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December at
a glance
NEW, NOW & NEXT @ GREATMORE STUDIOS
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Reflections of a Thupelo workshop at Rorke’s drift TAG takes a peep at Jill Trappler’s diary to reveal the highlights of this year’s historic artists’ workshop in Kwa Zulu Natal…(read more)
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Thandeka Njoli back on the wheel TAG takes 2 minutes to say good-bye to a faithful member of the family at Greatmore Studios …(read more)
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My little Pink Bag Stories French artist visiting Greatmore Studios, Fred Koenig performs at the Cape Lab…(read more)
EXPERIENCE IT
OPPORTUNITIES IN RESIDENCY, COMPETITIONS & EXHBITION OPPORTUNITIES
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The
Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten calls for artists to apply for
residency in 2008 Amsterdam
…(read
more)
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Kuona Trust invites women artists to apply for an International Women’s Workshop Kenya…(read more)
EDITOR’S LETTER
From the desk at Greatmore Studios in Cape Town, TAG would like to wish all our readers across the globe, a very rich and meaningful festive season. To all the talented artists who took the time this year to visit our studios and create, the stories we shared, the laughter and tears enriched us all. Stay connected. To our members of the board and supporting staff, thank you for your constructive comments and enthusiasm throughout the year. Greatmore Studios would also like to wish two resident artists to the studios, Norman O’ Flynn and Anthony Cawood who will be leaving us in the New Year, the very best of success in their careers. It has been an eventful year with two Thupelo workshops. Thank you to all our sponsors who kindly support the arts, we look forward to deepening our relationships in the future and ever expanding our programmes in and beyond the studios. A special thank you goes out to our phenomenal administrative team, Andre and Celina.Thank you once again for keeping all our books in order and maintaining a level of sanity in a whirl of art activities.
Mid November the Studios were privileged to be the host venue for a Barloworld Artworks AGM that saw CEO of BASA (Business & Arts South Africa), Nicola Danby and director of Barloworld Mentoring programme, Diana Williams, address a pool of local businesses and art organizations. Barloworld in association with BASA has started an important conversation in the nation that encourages art organizations to equip themselves with business skills through association with established businesses. For more information on BASA and its initiatives please visit www.basa.co.za. Art remains a dynamic practice that seeks to infiltrate every echelon of society and this month we are particularly excited about Kuona Trust’s initiative for an International Women’s Workshop. More women particularly those of colour should be encouraged to participate in art making- to all interested women artists please apply!!
We hope you will all join us when our studios reopen on 8 January 2007 (the studios will close from 22 December 2006). While some of us may be retiring for the year our trustees seem to still be filled with energy and gusto to work!This month sees Lionel Davis exhibit Conversations In Four Parts at the Mandela Gateway at the Waterfront.Garth Erasmus also one of our trustees for Thupelo will continue working on his murals at the Artscape.
As from me, keep safe on the roads and here’s to a textured, spirited prosperous and eventful 2007!!
Tambudzai La Verne Sibanda, Editor in Chief
Reflections of a Thupelo workshop at Rorke’s drift
This December, TAG managed to take a sneak view of some of Jill Trappler’s www.jilltrappler.co.za (a trustee at Greatmore Studios) entries in her diary, following her visit to the Thupelo Workshop at Rorke’s Drift.
“Rorke’s Drift is a wonderful venue for art making. It has the spirit that feeds into creative possibilities …”
“My journey deep in the country of Northern Kwa Zulu Natal was initially riddled with much uncertainty. My biggest question concerned how the artists traveling from as far as the USA, Berlin and even Johannesburg would manage in ‘isolation’ for two weeks. Would they be self motivated and innovative enough to work with limited materials on hand and the lack of communication, no internet and intermittent cell phone usage…”
“Art is a vehicle to self realizations … the Thupelo workshop was a great inspiration to ‘think out of the box.”
Baron S. Kambarami Zimbabwe
“Tami Jali and Christian Voith had prepared the venue, the food and accommodation thoroughly and with great care; the community of Rorke’s Drift also came out to support them. I was most impressed by the back up from Cape Town; Velile Soha ( a commitee member at Greatmore Studios) presence and organisational skills were invaluable during the workshop . On arrival I realized that the artists would be contained and able to explore the richness of the area historically and creatively.”
“There was an evening thunder storm, and the opening dinner was moved from the fire outside to the hall which served as the studio for the workshop. Dinner was a wonderful affair that set the tone for the workshop. Old friends, stories, new meetings, observations and questions.”
I had to leave prematurely, but I left with a knowledge that the venue was right, the preparations were in order and very envious of the opportunity available to the artists to create. There was a feeling of originality about the workshop.
