The Uweza Aid Foundation and the artist Joseph Wanderi together against poverty through art

When the new millenium started, there were hopes that humankind might gain consiousness and the indifference in the world towards those less favoured might fade away.

But in a world rulled by material values, where money plays an important role as never before and people are relegated to second plan, we keep having millions of individuals, especially small children, who keep living in inhumane conditions and don’t have a single opportunity to raise out of that situation.

Fortunately, organizations and people exist that try to fight this status quo. It’s a continuous and difficult fight, but they never give up and keep believing that they can make this world a better place.

The Uweza Aid Foundation (Uweza is the Swahili word for ability and power) is a 501(c)(3) organization registered in the State of Illinois that fights the cycle of poverty that persists in Kenya's Kibera slum, in spite of the resiliency and ingenuity of Kenyans working to better their communities, even without any external assistance.
Through community-based empowerment programs, Uweza nurtures and builds upon the already existing capabilities and resourcefulness of Kenyans.

All its projects are developed and/or run by Kenyans, primarily residents of Kibera who are dedicated to the betterment of their community. Current projects include an after-school program, soccer club, school sponsorships, and a counseling initiative for at-risk and troubled youth.

You can also contribute to their projects and one of the ways of doing so is by investing in art.
Most of us would like to own some works of art, or even start an art collection, but usually don’t know how to start or who to contact.

The paintings of Joseph Wanderi are beautiful and creative one of a kind originals that represent in warm tones, the people's life as well as the wonderful fauna, flora and landscape of the region.
His works can be considered an opportunity for the emerging art collector who values aesthetics above all.

Moreover, African artists are gaining recognition in a global art worl, making it not only an aesthetic acquisition, but as well as a wise one

Half of the sales of each painting will go to the artist and half will go toward funding weekly art classes for Kibera youth.

Should they wish, when at the checkout, the readers of The Art Inquirer can enter the promotional code theartinquirer, which will give them a 10% discount on Wanderi's paintings, supported by the Uweza Aid Foundation.
This promotional code is valid until January 1, 2013. After this date, the discount will be 5% until further notice.

Joseph Wanderi (known to most as "Wanderer") is an art instructor and a well-known Kibera artist who started painting when he was in primary school. He now makes a living by creating artwork and aims to nurture artistic talent in other Kibera youth.

Disclaimer: The originalty and quality of the artworks, as well as their commercialization, is of the responsibility of their author and owner respectively.

$20 Million donated by Walmart to sponsor admission for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Given over a period of five years, the grant of $20 Million donated by Walmart to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, is destined to sponsor the admission to the museum. Prior to the grant, an admission fee of $10 was being considered for adults.

Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke said "While saving people money is how we make people’s lives better every day, we realize that things like listening to your favorite song, seeing a beautiful painting or laying eyes on an amazing sculpture make our lives better, too."
"One of the greatest challenges for museums today is finding ways to remove barriers to community participation, including admission charges,” said Don Bacigalupi, Crystal Bridges executive director."

In order to adress social, economical and cultural barriers that often prevent diverse audiences from participating in the arts, the museum has set a Next Generation Fund.
Promoting environmental sustainability is also one of the priorities of this fund created by community-minded philanthropists.

Founded in 2005 by the Walton Family Foundation and set to open 11-11-11, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has in its mission to actively collect, exhibit, interpretate, and preserve the representative works that illuminate the history, heritage and artistic possibilities of America.
Its collection features American masterworks dating from the Colonial era to contemporary times and will be on view to the public year-round. An ever-changing array of special exhibitions featuring art from museums and collections throughout the region, the nation and abroad, will also be organized.

Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie and located in Northwest Arkansas, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art comprises series of pavilions nestled around two creek-fed ponds, with house galleries, meeting and classroom spaces, and a large glass-enclosed gathering hall.
A museum store designed by Marlon Blackwell welcomes visitors who wish to take a souvenir from their visit to this excellect cultural place, while a café on a glass-enclosed bridge overlooking the ponds will make the delight of those who wish to take a pause.
Sculpture and walking trails will link the Museum's 120-acre park and gardens to downtown Bentonville, Ark.

The Grant donated be the Walmart Foundation will cover cost of admission for all Museum guests.