U Talk Features: Addressing Social Issues Through Art

Ancient Greeks believed the Muses, deities of song, dance, and memory, would give creativity, wisdom and insight to artists and thinkers. 

Art has been a part of human history way before that. Archaeologists believe they have discovered the world's oldest-known representational artwork: three wild pigs painted deep in a limestone cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi at least 45,500 years ago. That's just what we've found. Who knows what early hominids were creating.

It's a part of being human, evoking our imaginations to tell stories or share our deepest desires or fears.

Today we have Colleen Gray from Art for Aid, a nationally recognized project working on putting art supplies into the hands of students in remote communities.

And 'Segun Olude, a graphic designer and teacher who uses art to address social issues.

Modern-day generations of great thinkers and creators may never come to be if they are not provided with the proper resources, teaching, and encouragement. This is a reality for many Indigenous communities. The nationally recognizedArt For Aid Project, an I Love First Peoples program, works to put art into students' hands in remote communities by redistributing new and slightly used art supplies. Starting in Executive Director and artist Collen Gray's basement, the operation has grown large enough to warrant a shipping location.

"Indigenous students on Reserves have fewer advantages than non-Indigenous students in mainstream schools," says Gray. "Back in 2013, when I stumbled onto this giant gap in the education system in remote communities. As an Indigenous artist, I felt I owed myself to stand up and do something. The more I investigated, the more I discovered a significant lax in education in remote First Nation, Inuit, and Metis communities.

"Born and raised in Nigeria, Africa, 'Segun Olude is a graphic designer, university professor and storyteller here in Winnipeg.

When it comes to design, he's done everything from brochures, stamps for Canada Post and corporate identities. He taught graphic design at the University of Manitoba for 11 years. Also, He wrote a book about his Indigenous language background back in Nigeria.

"I wear many hats, but one at a time," said Olude. He started drawing when he was four years old back in Africa. Later, he got into a tech institution to study fine arts and now has a degree and two masters. Every year, he and his wife go to rural areas of Nigeria to teach community development and assist those in need.

Olude said he had many professors along the way. His interest in teaching came gradually, and he finally got the opportunity to pursue it in 2004."I really enjoy doing the work, going through the process, looking for solutions to each and every problem I encounter," he said.

According to him, the difference between graphic design and other arts is that there is no room for wrong interpretation when it comes to designing.

“Graphic design is always aiming to solve a problem or to bring forward a concept in a practical way,” added Olude.