfergus artist Rosetta Jallow has organised an event to celebrate this, to showcase some local African talent and to raise funds for African Charities. This was just held at the Civic Centre Mall and Gallery in Antrim Street, Carrickfergus. It run from 12th November until 19th November. 

Rosetta, whose paintings have been exhibited in countries as far flung as Australia, Italy and USA, is grateful to Carrickfergus Council for facilitating her event. This was an African themed celebration with as much involvement from the African community in Northern Ireland as possible. A charity art exhibition which is an expansion on Rosetta’s Faces of Africa portraits exhibitions which have been long-running since she started them in Manchester in 2004 has took place. Stephen Jamison from Newtownabbey has exhibited with her a few times in recent years. This year many of her local and international artist friends have supported her in her charitable efforts and she is overwhelmed by their generosity.
Art donated by these talented artists will be exhibited and sold to aid Operation Bobbi Bear (South Africa – working with sexually abused and raped children); ABAANA (Bangor based charity building a school in Uganda) and Church of Christ’s Academy (school in Gambia) and other African causes.

Donating artists are from Northern Ireland, England, France, Portugal, USA, Australia and the Pacific Island of Bougainvile in the North Solomon Islands. One of the donations was created in Japan by Charleen Morris, who usually lives in the Gold Coast, so the exhibition is truly international.

Whilst the majority of the artworks are African themed, there are also landscapes, framed sketches, a wall hanging, a framed handmade ceramic, laminated digital art, encaustic wax paintings and cards, and wildlife paintings, so the theme of the exhibition is diversity in the full sense of the word. Most of the artists have also kindly reduced their prices due to it being a charity venture, so people can pick up a bargain.

Participating artists include: Rosetta Jallow (Greenisland), Stephen Jamison (Newtownabbey), Freda Kemp (Larne), Natalie McCoy (Belfast), Lorraine Pollock (Belfast), Susie Hawkins (Bristol), Dawn Jones (Wolverhampton), Charleen Morris (Australia), Alan Lewis (France), Loretta Lytle (USA), Isaura Xavier Decampos (Portugal), Belinha Fernandes (Portugal), and Paula Pereira (Portugal).

Children’s African themed Art Workshops on both Saturdays, ran by artists including Rosetta and June McKenzie also from Carrickfergus, were a hit.  Face painters and balloon modellers Lou Lou and Pom Pom, have been booked to be there on 12th and 19th November.

The exhibits in the gallery will included African Embroidery by leprosy sufferers from Korah, Ethiopia, and African inspired pottery by talented Belfast pottery teacher, Lorraine Pollock.
Representatives of Planex Ghana  attended the event.  One of the Portuguese artists, Paula Pereira, attended the Opening and VIP Reception. Paula judged a Children’s Art Competition assisted by Sebastian Adegboyega Aluko-James the founder of the Nigerian Association Northern Ireland.
There were African entertainers on both Saturdays. On Saturday 12th the entertainment was provided by Artfrique Music and Dance. Cuthbert Arutura of Artfrique came from Marondera, in Zimbabwe originally and he starred as the African Prince in an episode of the TV programme, Just For Laughs, which was on BBC1. Mr Arutura is a highly talented actor, musician and dancer and some will know him from his appearances at Belfast Zoo’s African Culture Day. His exciting performance starts at 1pm in the Civic Centre Mall on 12th November.
VIP Reception was By Invitation Only, and DJ Krest, a talented Belfast DJ originally from Nigeria  played some Nigerian music also Dance and R&B to entertain the VIP guests.
On Saturday 19th November from 11am-1pm, MAGWERE, a fantastic band headed by Wilson Magwere (Zimbabwe) and including Thomas Annang (Ghana) entertained at the Civic Centre. Magwere play at Belfast Mela yearly and the band are well known at many Belfast venues including The Ivy Bar. Thomas Annang runs the ACROWA African Drum Course and touring Band."

Source for this text was Rosetta's page at  Creatives Change NI