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 november . december
in review
___________________________________12.07_____
PEOPLE I PLACES I NEWS I OPPORTUNITIES I UPDATES
TAG is a professional visual artists’ newsletter providing a global platform to the artists in residency at Greatmore Studios, Cape Town and also to art practitioners within the network of Triangle Art Trust. As an a compliment to a regularly updated web site, www.greatmoreart.org TAG provides artists with relevant updates about the studios, artists’ work and opportunities in the art arena both locally in Cape Town, on the continent and abroad.
editor’s notes …(read more)
in this issue our news
in this issue in the loop
next month on the web
editor’s notes
Officially it's a wrap! To all our readers worldwide within the network, TAG would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to you for your continual support over this past year. We hope you have enjoyed the updates of happenings within and beyond the studios this newsletter has sought to provide. The team is committed to providing you honest, updated information about our artists and ongoing projects at Greatmore Studios in the coming year.So from my desk, I am wishing a rich and meaningful festive season. For this last offering of TAG , it is appropriate for me to hand over to artist and project coordinator at Greatmore Studios, Jill Trappler to say a final word…
Tambudzai La Verne Sibanda, Editor
I would like to thank the many artists who have participated in projects at the studios this year. For those timely contributions by the founding committee, Lionel Davis, Garth Erasmus and Velile Soha as well as the new committee -Gary Frier, Janet Ranson and Kadiatou Diallo ( Chou- Chou), I extend a heartfelt thanks. To those in the engine room, André, Tambu, Mishkaah, Glenda, Michael, Dorothy , Yvonne and Kitty .Thank you for your dedication over the year.
To the board of trustees for their guidance and attention throughout the year, David Koloane, Robert Loder, Veronica Douglas, Isky Gordon, Sam Nhlengethwa - thank you. We would not have been able to accomplish our projects without the assistance of our funders, please accept our hearty gratitude. Finally to the many visitors both local and international who attend our open studio events and drop in and out of the studios to meet our artists -thank you for your enthusiastic participation. I encourage you to visit our website in January for all our updates.
-Jill Trappler
We always welcome your contributions to the content of this newsletter. Please e-mail us your comments at tagnews@gmail.com our news
What I bring with me, what I will take back: an honest reflection on a two week international art workshop #
“Coming to Thupelo- I realise that I belong to the world.”
“I am leaving this workshop with so much new life new beginnings and ‘food’ for the next part of my art making journey.” Imke Rust Namibia
“Like a permanent imprint of assurance, the workshops provided a space to further probe and sincerely reflect on my artistic aspirations.” Witt Nyide Durban
“I could not have imagined what a great impact these two weeks would have on my work. it somehow created a mental space for experimentation, taking chances with my pieces and not being so concerned about the end result…” Ena Carstens Cape Town
“It was really rewarding getting ‘lost’ in the process of printmaking at the Thupelo Workshop...I normally do group facilitation for the craft industry but this invitation gave me an opportunity to nurture myself. I like to etch on copper plates and explore the visual effects that can be achieved through this process.” Leonard Shapiro Cape Town
“27 artists.2 weeks and 11 countries” reads a recent invitation to a collaborative exhibition that celebrated an eclectic body of art that emerged from the 2007 Thupelo International Urban workshop. The two week workshop held at Ruth Prowse School of Art ( www.ruthprowse.co.za ) from 1- 15 December 2007 saw artists converge from as far as India, Mauritius, Germany, Sweden, the USA, Congo (DRC), Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and a cross section of communities across South Africa including Durban, Butterworth, Pretoria and Cape Town. The brief was simple -art and work and were privileged. The lack of facilitation and the open theme to the workshop, demanded that the individual bring to the workshop what they thought was important.
Upon arrival at the school, each artist chose a comfortable space within an array of available rooms that for two weeks would become home. These worked spaces over time bore the stains of the artists’ creative process, their histories, thoughts and memories .It takes time for artists to orientate themselves in a new working space-at first work came slowly, but as the days progressed, people got into a gentle rhythm and things began to gently pick up momentum.
Throughout the workshop, artists organised walkabouts of each others work,that provided a valuable opportunity for participants to engage with each other’s conceptual concerns- constructive input from the group was encouraged. Characteristically unstructured, the Thupelo workshops can prove a real challenge to many artists looking for external direction to their creative process. Inner confidence does slowly solidify and artists who initially feel out of their depth, find their feet again. The magic of Thupelo I have found, is finding the courage to be vulnerable and lose oneself in the process or art making -in doing so one finds new ground for future projects. As reflected by artist Jill Trappler, “each urban workshop comes with its own tricks”. Perhaps one of the greatest threats to the synergy and cohesion of the workshop was the fact that due to limited funds the international and local artists did not have the privilege of sharing similar living spaces. While local artists were expected to return to their respective homes at the end of the day, international artists lived in a communal living space that made for free and deep interaction .Indeed to foster greater interaction amongst artists, it would be ideal to have all artists live in a similar communal setting. Despite this dearth of shared time, artists did however take advantage of hour long lunch breaks to eat together and freely talk about art and life. These moments became cherished oases. Through daily presentations of were encouraged to contextualise the work of their peers. These brief presentations provided greater layers of understanding into the creative process of the participating artists. It was obvious that the caliber of many of the artists was high and the projects they had involved themselves previously, inspiring.
