Children on the Edge to host Burmese art exhibition in Wellington
3. Potential
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