Paint me a Song – Raising Funds for Disabled Kids in Bali

(1/21/2010)

Music and Art Combine in Bali

For the first time in Asia, world famous artist Theos M.B. Sijrier will paint a 6 meter x 2 meter canvas to the musical accompaniment of live music from the Moko Blues Band in an evening of unusual musical and artistic performance in Ubud on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

At the end of the evening, the painting will be sub-divided into smaller pieces which will be signed and sold on the night with the proceeds from the evening going to the disabled children's unit planned at the Sunrise School in Kerobokan, near Kuta in Bali.

This unusual fund-raising event will take place on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at Mannekepis - Live Blues and Jazz Bistro in Seminyak starting at 9 pm..

Like Theos, Yannic van Meckeren , the owner of Mannekepis, finds his inspiration for what he creates in jazz and blues. It is on stage at Mannekepis, where the two men first met and found common ground in their passion for live music and art and decided to combine their skills and talents to give back to the community.

Theos M.B. Sijrier

Theos M.B Sijrier hails from Rotterdam Holland and is known for his Action Painting. The unique feature of his abstract expressionist art is that he paints to the live performances of musicians, dancers and stage actors alike - presenting a synthesis of the visual and the performing arts. This has gained him the reputation of being "the King of Action Painting."

After studying in Rotterdam and Antwerp, he made his way to New York where he met and worked together with world famous artists such as Jackson Pollock, the expressionists Willem de Kooning and Joseph Beuys.

His work can be found in the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco, the Clemens-Sells Museum and the Winckelmann Museum.

Mannekepis and Its Owner

Yannic Van Meckeren hails from Belgium. After 30 years in the restaurant business in Belgium he moved to Bali to open Mannekepis - a Belgian live jazz and blues bistro.

The current charity event featuring Theos and the Moko Blues Band is the first of its kind. Yannic plans to organize three or four similar events a year, claiming he wants to give back to the community and help those who can not help themselves, by raising awareness through music and art and raising funds at the same time.

Yayasan MACK

The disable children's unit is the initiative of Yayasan MACK who have been involved in social and educational programs for the last 10 years. The disabled children's unit will be a school for children with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spinal bifida, muscular dystrophy and Down syndrome.

There are over 60.000 disabled people in Bali, many of them children. Currently it is difficult to find appropriate schooling, therapy and support for not only the children but the families who care for them.

The disabled children's unit will provide free schooling and therapy for up to 40 children and will teach independence skills, provide physical therapy, help with speech difficulties and provide social opportunities.

Lands and a building plan are in hand, all that remains is to secure the funds to build the unit.

Free entrance, delicious food, excellent music and an amazing artistic performance – all await on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

For reservations and information about the event contact Mannekepis at: +62 (0)361 8475784 or +62(0)81933096750.