Christene Sloan

Art to Africa 2006 - A Dream Realized

We all have dreams some are just part of living our lives and letting our imaginations soar, others actually come true if your passion and your God fuel them into being. My dream fell into the later category and sometimes it still feels like a dream.

After two years of preparing, praying and turning the dream of taking Art to Africa over to God March 16^th 2006 arrived and my husband, Michael and I boarded a plane headed for South Africa. I had made lists and chosen scriptures, purchased paint, canvas and pastels and thought I was prepared for the adventure of a lifetime.

Arriving in Cape Town South Africa after 23 ½ hours on a plane was more than expected it was a breath-taking city on the coast and I couldn't imagine there were any poor at risk people living here!  I was wrong...

As we drove to Paarl about 1 hour inland from Cape Town the views changed and although the landscape with vineyards and mountains was beautiful the Black Townships and Colored areas quite separate from the white Afrikaans neighborhoods, were living conditions far from beautiful. The streets, often dirt were narrow lined with trash and took you past shanty type dwellings made of cardboard, plastic and any materials available at little or no cost. Running water came from a public faucet and often portable toilets were shared by several families. I just couldn't imagine how my dreams and plans would benefit the children living in these conditions. I was wrong...again.

As we talked and prayed about the art project it began to come alive in the rest of the team. We were invited to come to the Lokanyo Community Center as guests to see the dance, music and drama presentation by the children of Mbkweeni Township. It was an amazing day and I knew God had brought me to the perfect place at the perfect time, as He always does if I let Him. The one missing piece to the puzzle of "The Arts" was the fine art I had come 12,000 miles to share.

My most amazing revelation was that these beautiful children, who have so little by our standards, have passionately embraced the creative gifts God gave them, instead of a game-boy or fancy clothes, they practice everyday to sing, dance, write dramas and perform. A visit to Lokanyo Community Center should be a requirement for graduation from High School in America.

As we were setting up the paint and supplies the energy was growing and the children were arriving and they were so anxious to help us, which they did with great skill and speed. After some singing and worship the painting began with great enthusiasm and creativity. I was amazed at their bold artistic offerings and willingness to work together in teams on the exchange art piece that would come back to the US and then on their own painting that was theirs to take home. In the end they were painting each other's faces and arms with wonderful African designs. It didn't matter the age, from 5-18 they were captivated with the paint.

Before we left that day, we had assembled the art work that was created back in the US by a group of AWANA children as a gift to Lokanyo. The picture, quite large 5'X10', depicts a world map with Jesus and 4 children of Asian, Black, Hispanic and Caucasian ethnicity holding Christian symbols reaching across the world. The color is vibrant and as one of the counselors said to me, "How wonderful it is to finally have Jesus hanging at Lokanyo!  That of course was the purpose for the dream.

I know it's been said so many times, that Africa will change you and captive you, and it's true. My perspective about priorities is different now and I know more about loving your neighbor. Most of all I can see how God has such a bigger picture and prepares a plan for each of us if we will just show up.

Creatively in His Work,

Christene Sloan

Visual Artist