RELEVANCE OF ART IN OUR COMMUNITY

Art Education prepares people for the society, the culture, the world they live in.You would be amazed to know how many adult in our world today who went throughThe normal schooling and never realized their potentials. In a community where attentionIs being given to some subject at the expense of other. That’s why we keep producing half baked graduates who have little or no practical skills and problem-solving abilities.

Our Education should be the one that ensures that our children have access to the best,Most –stimulating and most-rewarding activities that humankind and the world have toOffer. It should be note that Art education helps prepare students to communicate and Express their understanding in a myriad of ways: kinesthetic, visual, auditory, verbal and written modes.

Art enables young people to learn specific knowledge and skills associated with an Art form. The complexity of that engagement develops other sets of skills, and abilities, such as commitment to hard work, disciplined attention to detail, being able to imagine solutions and recognizing ways to turn failure into success.

Art education is not limited to classroom; parents should try and engaged their wards in art related activities that could help build in them technical skills and learn to be creative problem solvers. Art stimulates creativity and promotes critical thinking skills. It is wise enough to turn their play time into creative activities which would open them exploration, innovation, critical thinking and practical skill acquisition.

MY DAD

...I wonder if i could ever get anywhere without him

FEMINA TUNE

FEMINA TUNE

The femina tuneSoft, cool, and soul inspiring

Could make you feel high

Or dampen your tempo

Sometimes keep your soul alive

At times murder your spirit man

At a time strengthen you

Sometimes weaken your bones

The femina tune

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A WALK TO ALWAYS REMEMBER

One blessed Sunday evening I was taking a walk in a garden endowed with beautiful flowers of exquisite colours. I got to a place where flowers like roses, lilies, daffodils, hyacinths, hydrangeas and honeysuckles flourish and blossom. They reflect a true, deep, pure and everlasting love as I delightfully gazed on them closely.

I moved more closer to smell the wonderful perfume of these lovely and colourfully attractive flowers. Suddenly, from nowhere, a butterfly laid on a petal of one of these fascinating roses. I drew back a little, gazed intently, and I was utterly held captivated and enthralled by the sight of this butterfly dressed in dazzling colour combinations.

The appearance of this beautiful butterfly created a wonderful harmony and added more to the beauty of the scene I was beholding. I couldn’t accurately explain what I saw in words, it’s just too inexplicable and inexpressible. This is far beyond anyone imagination in splendour.

Moments later, the butterfly flew away. I was there standing as I watched it flies away until I couldn’t catch its glimpse anymore.

Then, I remembered my love, my dove; thought of her running back at me like a fast running river. My totality was overridden by her thought. The butterfly actually reminds me of her and the beautiful and colourful atmosphere her coming into my life had created. I said to my self;“Really, my love is this butterflyEndowed with fragrant and vibrant coloursShe is so beautiful and lovely attractiveMy soul crave for herRegardless of colour, race, culture and tradition.”

This said garden to my place of abode is just about twenty minutes walk. I left the garden exhilarated and filled with feelings for her, so deep and true.

Suddenly it started to drizzling, I ran for shelter under an apple tree, as I couldn’t afford to get wet. Under the apple tree I reached for a fruit and plucked it. I ate it and it was so delicious and sweet to my taste. I enjoyed an oasis this finest apple tree provided for me, as I was greatly comforted and refreshed.

As I was reflecting on this blissful moment I had this great evening, her thought again gradually finds entrance into me. Wishing she could be mine for ever and I could find in her a delightful oasis: a place to confide, sheltered and comfort. Not quite long the rain ceased, and I set off on my walk back home. Few steps I took I raised my head to the sky and caught a glance of a rainbow. It was so beautiful, lovely and pleasant to the sight. I saw ribbon of colours; though a rainbow has just seven colours. I saw shades of bright, brilliant, and vibrant hues.As I watched the rainbow closely, I began to critically analyze its endowment of amazing and exquisite colours. Tears started to roll down my chicks. The rain has actually washed away my tears; the butterfly gave me vibrant coloured wings to fly, and the rainbow added more colour to my life.

Then, I heard a voice calling out for me, I turned… open my eyes… ‘God!’ I screamed. I’ve been dreaming! Realization of the fact that all these wonderful moments are just surreal and I’d only been tantalized by the power of dream made me shed more tears.

Right in front of me was my brother; he was actually the one that yelled out for my name trying to alert me for supper. I’d been starving before the short nap but I lost my appetite afterwards. I’ve been satiated by feelings and emotion so pure, true and deep.

It takes and requires only a touch sometimes to hatch an egg. The magic is just that the egg must have been lying there for a very long time expecting, and awaiting incubation. And what do you see after the gentle touch is a chick coming out vibrantly alive.

I stood up and went for the window, I took a peek through the window at the sky and I saw stars, bright and sparkling. To watch closely a glowing and beautiful stars amazingly delighted me.

I began to envision so many things and appreciating wonderful works of creation. This is indeed a walk not to forget and something to cherish

Mosaic Art experience

My journey into mosaic works started when i was invited to
work with one of my lecturer, Mrs Aletor after graduation... The experience was cool
though... I applied this experience in one of my new painting tittled "SEXUAL SENSITIVITY"
Check it out @ www.artwanted.com/adeniyi
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Olu as a trainee @ a friend's P.O.P. biz,3A Monumental

....Early this year i got myself learning a new trade in Art, the P.O.P decoration
.........The experience was great....Mr Alani(ceo) was nice working with.

my CLASS (Painting) Fine & Applied Arts, UNIBEN...2006

my CLASS (Painting) Fine & Applied Arts, UNIBEN...2006

READY-TO-WEAR ADIRE PRINTS OF ABEOKUTA

ABSTRACT.

