Children on the Edge to host Burmese art exhibit

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po+ten+tial n. 1. capacity for development 2. capable of being or becoming: a potential danger to safety. 3. someone or something that is considered a worthwhile possibility-charcoal and watercolour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2008

Children on the Edge to host Burmese art exhibition in Wellington

Shades of Burma – Exhibition by Saw Kennedy

Shades of Burma, an exhibition presented by Children on the Edge, features the work of Saw Kennedy, a refugee forced to flee Burma after facing oppression and persecution at the hands of the brutal Burmese military regime.

Shades of Burma, is a collection of Kennedy’s work depicting the story and life of the Burmese people, his people. The art focuses on their struggles, their fears, their courage, their hopes, their dreams and their fighting spirit. Images of life inside Burma focus on Cyclone Nargis survivors, the lives of the migrant, the internally displaced and the refugee.

Children on the Edge approached Kennedy in 2007 about exhibiting and selling his art to raise funds for the very children he too supports and loves.
“I am so happy and proud to exhibit my art in New Zealand. I want to share with New Zealanders the story of my country and our situation. I want to thank everyone for coming and for learning about Burma and for wanting to help our children.” Said Kennedy
An untrained artist, Kennedy’s attention to detail is remarkable, with many pieces being mistaken for photographs. The majority of Kennedys work is created using charcoal yet with a unique point of difference, a splash of colour is injected representing the individuality of the subject.

Shades of Burma, is proudly presented by Children on the Edge, in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the forgotten children of Burma. The exhibition can be viewed from the 11th Nov – 22nd Nov at the First Floor Gallery, St James Theatre, Courtney Place,
Wellington. Admission is free.

About Children on the Edge

Founded by the late Dame Anita Roddick, Children on the Edge is a dynamic organization committed to working on behalf of the marginalized and vulnerable children around the world.

Children on the Edge NZ was founded in 2006, their purpose, to help the forgotten children of Burma, by giving them a place of safety, free from war, oppression, persecution, hunger and child trafficking. See www.childrenontheedge.org.nz

Shelly Mansfield, National Manager said “We provide the children with schools and boarding houses and the support they need to just be kids and develop and grow without the burdens of war. We provide all their basic needs including drinking water, food, warm clothes, medical care, shelter, an education and much more.”

In addition to the schools and boarding houses Children on the Edge have also been providing aid inside Burma since the cyclone hit, under the radar away from the military in remote areas where other aid is still yet to reach.

ENDS