For decades, citizens from the nation of Sudan have been relatively anonymous.
Because of famine, government oppression and horrible living conditions, inhabitants of the war-ravaged nation have virtually lost their identities.
But thanks in part to the creativity of James Slowik, a “semi-professional” sculptor from Jordan, the Sudanese people are on their way to regaining their faces. Slowik recently completed work on a sculpture called “The Faceless of Darfur,” which symbolizes the citizens' struggles to overcome oppression.
Slowik's sculpture is currently featured in a raffle presented by the Skaneateles area branch of the American Association of University Women.
The raffle will continue through May 2008.
All proceeds will be donated to the Duk Lost Boys Clinic, a medical center recently erected in Duk County, Sudan.
The construction of the facility was spearheaded by a task force that includes numerous Skaneateles-area residents.
“This raffle is another example of neighbors helping neighbors,” said Susan Wolstenholme, AAUW program committee member and organizer of the fundraiser.
The Duk Lost Boys include 57 Sudanese citizens who emigrated from Duk County in 2001. Five of those refugees now reside in Syracuse, including John Dau, who first proposed constructing the clinic to a Skaneateles-based foundation in 2004. The proposal was accepted, and the seven-room clinic was completed in April. But Wolstenholme said that funds to pay for the facility's operation are still sorely needed.
“We're finding ways to make a difference. ... Our raffle is another way for people from this area to help out,” she said.
Enter Slowik, who after finishing his “Darfur” sculpture to aid another organization assisting the people of Darfur - another Sudanese village - found out the organization had scrapped its fundraising efforts.
Wolstenholme said that she encountered Slowik on the campus of Cayuga Community College in Auburn, where the two are both instructors, and Slowik told her the story behind the sculpture.
“It seemed like perfect timing. ... That's how the raffle came about,” she said.
Slowik's journey to creating the sculpture is in itself an interesting tale.
A science teacher for many years at East Syracuse-Minoa High School, Slowik received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Syracuse University.
“While I was at SU, I took a course called Sculpture for Non-Majors, and I did pretty well,” he said from his CCC office, where he teaches anatomy, physiology and biology.
He began selling his creations several years ago, most of which are bronze and faux marble sculptures. The “Faceless of Darfur” piece took him about two weeks to complete, he said.
“It's made from earthenware, and it has all sorts of symbolism related to the plight of the Sudanese people,” he explained.
For example, the work is stained with a neutral brown color to represent their anonymity.
“I did some research, and I learned that people in Darfur usually wear bright colors ... so the sculpture's in earth tones to show them as ‘people of the earth,' ” he said.
A riveting feature is the bones scattered next to the figure in the piece.
“Again, that's to show the plight of the people, and the bloodshed they've had to endure,” he added.
The raffle will continue until May 3, when a winner will be chosen in a drawing at the AAUW's annual Issues at Breakfast event at Skaneateles Country Club. Meanwhile, the sculpture is on display at Lucas Gallery, 33 Jordan St., Skaneateles.
“Our goal is to raise $1,000 (from the raffle), but we're hoping for maybe twice that,” Wolstenholme said.
To learn more
What: American Association of University Women's “The Faceless of Darfur” sculpture raffle
Where: Sculpture can be viewed and tickets can be purchased at Lucas Gallery, 33 Jordan St., Skaneateles
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Raffle Tickets: $2 each, three for $5, or eight for $10, can be purchased at Lucas Gallery.
For more information, call Lucas Gallery at 291-3116, or visit www.lucasgalleryonline.com
But thanks in part to the creativity of James Slowik, a “semi-professional” sculptor from Jordan, the Sudanese people are on their way to regaining their faces. Slowik recently completed work on a sculpture called “The Faceless of Darfur,” which symbolizes the citizens' struggles to overcome oppression.
Slowik's sculpture is currently featured in a raffle presented by the Skaneateles area branch of the American Association of University Women.
The raffle will continue through May 2008.
All proceeds will be donated to the Duk Lost Boys Clinic, a medical center recently erected in Duk County, Sudan.
The construction of the facility was spearheaded by a task force that includes numerous Skaneateles-area residents.
“This raffle is another example of neighbors helping neighbors,” said Susan Wolstenholme, AAUW program committee member and organizer of the fundraiser.
The Duk Lost Boys include 57 Sudanese citizens who emigrated from Duk County in 2001. Five of those refugees now reside in Syracuse, including John Dau, who first proposed constructing the clinic to a Skaneateles-based foundation in 2004. The proposal was accepted, and the seven-room clinic was completed in April. But Wolstenholme said that funds to pay for the facility's operation are still sorely needed.
“We're finding ways to make a difference. ... Our raffle is another way for people from this area to help out,” she said.
Enter Slowik, who after finishing his “Darfur” sculpture to aid another organization assisting the people of Darfur - another Sudanese village - found out the organization had scrapped its fundraising efforts.
Wolstenholme said that she encountered Slowik on the campus of Cayuga Community College in Auburn, where the two are both instructors, and Slowik told her the story behind the sculpture.
“It seemed like perfect timing. ... That's how the raffle came about,” she said.
Slowik's journey to creating the sculpture is in itself an interesting tale.
A science teacher for many years at East Syracuse-Minoa High School, Slowik received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Syracuse University.
“While I was at SU, I took a course called Sculpture for Non-Majors, and I did pretty well,” he said from his CCC office, where he teaches anatomy, physiology and biology.
He began selling his creations several years ago, most of which are bronze and faux marble sculptures. The “Faceless of Darfur” piece took him about two weeks to complete, he said.
“It's made from earthenware, and it has all sorts of symbolism related to the plight of the Sudanese people,” he explained.
For example, the work is stained with a neutral brown color to represent their anonymity.
“I did some research, and I learned that people in Darfur usually wear bright colors ... so the sculpture's in earth tones to show them as ‘people of the earth,' ” he said.
A riveting feature is the bones scattered next to the figure in the piece.
“Again, that's to show the plight of the people, and the bloodshed they've had to endure,” he added.
The raffle will continue until May 3, when a winner will be chosen in a drawing at the AAUW's annual Issues at Breakfast event at Skaneateles Country Club. Meanwhile, the sculpture is on display at Lucas Gallery, 33 Jordan St., Skaneateles.
“Our goal is to raise $1,000 (from the raffle), but we're hoping for maybe twice that,” Wolstenholme said.
To learn more
What: American Association of University Women's “The Faceless of Darfur” sculpture raffle
Where: Sculpture can be viewed and tickets can be purchased at Lucas Gallery, 33 Jordan St., Skaneateles
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Raffle Tickets: $2 each, three for $5, or eight for $10, can be purchased at Lucas Gallery.
For more information, call Lucas Gallery at 291-3116, or visit www.lucasgalleryonline.com
