I taught art for 6 years without pay – Dominion MaryEne

Dominion MaryEne is a wife and mother who teaches and makes artworks. In this interview, she talks about her experiences and more. Excerpts:   But for the love of art, Dominion MaryEne would have trained as a nurse and probably be contributing her quota to the development of the medical institution in the country. MaryEne, […]

Dominion MaryEne is a wife and mother who teaches and makes artworks. In this interview, she talks about her experiences and more. Excerpts:

 

But for the love of art, Dominion MaryEne would have trained as a nurse and probably be contributing her quota to the development of the medical institution in the country.

MaryEne, a mother of three, today, however feels more fulfilled as an artist who depicts the complications of life through wood, colours, texture and symbolism. She has participated in exhibitions with themes such as ‘Dreams alive,’ ‘Life in my city’ and several other academic workshops after first acquiring a National Diploma in Fine Art at the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo. She then went for a degree program in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

A native of Otukpa district in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State, MaryEne started producing sculpted works as a freshman, during which she made a metal work titled ‘The dying horse,’ and several wood carvings, ‘The gods are not to blame,’ and other explorative mix media work using waste (on display in Donary studio) while also creating art pieces for various local businesses.

Currently a part-time teacher at the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, where she teaches sculpture and speaks on the role of art in the lives of humans, the mother of three combines these with her role in the home front as wife and mother.

On why she chooses the profession and whether it is profitable, she nodded but was quick to add that her love for art isn’t all about money.

“If you fix your eyes on money, you will be disappointed,” she said. “It’s the love and zeal I have for it that keeps me going. I had reasons to quit but couldn’t. I have been teaching for the past six years without pay, but I still teach art because I love it and it is part of me.

“I didn’t learn art in school. It only guided me and cleaned me up. If the skill is not in you, you can’t do it. I would have gone to a nursing school but for my love (for art),” she said.

MaryEne believes that her art would rule the world in a matter of time. At the moment, she dedicates more time to her infant children and is unable to dedicate enough time to her passion. These limitations notwithstanding, she strives to meet her clients’ deadlines in order to make them happy. She explained that the financial implications for those who want to venture into art depends largely on the area such person wants to major in, whether Fine Art, which has the painting section, sculpture, ceramics or Applied Art which consists of graphics, textile, photography, fashion and design, among others.

She emphasised, “you need money to be able to produce good works. People should be able to buy a painting that would pass the test of time. For example, the ‘Mona Lisa’ has existed for a long period of time due to the kind of material used and time spent on the work.”

MaryEne intends to take her talent as far as God enables her. “It’s not by my strength or power but by the spirit says the lord, as it is written in the Holy Bible,” she said.

At the moment, her major challenge is finance to be able to produce good art and enough time to do so since it requires a lot of attention. In the meantime, MaryEne said she can’t confidently refer to herself as a sculptor because she is still working at becoming one.

“It’s hard work and I just started my race. I have done models of human figures, relief works, wood carvings, among others. I use my art to depict the complications and challenges and to keep records of events in our environment using wood and waste as my medium. During COVID-19 lockdown, I did some line drawings to create awareness to the public,” she added.

MaryEne advised unemployed youth to put their talents to work, stressing that a lot still needs to be done to bring back the country’s past glory in the area of blacksmithing which can lead to broom making using banana leaves, also basket weaving, mats, wooden plates and spoons.