The Art For Peace Exhibit was a momentous occasion sure to be remembered for years to come. The art was breathtaking! It was all the more awesome because it was done by former child soldiers and their teacher minister Dan Tumusiime. Through your generous giving, Dan was able to be present at the Community Celebration Art Opening, February 15, 2008.  Besides the live auction of artwork, there was delicious African food, traditional African dance, and drumming. Nearly two thousand dollars was raised to help the Ugandan orphans support themselves and their art.
 
Some of the distinguished supporters were City of Santa Barbara, Parks & Recreation. El Prado Inn, Peace of Wisdom Ministries, Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, Santa Barbara Dance Alliance, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Torchbearers Ministries, Silverander Communications, The Towbes Foundation, UCSB Center for Black Studies Research and the Black Studies Library.
 
The Art For Peace Exhibit was part of the month long celebration of the 9th Annual Santa Barbara African Heritage Film Series. Some of the award winning films that were shown to sold-out audiences included “War Dance”, with directors husband and wife team, Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine. The epic cinematography, enchanting music produced a beautiful documentary on Ugandan rescued child soldiers winning a national competition in traditional dance. “War Dance” was an Academy Award nominee for best documentary feature and won the Sundance Film Festival directing award among many others.

Director John Sayles’ film “Honey Dripper” starring Danny Glover, Gary Clark, Jr., Kep’Mo’, and others, won the best Independent or Foreign film at the NAACP Image Awards February 14, 2008. Other films and shorts moved us from laughter, to tears, never ceasing to provoke, inspire and entertain. Check out the sbahfs.org website for more details.

Keep your eyes open, because the “Art for Peace Exhibit is coming to Los Angeles in June 2008.  Yours truly, Raceal McWhorter, wants to continue to support the orphan artists in Uganda by having the exhibit travel throughout the United States and possibly sponsor, one or more of the young artists to visit the United States next year.

You can see some of the work available on Freedom’s Journal Website, order prints, or simply make a donation to “Art for Peace Exhibit” online at www.raceal.com or mail to Minister Raceal McWhorter, P.O. Box 17432, Encino, CA 91416, (818) 633-0393.