If you are in need of a little hope and joy as the year winds down, and if you’re looking to support a great cause, then you need to visit the Pieces of Our Dream exhibition. It’s taking place at the Trumpet at the Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank, Johannesburg, over the next two weeks and is a complete treat. This moving showcase, a collaboration between community projects Ojiji and the Little Artists School, is the culmination of months of hard work by a group of inner-city children and artist facilitators.
Ojiji, an organisation started by the very passionate Diana Richards in 2023, is a platform that aims to empower African artists and children by exhibiting their work through a variety of mediums, supported by local and international partners, including private companies and individuals.
Richards works side by side with a truly special project in Braamfontein called the Little Artists School. It’s been working tirelessly in the inner city for nearly three decades to keep city kids inspired, safe, occupied and off the streets in the afternoons. They also get a meal before they head off home and back into the busy CBD.
Little Artists was started by artist Edward Selematsela, who saw how important art can be and the opportunities it can offer. Several of his past students, many of whom still volunteer at the organisation, have gone on to become artists and train at acclaimed institutions like the Artist Proof Studio.
The exhibition itself includes work by the kids and professional artist facilitators like Lucas Kumba, Sbusiso Mendlula and Hendrick Kgosana. Most exciting are the works where the little creatives have collaborated with the established artists, expressing their future hopes and dreams. These include becoming an astronaut, a farmer and photographer.
We’ve spent time with the children and the team both at the project in Braamfontein and at the exhibition, where the youngsters proudly showed us their work hanging on the walls. And we can say with absolute certainty that you don’t want to miss this fabulous, heartwarming show.
‘Pieces of Our Dream’ is on until November 14 at the Trumpet, Keyes Art Mile. For more info visit Ojiji.africa or check out @africa.ojiji and @littleartistsschoolproject on Instagram.
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