Found and assembled

These little assemblage sculptures were made from natural and found objects around the the area closest to VANSA in Spin Street, Cape Town city bowl.



I made them during and as part of the In Focus Concept Development Workshop that Kai Losgott presented. This workshop will be presented again, and hosted by Vansa - keep an eye on www.vansa.co.za, as this workshop is worth attending!

Ink doodles

Some experimental ink works in preparation of new works on paper.

Photograph. Look. Listen. Feel. THEN create.

I know I've been posting a lot of photographs, rather than paintings, drawings and sculpture works. This is generally because I've posted the works for the exhibition in Vanderbijlpark, Scrapes and Scapes, directly onto my website, and due to the current phase where I'm gathering inspiration through looking, taking photographs and just taking in my surroundings again, before jumping into creating new works again. This statement and questions by Andrea Brand sums this phase up very nicely:

"Life is a constant process of creation. The universe pulses with the energy of forming and creating anew all the time. Life offers us many opportunities to explore and discover something unique. We just have to observe nature around us.The human race creates all the time. The importance here is how we do it and what effect it has on our immediate surroundings. Are we creating in order to achieve a certain goal in mind already i.e. considering the end result? Or can we allow ourselves to move with the process, being there every step as it unfolds and emerges, being conscious, and being aware"

- Andrea Brand, What does it mean to be creative?, http://www.andreabrand.co.za/be-creative

Vergeet en onthou: a full cycle

'n Rukkie terug het ek 'n half-voltooide gedig geplaas, en hier is die volledige gedig nou:

Vergete Verlede
deur Janet Botes, 2011

Vergete in die verlede
waar selfs gister nog geen betekenis dra
en drome en vrese saamsmelt
tussendeur langsaam voortstroom

Weggesteek in die middernagdonker
waar klein diertjies skarrel en jaag
en ons voetjie vir voetjie moet voel waar ons gaan
terwyl die maan eindeloos voort wentel

Geslote in 'n houtkissie van herinnering
waar spinnerakke en stof 'n lagie mis vorm
en selfs die waarheid minder duidelik deurskyn
tussendeur alledaagse werksbestaan

Ja, daar agter in die hoekie van jou gedagtes
in die skrefies tussen onsin en menig verhaal
waar verskonings en skaamkry saam met lekkerkry lê
en gister saam met môre saamsmelt in gevoelensgety

Daar is die waarheid en die weg wat elk moet volg;
die dinge wat ons teëstry en wegsteek-vermy
omdat ons so bang is vir buurman se opinie of lag
en eerder langsaam, verlangs weer terug op die paadjie wil kom
waar ons eindelik gelukkig, vreedsaam en tereg kan loop
met die Vader, die bron, met lewe en liefde.

Voltooide gedig: Vergete Verlede

'n Rukkie terug het ek 'n half-voltooide gedig geplaas, en hier is die volledige gedig nou:
Vergete Verlede

Vergete in die verlede
waar selfs gister nog geen betekenis dra
en drome en vrese saamsmelt
tussendeur langsaam voortstroom

Weggesteek in die middernagdonker
waar klein diertjies skarrel en jaag
en ons voetjie vir voetjie moet voel waar ons gaan
terwyl die maan eindeloos voort wentel

Geslote in 'n houtkissie van herinnering
waar spinnerakke en stof 'n lagie mis vorm
en selfs die waarheid minder duidelik deurskyn
tussendeur alledaagse werksbestaan

Ja, daar agter in die hoekie van jou gedagtes
in die skrefies tussen onsin en menig verhaal
waar verskonings en skaamkry saam met lekkerkry lê
en gister saam met môre saamsmelt in gevoelensgety

Daar is die waarheid en die weg wat elk moet volg
die dinge wat ons teëstry en wegsteek-vermy
omdat ons so bang is vir buurman se opinie of lag
en eerder langsaam, verlangs weer terug op die paadjie wil kom
waar ons eindelik gelukkig, vreedsaam en tereg kan loop
met die Vader, die bron, met lewe en liefde.

Pine needles, sticks and a beautiful day

This weekend was filled with wonderful things, of which Sunday morning's land art session with Andreé Bonthuys, Di Smith and Leli Hoch must have been the highlight. Here's some photographs that Andreé took, as mine is on film and still needs to be developed...


Tree bark and dead leaves among folded tall grass. Photograph by Andreé Bonthuys.


Tree bark in the nook of a tree. As morning turned to afternoon the shadows changed. Photograph by Andreé Bonthuys.


Soon after we arrived at the Glen, in Kloofnek between Cape Town and Camp's Bay, the sun and trees created this beautiful scene. Photograph by Andreé Bonthuys.

This week, among many other things, I am starting with some watercolour works, working on the concept for my new body of work (more on this soon!), and doing the last arrangements and preparations for the GYA artist gathering.

The GYA artist gathering is part of the Greening your Art initiative - www.gya.ecojunki.co.za. Friday, 17 June, we're meeting at my studio to share ideas and sources for natural and local art materials, future projects and collaborations and the Moving Planet event by 350.org on 24 September. Want to join? It's from 3pm to 7pm (join in when and however you can) at 4 Lingen street, Gardens, Cape Town. This event is free and informal, please bring some snacks and something to drink.

Glimpses from a bus seat

Beautiful images from my journey home. These have been taken from my seat on the Intercape Sleepliner from Vanderbijlpark to Cape Town. And yes, the white on that mountain is snow!!

I also had the good fortune of waking up just before sunrise when we were driving through the Karoo!! I didn't take any photos this time, just soaked up the scene with a huge grin on my face - enjoying in awe every moment of the beauty and splendor.

Today is 5 June, and World Environment Day - why not go and enjoy nature? Go for a hike, go to a nature reserve, go to the beach or climb a mountain... I'll go for a Lion's Head or Deer Park hike today, or at least go to the beach. Bliss....