COLORS OF CAMEROONIAN LIFE - ART EXHIBIT LAUNCHES SEPTEMBER 21 AT TAGINE GALLERY

"Colors of Cameroonian Life," featuring paintings by disabled artist Issek, will open in New York this weekend, September 21 with a free cocktail reception. Proceeds from the exhibit's sales will go towards HandiArt Issek, the school that Issek runs in Cameroon to provide others in the disabled community with an opportunity to learn how to make a living through the arts.

NEW YORK (PRWEB) September 21, 2003 -- Fine art dealer Jega International today announced the Colors of Cameroonian Life" exhibit at Tagine Dining Gallery, featuring paintings by Issek. The exhibit will be on view from September 21 through November 2 at the Tagine Dining Gallery, 537 Ninth Avenue, between 39th and 40th Streets, in New York City. An opening reception will be held on September 21 at the Tagine Gallery from 4-6 PM.

Textural and vibrant, Isseks paintings are a heartfelt testimony to his triumphant spirit. Growing up disabled in a small village in Cameroon, a country in Western Africa, Issek turned a desolate situation into a social mission, teaching himself and others like him to support themselves through artistic expression. While many of the physically challenged in Cameroon live on the streets and are forced to beg for money, Issek insisted on earning a living for himself. Shining shoes at a local hotel, he saved money for art lessons and worked to fine-tune his talent.

Today, Issek is an internationally exhibited artist who has won several awards, including the Gold Medal for Painting at the National Festival of Arts in Limbe, Cameroon. In 1997, Issek launched HandiArt Issek. Part school, part human rights organization, and part safe house, HandiArt Issek provides Cameroons disabled community with the tools, education, and financial support they need to make a living through the arts. In 1998, the governor of the Adamaoua Province officially inaugurated Isseks school. The exhibition of Isseks paintings in New York marks an important step in bringing the painters art and message to a global audience.

Jega International is the organizer of the event. The opening reception is open to the public. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. For more information, please contact Josh Ofrane of Jega International at 646-644-0461, or josh@jegainternational.com. To view Issek's work, visit http://www.jegainternational.com/art.

About Jega International
Blending a love for fine art with a dedication to social responsibility, Jega International is a fine art dealer with a focus on developing countries. Inspired by a trip to Cameroon and a meeting with Issek, the founders of Jega saw the need to connect the international art community to the developing world. Today, Jega brings an exclusive selection of fine art to the Western world, while providing talented artists in Cameroon and other developing countries with access to buyers on a global level. Jega is committed to providing fair compensation to the artists it presents for their work, and reinvesting in their communities through contributions to local projects, grassroots organizations, and non-profit groups. A portion of the profits from the Colors of Cameroonian Life Exhibit" will be reinvested in HandiArt Issek. For more information, visit http://www.jegainternational.com.
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