Residen artist Djibo Art brings fresh approach to art and education to Sacrewell Farm, near Thornhaugh
Sacrewell’s new resident artist Roland Burt - aka Djibo Art - is on a mission to help us look at art and education in a different light.
Roland opened Djibo Island in a Sacrewell barn in February.
Set up in a barn, his studio comes complete with two rum shacks, pianos - including one converted into a bar - and DJs House of Soul.
“It’s like another world which is exactly what I wanted,” said Peterborough-based Roland.
“We didn’t want it to be like a cathedral where you look at art quietly.
"We play jazz, Cuban, African and Caribbean music - sounds you won’t have heard anywhere else before."
As well as showcasing his art and homeware, Roland offers educational workshops, and his teaching is not limited to art.
"I can teach a child the basics of the alphabet using a clothes peg," he said.
“All I’m doing is what my parents taught me as a child - that you don’t need fancy equipment to learn.
"They taught me art using a comb, a clothes peg and a fork."
Roland also prides himself on an unorthodox approach to his art which features a blend of Yorkshire, African and Caribbean influences.
Some paintings are created from combs and make-up, while subjects can be brought to life by the alphabet.
“I can teach my audience how to create pieces of artwork using letters and numbers," he explained.
“At first look you might think it’s an ordinary African painting, but every image is letters and numbers.
"I can teach you how to draw an elephant with four letters.
“There is nothing about me that is conventional. I don’t like following the crowd. I like them to follow me."
Having grown up in North Yorkshire, Roland has arrived at Sacrewell after much globe-trotting, including a spell working for the president of Bulgaria.
He moved to Peterborough six years ago with ambitions to teach disadvantaged children and those with health and life problems.
And Roland already feels at home enough in his latest venture to lay down long-term plans at the heritage farm and country centre.
“Djibo was my pet name as a child - it means many lights and I think that comes through in my artwork," he added.
“I'm not here for five minutes. I want to pass on my heritage and my heritage is in my artwork."
