Tanzania will be closer to State College than ever.

Tonight, artwork by Tanzanian artists Paulo William and Amos Moses Sumari will be just 15 miles from State College in Millheim for the public to enjoy.

It is their first American exhibition, titled Bega Kwa Bega; however, the artists are unable to travel to America because of expenses.

"We want it to be a celebration in their honor, even though they're not going to be there," said Marla Jaksch, a lecturer in Women's Studies.

Jaksch describes the style of the 31 paintings as a combination of abstract and traditional Tanzanian. She says some are very traditional, but others are "stepping away from the traditional art of landscape, or Masai [a tribe], or animals."

The exhibition, at 102 W. Main St., in Millheim, is open to the public, and people of all ages are encouraged to stop by any time between 6 and 10 p.m. to enjoy a DJ, refreshments and a slide show of images from Tanzania.

Jaksch led a group of students earlier this summer in Tanzania as a part of Women's Studies 497A (Feminism, Art and Global Activism). The group of 16 students and five faculty members traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, in Africa from June 6 to June 27. While there, students taught classes on a variety of subjects and completed other service learning projects at the United African Alliance Community Center (UAACC).

William, 33, and Sumari, 22, are both teachers at the UAACC and are part of an artist's collective to preserve Tanzanian culture.

The name of tonight's exhibit, Bega Kwa Bega, Swahili for "shoulder to shoulder," is also the name of the collective that works through art and community service projects. The projects include using indigenous building methods and replanting native trees to curb the pressure on natives to become more globalized, Jaksch said.

"They have a mantra: 'Each one, teach one.' That is the Tanzanian way," Jaksch said.

She explained that everyone has something to learn and something to teach.

She added that the young Tanzanian artists are trying to mold their lives, much like young Americans.

"The artwork is fabulous," she added. "It was made by young people trying to carve out an existence just like the young people here, trying to create an identity and live out their dreams."

Jennifer Difilippo (senior-elementary education) said the experience was too much for words.

"The best part about [the art] is that they were people we actually met," she said.

An art auction was held in Milheim in March by the Empowerment Through the Arts in Pennsylvania to fund the June trip. Jaksch believes it to be a culmination of the efforts from many different resources.

"Any sort of program like this required a lot of people in the community coming together," Jasksch said. "This is a celebration of that."