On Saturday evening, August 12, from 5-9:30pm, the Duncan McClellan Gallery will host its monthly art walk celebration, with free glassblowing demonstrations, live jazz, a gourmet food truck and cash bar. Proceeds from this month’s beverage sales and donations will help fund “NoKumbaya”, a local, non profit charitable organization whose members believe that they can serve humanity by working for the benefit of others, not “just” singing around a campfire.
It’s medical mission volunteers serve in many capacities during their annual trips abroad, setting up free clinics which administer a wide range of health care and screenings to remote populations. Duncan and Irene McClellan have supported NoKumbaya for the past four years, and in the summer of 2016 were fortunate enough to be able to sponsor as well as volunteer on a medical mission to a remote village in Belize.
Duncan McClellan recounts that the trip was “eye opening” regarding the lack of resources and materials available to meet the daily basic needs of the native population. During that mission, while the volunteer Doctors and Nurses gave full check ups, (including eye exams, pre-natal care, worming and screening for diseases), Duncan and Irene designed and facilitated an art project with the town’s children which distracted them while worming medicine took effect. In addition to medical care, the group dispenses a year’s worth of vitamins to each village they visit, in the belief that basic health fosters children’s ability to learn and grow successfully.
NoKumbaya has been able to run missions to some of the most remote areas of the world. These include Salem, India; a village deep in the Amazon, and our current focus, Belize. In southern Belize they visit local schools twice a year and annually run a full medical clinic in Red Bank, a small Mayan village deep in the Belizian jungle. Every penny raised goes to buying medications and providing medical care to the people visiting the clinics. It is sobering to consider that amounts often spent for routine items in the US can provide the following:
$22 provides a daily vitamin to 100 children for 10 days
$27 provides 16 lice treatments
$50 treats 500 children for intestinal parasites
$53 treats 250 adults for scabies
“Nokumbaya works because everyone with a heart to help is welcome to participate and heartfully welcomed by those we serve. In short, it’s fun!” says NoKumbaya accountant Danell Deberg. Nokumbaya, Limited is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. All contributions are tax deductible for state and federal taxes. For further information, go to nokumbaya.com.
The Duncan McCle
llan Gallery, located in St. Petersburg Florida, features rotating exhibitions showcasing nationally and internationally recognized glass artists. With 3,000 square feet of gallery spaces and 5,000 square feet of outdoor courtyards and lushly planted sculpture gardens, the grounds are a sought-after event and meeting place for glass artists, visiting dignitaries and the community. For more information visit: www.dmglass.com.
The DMG School Project provides educational opportunities to both artist and students while contributing to the development of glass art as a creative medium in St Petersburg and the international glass art scene. Since its Grand Opening in January of 2013, the DMG School Project has demonstrated Glassblowing to over 10,000 delighted viewers. For more information visit www.dmgschoolproject.org.
The Duncan McClellan Gallery is located in the Warehouse Art District at 2342 Emerson Ave S.St Petersburg, FL 33712