Rwandan Reconciliation gallery show

This show features the photographs taken by Debbie Kindschuh and the paintings by Ishimwe Bertrand.

Purpose of the Show: To enlighten audience about the wonderful work that Irembo Foundation is doing to improve literacy and education to vulnerable street children inKigali, Rwanda. This foundation was started by a young man, Ishimwe Bertrand,that was born in 1994 during the horrific genocide that killed 1 million people. He was in his mother’s womb when the genocide broke out in April of 1994. His family fled through the forests trying to reach Lake Kivu and to cross into Congo. The family never reached Congo, but their lives were saved. Unfortunately, when they returned home, their families had been murdered and they were homeless. Bertrand thus grew.up on the streets living in extreme poverty. Eventually, he was able to attend school by the sponsorship of a British man. When Bertrand turned 16, he decided to Pay It Forward. He began to sell his paintings to tourists and started paying tuition for youngchildren to attend school. Today his Irembo Foundation organizes sponsorships for 120 children and also conducts a women’s vocational training program in tailoring skills. Irembo US was started in 2017 and is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in Wentzville, MO. Debbie and Randy Kindschuh travel to Rwanda and take people on retreats and mission trips there to help support the education and women empowerment programs of Irembo Foundation. Debbie and Randy have also studied the Rwandan Reconciliation program that was started by Prison Fellowship International. This forgiveness program is based on the Sycamore Tree project which reflects the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus, in the book of Luke. The Reconciliation program helped the small country of Rwanda to move forward though forgiveness and begin the process of reconstruction. John Dyess

https://pfi.org/what-we-do/restoring-justice/

Contact and websites: us@gmail.com,

http://www.irembofoundation.org/

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Minister, Civil Rights Activist (1929–1968)

I created this image of Martin Luther King Jr. that was used to promote an event at Webster Groves Christian Church, honoring Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday January 21st ,2013 ”  An art opening in “The Gallery Within” Webster Groves Christian Church featured the storytelling art of four nationally recognized illustrators living in the St. Louis area. I was one of the illustrators. There was also talk by writer Patricia Mckissack. This image will be part of my one man show in this gallery which will include the portraits I created of many of inductees into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame Museum in Atlanta Georgia. My portraits were created for a traveling exhibit sponsored by Anheuser Busch that featured the inductees. Also included in this show will be illustrations that I created about the history of African Americans for various textbooks. I will also be showing other paintings and drawings , many that have a message about social justice. This opening will be at 4:00 pm on Sunday May 20, 2018.
The mission of  The Gallery Within -located in Webster Groves Christian Church aspires to play a role in the presentation of ideas through the visual arts and thus foster conversations about diversity, inclusiveness, activism, acceptance and social justice. We offer a presentation space for artists to challenge thinking around preconceptions surrounding those who are most marginalized in society. Our visions. Visitors will see artwork in various media including painting, works on paper, sculpture, fiber, and three dimensional works presented in a secure and attractive exhibition gallery with additional space for symposia, workshops, talks, readings and openings that allow artists to express their perspectives. Topics such as racism, poverty, health and wellness, justice and oppression will be explored in this gallery as we dialogue around the greater community in an ever-changing world. The Gallery Within was founded in 2010 under the direction of artists John Dyess and Carolyn Dixon Dyess.
The Gallery Within is located at 1300 W. Lockwood Avenue, St. Louis , Mo 63122.

The Gallery Within

“Good Negroes” Gallery Show

Webster Groves Christian Church, which is located near St.Louis,Missouri will have the art gallery opening of “Good Negroes” at 5:30 January 18,2016.This show will present the photography and art of four African American artists;  Below is the statement about the show.

Good Negroes Exhibition Statement

Over the past year, the St. Louis Metropolitan Region has become one of the national examples of racial and social dysfunction. There have been multiple public discussions about the place of race in St. Louis. Inevitably, one of the questions that is asked during those discussions is “Why can’t black people just be happy?” This is a loaded question. What do the people who usually ask this question mean by the word “happy?”

This exhibition seeks to take a look at what it means for black people in the region to “be happy.” The artists hope to address what happiness looks like, whether it is found through participation in protests, or in following the unwritten rules that serve as foundational for St. Louis in order to not make social or cultural waves.

We hope the works found in this exhibit spurs more open and honest dialogue that will help change our region for good.

“Happy” by Terrell Carter

“Hang Man” by Sean Frye

“Time to Move: Thinking About the North” by Najjar Abdul-Musawwir

“Ferguson October Justice for All March” by Denise Ward-Brown