Ruddy Tuneeko is not your ordinary site worker. Underneath his worn
coveralls and dirty gloves there is a talented artist. Strongly rooted in his
Namibian culture, Ruddy proudly represents his African country through his
beautiful works of art.
Ruddy is one of four artists recently accepted into the 2015
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Artist in Residency Program.
The Wood Buffalo Artist in Residency program provides
opportunities for a blend of emergent and mid-career artists, to create,
explore, learn, and exchange ideas and insights within a multi-disciplinary
environment. The residency provides artists with short-term working space, $500
in materials, a $2,000 honourarium, and the opportunity to participate in a
group exhibition.
This year, the Artist in Residency studio is at the Keyano Theatre
and Arts Centre. During the program, artists will host Open Houses, Artist
Talks, and Community Engagement opportunities for citizens and visitors of Wood
Buffalo. Upon completion of the program, the artists’ final works will be
showcased in a group exhibition within the MacDonald
Island
Community Strategies Coordinator, Michael Beamish, recently had
the opportunity to interview, Ruddy, about his art, life and inspirations.
Michael Beamish: Thank you
for meeting with me today Ruddy.
Ruddy Tuneeko: My
pleasure.
Michael Beamish: So how
long have you lived in Canada?
Ruddy Tuneeko:
In October it will be five years. I lived in Toronto for three years then moved
to Timmins, Ontario to work as a labourer in a Detour mine (gold mine). After
the contract ended I moved to Calgary where I worked as a painter doing
renovations. Then I moved to Fort McMurray last August to work at CNRL. I call
it home here.
MB: What made
you come up to Fort McMurray, was it just for the work or do you have friends
up here?
RT: I had a
friend here, working in camp, and he said “Hey man move up” so I did. I was in
McMurray for two months till I got this job. I love it.
MB: You work
with a good group of people?
RT: Oh yeah. I
meet different people from different countries, different cultures. We come
together as family, it’s nice.
MB: So you are
originally from Namibia, Africa?
RT: Yes, it is
in the south part of Africa.
MB: What is
life like in Namibia?
RT: Life in
Namibia is good if you have money. It’s a good country, peaceful, nice people,
different cultures, nice weather.
MB: Did you
grow up in the countryside or the city?
RT: Half, half.
I was in a village then the city.
MB: What is
life like in the village?
RT: Village
life is okay. You don’t have electricity but you get used to it. Life there is
about the natural environment and it’s nice there because you are surrounded by
nature. The woods are there, you get water from the well. In the village we
would make sculptures out of recycled wire and clay. Back home we do not have a
lot so we have to be creative and find our materials. Back home I was the best
and tourists would buy my work. In the village there is not a lot to do but
look after the cows so in my free time I would create art.
MB: So you
would create a lot of wire sculptures, did you do paintings as well?
RT: Yeah, yeah.
MB: What kind
of paints did you work with?
RT: I used
acrylics, spray paint, oils, and mix media. I love mixing materials. I love
creativity and they say you cannot do art without creativity. So everyone
should support creativity. I love to mix stuff my own way. They use to call me
back home the “crazy boy” because I use to do my own thing. One day I wanted to
charge my car battery so I created a windmill and connected it to the
alternator. When the windmill was blowing it turned the alternator and gave
power to the battery. Everyone thought that I was crazy but it worked.
MB: What was
the windmill made out of?
RT: Paper.
MB: Who
inspired you or taught you to do art? Or were you just always creative?
RT: I do not
know how art came to me. It’s something that I was born with. Whenever I was around
somebody who was creating art or even just working with their hands I would
stop and watch them and it would inspire me. Also people would tell me that I
had talent and that would motivate me. Most of the time I was drawing but if
you can draw you can paint too. My family and friends supported me and encourage
me to go to school for art so I went. I studied for three years and graduated
with a diploma. My family supported me in many ways, they would come and buy
some of my pieces. Whether they liked it or not I do not know but it encouraged
me to keep doing it. After school I wanted to give back to the children of my
community, plus I love kids, so in my free time I would show children how to
draw and paint. Often we would draw using charcoal because we didn’t have much
in materials. Sometimes we would collect wood or boxes then we would paint or
draw on them or create sculptures, it was nice.
MB: Is your father
artistic as well?
RT: No my father
was a builder, he built houses. He used to be a house painter too. I use to
work with him and I would mix his paints.
MB: Do you have
a favourite piece that you have created?
RT: Oh yeah,
which one now… My painting, How Much Can
I Pay to Live Life, I love that one.
MB: Does each
painting you create have a story attached to them?
RT: Yeah,
because most of the paintings I do are inspired from my background. The thing
is I know where I come from but I don’t know where I am going, but no matter
what happens I always want to keep my culture and my heritage.
MB: What is the
story behind How Much Can I Pay to Live
Life?
RT: That
painting represents me. No matter where you go you have to pay to live. I
support my family back home and that painting gives me the courage to work hard
to provide for my family. When I work hard I pay for the life of my family. So
that is why it’s called How Much Do I
Have to Pay to Live.
MB: That is a
big responsibility.
RT: Exactly.
The thing is when I was growing up I did not have that much in life. So when I
had my son he inspired me to work hard. I changed my friends and I changed my
life. At that time my money was my money and I did not care about anybody else but
when my son was born I had to buy milk and diapers. One day I said, “Come on Ruddy,
you have to take responsibility for your son”. He is the reason I wake up every
morning and go to work, to support him, and my family. I have to pay for my
life and his life too.
MB: With each
painting does the story come first then the painting follows?
RT: Yes.
MB: So every
painting is an expression of something you have experienced in your life?
RT: Yes
exactly. Sometimes you can draw anything you want but then you come to a point
where you want to create something that makes you happy so I paint a story or
anything that had happened to me. Also I love nature, it makes me feel at home
which is why I like to depict nature in my work.
MB: Besides
your family what else do you miss about home?
RT: The
community. I miss the children I use to give classes to. My friends. The
animals.
MB: What is
your goal for the Residency?
RT: I want to
bring something different.
MB: Like
showcasing a piece of Namibia
RT: Exactly. I was looking for this
opportunity for so long. I want to expose myself. I am not only going to
represent myself but I also want to represent my country as well. I want to do
something different, it is going to be a surprise. I want to say thank you to
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the AIR Program for giving me
this opportunity to show myself and my country to the Fort McMurray community.
I want to make a connection between Africa and Wood Buffalo.
MB: What do you
enjoy most about life in Canada?
RT: Especially
here in Fort McMurray I enjoy the opportunity to make a living. For me I have
two lives: my life here and my life back home. Life is what you make it, you
can make a good life here.
MB: Do you want
to bring your son here?
RT: Yes one day
but first I want him to grow-up in his culture so he knows too where he comes
from.
MB: Thank very
much for the interview and I am excited to see your work.
RT: Thank you.
If you would
like to meet Ruddy and see his work please visit the AIR Open Houses:
June 20th,
July 4th, 25th, August 8th and 22nd,
2pm-6pm, at Keyano Theatre and Art Centre, Studio AC132.