Adire is an integral part of the Egba culture in Abeokuta. Recently it has enjoyed a new trend in its production, handmade print is applied to add glow, making it a wearable art.Local fabrics are in thing in fashion today and adire is not exception, it is stunnishly making statement. Some years back, who would have thought that adire and other local fabrics could creep into our offices, campus and daily wears?

INTRODUCTION

Perhaps more than any art form, textile reflects the culture from which they come. The Adire textiles are a viable means of which the rich African Cultural heritage and ideas could be convey to other culture and outside world.
This highly developed textiles form has transcends many culture and individuals. Adire, tie and dye over the years has become a viable vacation for educated men and women who now adapt to the latest technologies to develop new designs suitable and befitting all occasions to meet international standard.
Over the years, Adire has witnessed tremendous metamorphosis. The commonly known Adire comes in yards, 5 yards or more, of which the textile designers reflect their thoughts and ideas in the patterns they make on the fabric. Today, the textile designers incorporate print of intricate design with the use of rich and vibrant hues of opaque inks. The print gives the Adire a rich elaborate effect, making it look close to a painting piece. The end product are adopted into curtains, coverings for cushion chairs, throw pillow case, table cloth and the popular one, a ready-to-wear outfits.
The fad of this wearable art from Abeokuta is fast growing and gaining popularity. It is traditional and modern, elaborate and elegant with a great feel of ethnicity.
Some of the Artist that are trending the part of this new trade of Art are wilkor Creations, dacosta prints, duduethnikz among many others. Their works could be access through the links below.
www.artwanted.com/dacosta

www.coroflot.com/adeniyi/fashion

www.styleportfolios.com/duduethnikz
www.artwanted.com/duduethnikz

– THE MAKING OF ADIRE (TIE & DYE)–

.Materials For Tie & Dye:

i. Fabric- all kinds of cotton cloth are suitable.

ii. Dye

iii. Dye Chemicals- Caustic Soda, Sodium Hydrosulphite, Soda Ash, Common Salt

iv. Dye Vessels- Any vessels of enamel, Stainless, Steel and galvanized ware are suitable fo hot and cold dyes.

v. Thread- All kinds of string, Bast, T wist, Yarn, Raffia(iko), e.tc

vi. Spoon- For measuring and adding dye

vii. Sticks- For Stirring the Dye

viii. Scissors

ix. Rubber Gloves

x. Apron

xi. Pins & Needles

xii. Iron

xiii. Pencil, Chalk or Charcoal

xiv. Rulerx

v. Polythene Bags(of all sizes)

Making of Adire is a reflection of the textile designer’s contact with the social – cultural environment of which he exists. Adire, tie and dye is a resist process, which consists of tying, knotting, folding or sewing certain parts of the cloth in a way that when immersed in dye solution, the dye will not penetrate into the tied area of the fabric.
The production of Adire textile is done in two ways in which both are resist methods of dying a pattern on a fabric. A part of the cloth is protected before it is immersed into the dye bath. The resisting agent, such as rafia or cotton thread resists the dye so as not to penetrate into the resisted areas. This is what the Egbas called “ONIKO”. Some patterns are stitched with a needle and thread which is called “ALABERE”.
The second method is called, “ELEKO”. The method is achieved on the fabric with application of starch paste made from cassava flour. This starch resists the dye from penetrating through the cloth. The starch pastes are applied with brush or feather on the surface of the fabric or through a stencil that has been cut into a design. It will be left to dry for a while under the sun before it is immersed into a dye solution.

THE WEARABLE ART.

Materials:The materials needed in the printing of designs on the ready-to-wear outfits are printing screens, squeegee, stencil and textile inks (opaque), often time’s acrylic and poly mark are use to add finesse and pep.

The fabrics are taken to the tailor before working on it. The sown fabrics are immersed into the dye solution of the artist choice of colour. The next step after the dying is to spread it on a printing table for the printing process to commence.Afterwards, opaque ink is applied on the printing screen and placed on top of the fabric, squeegee is used to spread the ink along the surface of the screen.

CONCLUSION

The wearable art with it frills of ethnicity speaks more of our cultural heritage. Its recognition is fast spreading even beyond the shore of Nigeria. This is due to the rate at which the designers are going through the trend of latest fashion is fascinating. It could be worn on jeans, corporate trouser, skirt or what have you.
The branding and packaging of the Adire in a ready-to-wear content is a plus to its accessibility and patronage in the society, thus making it prominent.
Meanwhile, the artists are strongly advice to use good and original materials to ensure a piece that is fast and durable. I hope one day to see this form of Art being paraded at the big event of fashion shows in Milan London, Paris, Tokyo, and New York.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...The writer is a painter and a textile artist. He could be contacted for more expository on the subject or for practical presentation.
ADENIYI OLUSEGUN MICHAEL +234 802 406 9722, www.artwanted.com/adeniyi , aom3kk@gmail.com