Merging painters, printmakers, conceptual artists, videographers and spinners in one space distills into pure magic! Thupelo has never in its history seen such an unprecedented number of female artists participating – it is a delight to know that perhaps finally the gender dynamics are equalising in the arts. On Thursday 13 December, the artists were kindly sponsored to visit the Spier Contemporary in Stellenbosch. It was a typical sunny day and a much needed break for artists to step back from their own art making and enjoy the work of other artists making strides in their contemporary practice.
Indeed the workshop has come and gone, but as one artist from India remarked, it is what artists bring to a workshop and eventually take back that is important. Work was made, memories forged, laughter and tears exchanged. I am convinced that Thupelo is one experience that lives with an artist for a lifetime.
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Woman of influence Jill Trappler receives an award of recognition for her contribution to Thupelo workshops # This November saw artist and trustee of Thupelo Cape Town, Jill Trappler, receive a much deserved award in recognition for her meaningful contributions to workshops over the last 20 years. Thupelo is a Sotho word meaning to teach by example, an approach that requires no teachers or facilitators to manage the workshops. With no hierarchies-all artists are considered autonomous and horizontal exchange of ideas and skills is privileged. Even in her role as a coordinator and cofounder of this matrix of artists, Trappler has always actively chosen to take a back seat, allowing the art that emerges from the workshops to speak for itself. As artists suspend previous ways of working and the ‘baggage’ of art making, the results are purely magic! The arts, culture and heritage award ceremony hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport proved to be a kinetic evening with visual artists, moguls from the literary and music scenes comfortably mingling with the media elite. From the team at TAG, we would like to congratulate Jill Trappler, for her continual determination, tenacity and drive in raising the level of art consciousness in South Africa. Despite obvious shifts in the sociopolitical milieu of the country over the years the spirit of workshoping has survived and stills play an important role in the country’s transformation. In My Life: Mercy Moyo and Lerato Motau exhibit at Jeannette Unite Studio Gallery # Snuggled in the city bowl, Jeannette Studios Unite Studios Gallery played host to a festive evening of performance, sushi, great conversations and delightful art by artists resident at Greartmore Studios in November. Opened by curator and artist Gabi Ngcobo, The exhibition, entitled In My Life showcased recent work by conceptual artist Lerato Motou, a Soweto native and paintings by Mercy Moyo from Zimbabwe. Both female artists were enrolled in the visiting artists programme at Greatmore Studios for three months from September until November 2007. Although they worked independently throughout their residency -one could easily trace the common threads in their work. An interesting alchemy of traditional paintings and conceptual handmade skirts, the exhibition saw the two artists tell a story of women in their own communities- the laugher, small talk and play that sisters, friends and mothers exchange amongst each other was easily felt by the viewer. Keep posted to the website www.greatmoreart.org.za to learn more about a collaborative exhibition at the end of March 2008 by visiting artists resident at Greatmore Studios. Art Collaboratory; Jill Trappler explores a new funding stream in Europe #
Jill Trappler coordinator of Greatmore Studios and Thupelo Cape Town recently returned from a five day strategic conference hosted by the Arts Collaboratory in Amsterdam late November. Newly launched the Art Collaboratory represents a merger of three funding streams, HIVOS ( www.hivos.nl ) Stichting Doen Foundation (www.doen.nl ) and Mondrian ( www.mondriaanfoundation.nl ). The three days of intense meeting were attended by representatives from three organisations and seven artists from around the world. Delegates traveled from as far as Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nicaragua and Columbia to participate in discussions that focused on the various ongoing projects and networks in the seven represented countries.
“… the meetings with our hosts were rigorous and stimulating. They were very generous with their time and ideas. It was a privilege to attend a conference with other artists who in their own respective countries are managing extraordinary initiatives and giving profile to the visual arts.” Jill Trappler
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Arrivals and Departures #
It is a bitter sweet month at Greatmore Studios as the artists bade goodbye to four resident artists, Bangikhaya Maqoqa, Zukisa Reginald Toyi, Mandla Vanyaza and Wonder. Both Vanyaza and Wonder have had a long history at the studios and have seen many changes. As they all move forward in their careers, TAG would like to wish these artists the very best of success in your future art practice.
From January 2008 Greatmore Studios will open its doors to a few new artists Lamala Mark Williams from Uganda, Andrew Mogome from Botswana, Freddy Lokole from Congo (DRC) and Jane Tagg from the UK. Also taking up a one month stint at the studios is Mauritian artist Nirveda Alleck who returns to Cape Town after studying fine art at the Michaelis School of Art 10 years ago. Alleck and Lokole both participated in the 2007 Thupelo international Urban Workshop at Ruth Prowse School of art this December.
