| 3 Scholars awarded $3000 | Meet our Liu Shiming Art Scholarship Winners! |
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We are so excited to announce that we have just awarded three incredible artists from Cameroon, South Africa, and Ghana the Liu Shining Art Scholarship in honor of the Chinese sculptor, Liu Shiming. Partnering with the Liu Shiming Art Foundation, we interviewed artists from all over the African continent to select three wonderful artists who are not only creating beautiful drawings, sculptures, and plays, but they are also giving back to their communities, by teaching art in prisons, painting elementary school walls, and teaching theatre to their communities. This Giving Tuesday, we are so proud to introduce you to Open Dreams scholar and tremendous artist, Cedric Chopbukuned, Ghanian scupltor - Kelvin Agyei, and the talented playwright and thespian - Phozisa Menyo from South Africa. Please help us to congratulate them on their well deserved scholarship. And to celebrate all of the incredible artists we got to meet through this process. Thanks to our three year partnership with the Liu Shiming Foundation, there is always next year to apply. This Giving Tuesday, please help make dreams like this come true. Support our 10th Year Anniversary Fund Now! |
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Cedric We are so honored to award Open Dreams scholar and renowned artist, Cedric Chopbukuned, the Liu Shiming Art Scholarship from Cameroon. Cedric is an exceptional artist studying at the University of Bamenda, who has drawn many a portrait of Open Dreams leaders, including a portrait of Aviva, the drawing above of the Women in Gold, and the drawing featured here of a young child holding the Open Dreams logo. He has taught art classes in prisons and hopes to use part of his scholarship to teach art in orphanages. Cedric also helps design flyers, t-shirts and sweatshirts for Open Dreams. Love his art? Then inquire about having him draw your portrait as part of our holiday auction! SEE MORE OF HIS WORK |
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"My artistic endeavors are driven by a deep-rooted desire to instigate positive change within my community and the broader world. Through my artwork, I aim to provoke thought, challenge perspectives, and inspire empathy, fostering a more understanding and compassionate society." - Phozisa Menyo, Liu Shiming Scholar, South Africa - |
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Phozisa Phozisa Menyo is a tremendous playwright and theatre actress studying Performing Arts: Theatre Arts and Design at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. She writes her own one woman plays and teaches theatre to those in her community. She is passionate about using her art to create social impact. She states that "through visually compelling and emotionally evocative pieces, I seek to engage viewers on a visceral level, encouraging them to reflect on critical issues and motivating them to become agents of change." She writes plays that address relevant and critical societal issues and aims to help bring art to underserved communities.
CONNECT WITH HER |
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"What I love most about sculpture is the tactile nature of it. I enjoy working with my hands, shaping and molding different materials to bring my ideas to life...Unlike other art forms, sculpture occupies physical space and can be viewed from various angles. I love how it involves people to interact with it and experience it in a more immersive way." - Kelvin Agyei, Liu Shiming Scholar, Ghana- |
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Kelvin Kelvin Agyei is an incredible sculptor and artist studying Fine Art Sculpture at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. He loves art because it allows him to express himself and unleash his creativity. Like Liu Shiming, he particularly loves sculpture because of its three dimensional nature that "has the power to evoke emotions, tell stories, and make a lasting impression on viewers." Kelvin also has done beautiful paintings and murals for local elementary schools and aspires "to create sculptures that evoke emotions, raise awareness, and inspire positive change." SEE KELVIN IN ACTION |
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A huge thank you to the Liu Shiming Foundation for believing in us and trusting us to find three such incredible artists and human beings to support through this powerful scholarship. We hope you will continue to follow their work, get your portrait drawn, and support Open Dreams this Giving Tuesday by donating to our 10th Anniversary Fund. Thanks for a very generous donor, all donations will be matched up to $5000!! |
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