FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Musa Barrow
12 July 2008
The Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah Memorial Foundation, in collaboration with the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), on Friday, 30 May, 2008, commenced a week- long exhibition of the works of the late Gambian master artist Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah.
The exhibition which is being staged at Alliance Franco- Gambienne at Kairaba Avenue is also showcasing the works of other Gambian artists, namely Jean Pierre Sambou, a sculptor, and Amadou Barry, a painter, as part of the fulfilling one of the objectives of the Foundation to support the Art and Artists.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the chairman of the function, Mr. Ousman Sillah, a brother to the late artist and a Foundation member, started by asking the gathering to stand and observe a minute silence, in memory of the late Baboucarr M. Gaye, a founding member of the Foundation.
Mr. Sillah described the late Baboucarr Gaye, who passed away late last year, as an indefatigable founding member, who has expended his ideas, time and resources to the services of the Foundation in order to ensure that it is established and up running. He said that Mr. Gaye will be difficult to replace and will never be forgotten.
Mr. Sillah told the gathering that the exhibition is organized to commemorate the second anniversary of the demise of the late artist, Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah, and to coincide with the Roots Homecoming Festival, an event which, as he said Ebou had made tremendous contributions in terms of both content and perspective.
In declaring the exhibition open on behalf of the Chairman Mr. Alieu Jallow, an executive board member of the Foundation, Dr. Badou Senghore, outlined the activities being carried out by the Foundation since its establishment, a year ago. He highlighted the need to strengthen the capacity of the Foundation to recruit staff to run the day to day affairs of its administration on a permanent basis. Dr. Senghore said there are some issues that need to be addressed in order to notch up the objectives of the foundation. He, however, noted that efforts are being made to recruit a permanent staff for the foundation.
Dr. Senghore remarked that despite those challenges, significant achievements have been registered by the foundation. He said the foundation with the support of the NCAC is running an art gallery at the Arch 22 in Banjul which opens from Monday to Saturday and is being managed by the widow of the late master Artist, Jorr Bah. Dr Senghore added that the foundation has been able to print and market some of the art works, some of which are also designed and printed for sale.
As one of the achievements of the foundation, Dr. Senghore announced the recent launch of the website which could be accessed at 'www.Gambiaartcomrade.gm'. He said that the website will be regularly updated.
Dr. Senghore expressed the Foundation's desire to use art as a tool of education which he said had been one of the cardinal principles of the late comrade Sillah.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Baba Sillah, the vice chairman of the Executive board, spoke at length on the aims and objectives of the Foundation. Mr. Sillah further paid tribute to the late Baboucarr Gaye, ex- member of the foundation, whom he described as a hero. He said that the Foundation is coming up with a fitting activity to keep the memory of Baboucarr Gaye alive.
Friday 30 may to Friday 6th June is open for public viewing of the works of Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah and it is opened from 9am to 7pm daily.
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