Our open day saw David Koloane (trustee at Bag Factory, a sister organization of Greatmore Studios) visiting the studio; Rorke’s Drift alumnae Pat Mautloa (co-director of Bag Factory), Bongi Dhlomo and Vuyile Voyiya spent two days at the end of the workshop with the artists. The final birthing of the workshop was amazing because for years the alumnae had been trying to do something in Natal. David commented that, “The response from all over the continent and abroad was unbelievable, a signal that the Rorke’s Drift Center should not be abandoned but that something can be done, perhaps a residency or something…there is a strong indication that things need to get going there.”
“The strength of the workshop lay in the seriousness of the participants towards the practice of art, creativity and visual expression…the international nature of the group meant there was cultural exchange of food, language, music, politics and education. Fundamentally Thupelo is about fostering artistic ubuntu and practice. Some artists will leave Rorke’s Drift with finished work ready to sell, some will leave with experiments and work in progress…” Julie McGee USA
Thupelo Cape Town would like to express its greatest gratitude to Anthea Martin (The African Art Center), Gabi Nkosi (Caversham Mill), The Dundee Chronical, Walton’s stationery and many others who were behind Tami Jali in growing this independent venture for the visual arts.
Thandeka Njoli back on the wheel
Greatmore Studios is home to individuals with rich colourful narratives. This December TAG bades farewell to Thandeka Njoli an artist in her own right and a faithful employee for 4 years at the Studios.
TAG: Where to from now? I hear you are retiring.
Thandeka Njoli: Well I wouldn’t say retiring; I am going to focus on my spinning and weaving now.
TAG:Are you self-taught? Talk me through a little about your passion
TN.: No Jill Trappler (one of the trustee’s at Greatmore Studios and an artist) taught me. Spinning is sort of relaxing, its creative and actually all the natural oils in the wool make your hands soft! I think clearly when I spin.
TAG: Greatmore Studios is all about exchange of cultures and backgrounds. Tell me about your experience here
T.N.: I really enjoyed meeting different people and getting to know their backgrounds and cultures. I used to invite some of the artists to my home in Gugulethu and get them to visit my church and try my food; I cook them fat cooks, and they really enjoy them.
TAG: Any final thoughts?
T.N.: I want to thank Jill for all the years that I have known her-she really exposed me to a lot of things. I know I will still be making my art at 60 and hopefully inspiring other women in the community.
From the team at TAG we are wishing the very best in your spinning career. Thank you for your service to all the artists at the Studios.
My Little Pink Bag Stories
Visiting artist at Greatmore Studios Fred Koenig captured our attention this month, when he hosted a collaborative performance with fellow South African dancer Ebrahim Medell and fellow colleague Toni Morkel who together form The Voodoo Divas. Scrambling themes of gender, love and hope the trio made a colourful performance that is peppered with ideas of belonging, at the Cape Lab on 12 December 2006 to a receptive audience. Fred’s performances are said to be conflate contemporary conceptual art and a decadent kitsch aesthetic.
The French Embassy in South Africa has sponsored Fredrich’s residency. For further information on this artist please visit, http://www.fredkoenig.com
EXPERIENCE IT
OPPORTUNITIES IN RESIDENCY, COMPETITIONS & EXHBITION OPPORTUNITIES
The Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten calls for artists to apply for residency in 2008 Amsterdam
Situated in Amsterdam, the Rijksakademie invites artists with three to five years of professional experience in all visual art disciplines (painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, film and video, new media and sound, architecture, theatre and even music and dance) to apply for one year residency programmes available at the studios, that involve undertaking various projects from research to production. The institution has 50 available studios and encourages reflection and discussion among fellow artists. To download an online application please visit http://www.rijksakademie.nl/uk_rs_aanmelding_keuze_nl.htm The deadline for applications is 1 February 2007.Proposals can be sent to Application & Selection, Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, Sarphatistraat 470, 1018 GW Amsterdam.
For more information visit http://www.rijksakademie.nl or email Dyveke Rood on Dyveke.rood@rijksakademie.nl
Kuona Trust invites women artists to apply for an International Women’s Workshop Kenya
Kuona Trust in Kenya, a member of a family of organizations of which Greatmore Studios is a part, is calling for 20 women artists (12 Kenyan and 8 international) to apply for a workshop that sees women from different walks of life converge for two weeks to create art and share ideas in the hope of returning to their respective communities to inspire other women artists. The workshop is due to take place in Kenya at the end of February 2007.Artists are expected to pay for their own airfare although there is limited assistance available for those that apply. Limited art mataerials, food, accommodation and local transport will be provided. Applications can be sent to Michael Sol at smichael@kunonatrust.org .The deadline is 10 January 2007.Visit www.kuonatrust.org for more information.
 
 
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