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Greatmore Studios poised to expand #
This November saw Dr. Isky Gordon, a trustee of Greatmore Studios make a brief visit to South Africa to invite further partnerships with the building project. Dr. Isky is an active player in an ongoing project to expand the premises at the studios, Established as an environment that was conducive for artistic exchange, over the past 9 years Greatmore Studios has received a growing influx of artists who take up three month to one year long residencies at a time. It has consequently become an urgent need to re-look at the infrastructure of the space and negotiate its possible expansion. In a recent email, Dr. Gordon provided the following thoughts on plans to develop the studios. “Greatmore Studios celebrates 10 years of affecting meaningful change in the community through the arts. To continue to effectively impact the artistic community of the Cape and expand the outreach programme there is a need to increase the number of studios on the premises and have a dedicated exhibition and workshop space… There is a danger that redevelopments could change the ethos of Greatmore Studios...it is important that the concept and current modus operandi at the studio is preserved. Should any redevelopments of the studio be considered, it would necessitate a phased plan.” For more information about the building project at Greatmore Studios please email André Barnard at artmore@mweb.co.za Finnish narratives # December saw Greatmore Studios bade bon voyage to two Finnish artists Kristiina Korpela and Anu Tuomisari who for a month occupied the courtyard at the studios to accomplish a series of environmental installations as well as used the printmaking studio to host a print making workshop with local South African artists. The week long printmaking workshop saw artists both resident at the studios and those from the community learning new techniques. Across the oceans, TAG managed to catch up with Kristiina as she reflects on her experiences at Greatmore Studios. “I made Frozen Flowers, an environmental artwork in the courtyard at Greatmore Studios of tiny Finnish flora and big South African plants. I incorporated big photographs and small memorabilia from Finland that were all white. I have previously worked in a lot of outdoor spaces, somehow however, working in the courtyard was a new experience for me- it was confusing at times having to work inside the fences and behind burglar bars…the folk in the community could only see my work through the gaps in the fence and it made me realise that South Africa is still a country of fences and barbed wire-physical and emotional. There is still a long way to go to reach true equality…Some of the artists working at the studios gave me flowers like poppies and roses and some good advice while I as working…some asked me what I was trying to say only working in white. My intensions where to make simple references to snow and winter as it is in Europe…” During their stay Korpela and Tuomisari managed to collect small artworks from artists working at the studios and in turn exchanged some of their own work-this marked the beginning of a vibrant dialogue between southern and northern art and artists. Towards the end of their visit the two artists invited the Finnish Consulate, Maarit Laitinen to have a brief glance at South African art as it unfolds at Greatmore Studios. Laitinen was impressed by the work ethic of the artists and their commitment to community outreach projects-it is hoped that in the future Greatmore Studios will strengthen its partnership with Finland to see more meaningful projects realised in the community. For more information on initiating community art projects with artists at Greatmore Studios, please email info@greatmoreart.org.za [back to the top]
in the loop
Smells and Shadows. Ndikhumbule Nginambi exhibits at the association of Visual Arts #
Smells and Shadows marks resident artist, Ndikhumbule Nginambi’s first solo exhibition at the Association of Visual Arts (AVA) from the 7 January to 25 January 2008. Bearing strong resemblance to the work of the masters, Nginambi’s paintings have a strong tactility and detail about them-the narratives are layered and full, thick with emotion, drawing the viewer into a uncomfortable space between life, death and a world beyond the metaphysical. This tightly contained show is a must see as we kick off into a new year. For more information about this exhibition +27214247436 or alternatively visit www.ava.co.za
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Triangle France calls for applications for residency Marseille # From April to July 2008 Triangle France which operates under the aegis of theTriangle Art Trust will prepare to host a four month residency in Marseille for professional visual artists. In an effort to foster cultural exchange and interaction among artists, the residency will provide free studio space a short distance from the city center as well as necessary logistical support for successful artists- free access to computers, sound and video equipment will be provided. Successful candidates will share an apartment with two other resident artists and a production grant will serve to assist artists in their artistic production. It is hoped that during their stay artists will take advantage of the strong art network and partnerships of Triangle France. Interested candidates are asked to submit a portfolio of their work- 15 images ( JPEGs,a CD or DVD of past work), text of their work, a motivational letter, a full updated resume (CV). Deadline for submission of applications is February 8 2008. Please forward applications to Triangle France, Friche la Belle de Mai, 41 Rue Jobin, 13003 Maseille, France or email info@trianglefrance.org . Contact +33495049611 for more details. Fax number: +33495049613. on the web next month keep connected with www.greatmoreart.org # Please keep posted to the website in January 2008 for an update of happenings at Greatmore Studios as well recent images of the 2007 Thupelo International Urban Workshop.
TAG newsletter is kindly sponsored by: The Ford Foundation (FF) The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) HIVOS National Arts Council (NAC) Pro Helvetia, Arts Council of Switzerland |