Art jam icing on the cake for Nkuranga’s harvest expo

It was a fun filled Saturday evening as art lovers and artists flocked Inema Arts Centre for the grand closing of the Harvest, a solo art exhibition organised by visual artist Emmanuel Nkuranga. It was a little different from other exhibitions as guests did not just admire the beautiful paintings on display but were also given the opportunity to make their own paintings during an art jam. Belyse Umwali, 18, took part in a live painting exercise for the first time and was thrilled with how one can express their feelings through art. “It was fun and very exciting; I wish artists could organise art jams more often because it elevates your creativity. Personally, I am passionate about fashion and being given a platform to paint gave me a chance to express my fashion ideas through art.” She explains. It was the same experience for many who were painting for the first time as they couldn’t hide the excitement of holding a brush and using different colours for the first time; while others were surprised with the art skills that they didn’t know they had. Art jams give everyone an opportunity to paint regardless of their art skills – such was the experience for many art lovers on Saturday. The weeklong harvest art exhibition featured city series as well as various art works, ranging from sculptures and carvings to impressionist paintings. “City Series brings strong brush strokes and hand painting of cities from around the world. I brought my personal experience and appreciation of the international community to the canvas. I wanted to paint cities I’ve been to and cities that my clients live in,” said Nkuranga. Among the cities that were featured include Hong Kong, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Vancouver, London, and Kigali. Also on display were recycled motorbikes, furniture, and amazing combinations of everyday objects. Gentle music and refreshments helped participants to relax while they admired the artworks and shared experiences. The Harvest was Nkuranga’s first solo art exhibition where he was showcasing some of his latest works. Nkuranga, a self-taught artist, is co-founder of Inema Art Center.

Leisure

Art jam icing on the cake for Nkuranga’s harvest expo