African Art exhibition and service to mark World AIDS Day
Three years ago we held a Deanery World Aids Day service at St Cyriac's,
Swaffham Prior. In the candlelight, through people's stories and beautiful
music, we were able to take time to think of all those round the world,
including those in the UK, affected by HIV/AIDS. We are holding a simple
reflective service again this year at St Etheldreda's Church, Reach.
In addition to the candlelit service you are invited to attend an art exhibition in Reach village hall. This exhibition celebrates the vibrancy and skills of so many in Africa, represented through the work of the Ugandan artist Lukandwa Dominic and Mayanja Richard. Uganda has been badly affected by HIV/AIDS. Judith Goddard, who splits her time between Burwell and Uganda, works in the blood transfusion service in Uganda and central to her work are the difficult issues raised by HIV/AIDS. Uganda was one of the leading countries in combating HIV/AIDS, but recently the number of new cases of the disease has increased. It is difficult to understand why this is happening. She got to know Lukandwa Dominic and has supported his work, recognising his determination to support his family alongside the brilliance of his paintings. Thanks to her we have his work to sell. Dominic himself has had to depend on selling his art to pay his school and university fees and the fees of his siblings.
Lukandwa Dominic works in batik -paintings done on material with wax and different dyes - with each painting being unique. He writes 'My pictures are centred on family and actitivites that take place in an African home. 90% of my characters are women and children. This is partly due to the fact that I never spent much time with my mother, so I intend to do it as a tribute to her but also because men in an African home do not do much work, especially in the rural setting that I grew up in. Women tend to be my heroes.'
As well as Lukandwa Dominic's and Mayanja Richard's paintings, there will also be small African handicrafts and handpainted Christmas cards on sale making this event an ideal place to come to buy someone special a stunning present or stock up on small extras -knowing that all the money is going to support people for whom every penny makes a difference.
The exhibition and events are being advertised through the sale of South African hand beaded Aids badges. These popular badges are made in Cape Town by mothers of children with children living with HIV. Making the badges provides these mothers with a vital source of income and for many restores their self esteem. The badges are on sale at the back of church and in Centrepeace.