Lessons from mobile art school

Every Saturday afternoon, and a group of students at Rev Githirwa Secondary School, Naivasha get their hands dirty while their colleagues are resting or at games.

With paints and brushes, they work to produce beautiful artwork that is hard to get from schools nowadays, especially after art and craft were removed from the curriculum.

The students of Rev Githirwa have joined others in Naivasha and Laikipia districts to exploit their artistic talents with help from mobile art teachers.

On Saturdays and Sundays, the teachers from the Mobile Art Schools of Kenya (Mask) project visit the budding artists to help them hone their skills.

Mask is a charity founded by Alla Tkachuk in Laikipia in 2003. Alla is now based in the UK.

One of the teachers, John Githiri, said he got involved in the project while he was a student at the University of Nairobi. He had visited a motel where he saw a painting that captured his attention.

“I asked the staff who had painted the piece and whether they could give me her contacts so that I could challenge her,” said Mr Githiri. This marked a partnership with Alla who later recruited other volunteers who teach the young artists.

Chip in

Mask often contributes the drawing materials but the school heads also chip in. Today, there are 15 art clubs in primary and secondary schools in Laikipia and Naivasha districts.

Lifestyle visited Lake Naivasha and Rev Githirwa secondary schools, where artists have benefited from the Mask project.

Mr Githiri had a lesson with the Art club Students. Although he teaches geography and religious studies at Lake Naivasha Secondary School, he volunteers to teach the artists at the two schools.

“Think of shapes, name a shape you know, if you so wish, get a background and go ahead and paint,” he tells his students. He uses drumbeat to “motivate the young artists to think of shapes to paint”.

One of the artists, Jane Eyen, a Form One student, seemed to draw and paint with ease. “I know with art I can earn a living when I complete school,” said the girl, who loves painting animals.

Simon Kamau, the chairman of the Art Club at the school, said he feels happy when I paints.

“I think it is good that it is no longer examinable. Since there is no pressure of tests, it becomes enjoyable,” he said.