Amid the global pandemic, BIG FIX Uganda has been moving forward with its plans to construct a new kennel building so we can better serve the animals of Northern Uganda. You can see a photo history of the building construction here.
The problem with a kennel building, says BIG FIX Uganda President Sarah Schmidt, is that it can tend to look like a prison. Therefore, as part of its World Animal Day celebration in Uganda, BIG FIX hosted a Kennel Art Contest, inviting artists from throughout the region to submit design ideas for kennel room art that would "create a relaxing and comforting place for dogs".
BIG FIX received many creative entries and hired the top artists to come and each decorate one kennel room. The result is a beautifully decorated kennel interior.
The problem with a kennel building, says BIG FIX Uganda President Sarah Schmidt, is that it can tend to look like a prison. Therefore, as part of its World Animal Day celebration in Uganda, BIG FIX hosted a Kennel Art Contest, inviting artists from throughout the region to submit design ideas for kennel room art that would "create a relaxing and comforting place for dogs".
BIG FIX received many creative entries and hired the top artists to come and each decorate one kennel room. The result is a beautifully decorated kennel interior.
Each artist also painted and decorated a dog bed (made from either a tyre, a wood pallet, or a plastic chair) and decorated it with blankets hand-picked by each artist from the Gulu Main Market, to match the room decor.
The Kennel Art Contest was judged by Mr. Ojok Simon Stephan, an art teacher at Ocer Campion Jesuit College Gulu. Although the scoring was tight between the top three entries, Odongkara Oscara Benjamin was awarded the top prize.
The contest's top 3 participants, Odongkara Oscar Benjamin, Ocaka Benard, and Babu Ojok, have been commissioned to create more artwork around the BIG FIX compound. This will include memorial portraits of 8 of the Comfort Dog Project dogs and guardians who have passed away since 2015. The 9th memorial portrait, of Mr. Alphonse Okot (former guardian of Comfort Dog Aber), will be painted by his son, Kilama Robert, who was one of the artists participating in the contest. Kilama Robert has also assumed guardianship of Aber.
We would love to show you the artwork in person and encourage you to plan a visit to BIG FIX Uganda. You can stay at our comfortable guesthouse, located steps away from Northern Uganda's only veterinary hospital. While with us, you can also visit TAKS Art Center in Gulu, which is a wonderful meeting place for local artists, and a place for them to showcase their talent. (Most of the artwork in the BIG FIX Guesthouse was painted by local artists and purchased from TAKS Art Center by a BIG FIX donor.)
To learn more about the artwork and why each artist thought their design would help to comfort future kennel occupants, you can watch their video interviews on BIG FIX Uganda's YouTube channel.
The Kennel Art Contest was judged by Mr. Ojok Simon Stephan, an art teacher at Ocer Campion Jesuit College Gulu. Although the scoring was tight between the top three entries, Odongkara Oscara Benjamin was awarded the top prize.
The contest's top 3 participants, Odongkara Oscar Benjamin, Ocaka Benard, and Babu Ojok, have been commissioned to create more artwork around the BIG FIX compound. This will include memorial portraits of 8 of the Comfort Dog Project dogs and guardians who have passed away since 2015. The 9th memorial portrait, of Mr. Alphonse Okot (former guardian of Comfort Dog Aber), will be painted by his son, Kilama Robert, who was one of the artists participating in the contest. Kilama Robert has also assumed guardianship of Aber.
We would love to show you the artwork in person and encourage you to plan a visit to BIG FIX Uganda. You can stay at our comfortable guesthouse, located steps away from Northern Uganda's only veterinary hospital. While with us, you can also visit TAKS Art Center in Gulu, which is a wonderful meeting place for local artists, and a place for them to showcase their talent. (Most of the artwork in the BIG FIX Guesthouse was painted by local artists and purchased from TAKS Art Center by a BIG FIX donor.)
To learn more about the artwork and why each artist thought their design would help to comfort future kennel occupants, you can watch their video interviews on BIG FIX Uganda's YouTube channel.