Thursday, November 29, 2012

(eco)nversations GREEN ART 2012


After weeks and months of hard work, the exhibition was a great success! The exhibition, (eco)nversations GREEN ART 2012 was partnered with and hosted by the Green Expo in assocation with National Geographic Channel 281, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 23 to 25 November 2012. The exhibition showcased selected contemporary art by eight artists including installation art, sculpture, found object art and drawing. 

www.thegreenexpo.co.za







More photographs:


A WORD FROM THE CURATOR
Janet Botes

This exhibition was conceptualized and organized as an integrated part of the 2012 Green Expo, one of  its main aims being to offer Expo visitors the opportunity to view and engage with art that is dedicated to raising awareness, changing perceptions or inspiring appreciation for our environment . The artists exhibited were chosen for their personal and individual philosophies, convictions and the way that they express these in their creative work. 

Most of the artworks on the exhibition are quite conceptual and they vary in the use of material and different art forms. They are inspired by the underlying themes, solutions and causes of the environmental crisis and global warming, and they seek to involve, invite and inspire people rather than berate, depress and belittle the viewer. 

I hope that you find the works as inspiring and thought-provoking as I do, and that their image(s) live in your mind or heart in a way that may change or enrich your way of life and your interaction with and within nature. 

As artist and curator, as a woman and as a human, I believe that we are nature, as much part of it as each tree, praying mantis and raindrop. By not respecting and embracing all living things and the landscape, soil and earth that sustains us, we are destroying and discarding ourselves. When  you reconnect with nature within and of yourself, you reconnect with everything around you.  And when you rethink, recycle, respect, reuse and rehabilitate things, your life and the spaces around you will be enriched and these practices will become second nature. 

This exhibition was made possible through the collaboration, cooperation and generous support as well as help of some amazing individuals. I would like to thank each of the artists: Kai, Nicolle, Danelle, Stefanie, Janet, Simon and Claire: thank you all for your participation, hard work and effort with your own art and also as part of the group. Thank you Kai, for writing the manifesto which brings everyone’s voices together so eloquently. 

I would also like to acknowledge and thank Chris Naude, Robyn Carstens, Radi van Zyl, Thea Butler and Eljanne Lochner for their support, effort and encouragement, as well as everyone involved with the Collage Mural Project. And last, but not least, thank you to the family members of the artists, and anyone else who helps us to be the artists who we are, fighting for the things we love. 

Monday, November 26, 2012

'I am an African' at Gallery @ Grande Provence, Franschhoek

The Gallery at Grande Provence Presents:

‘Angels 7 – I am an African’ 




The seventh annual Angels exhibition at The Gallery @ Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek, opens on Sunday, 9 December 2012 at 11h00 until 27 February 2013.

In 2006 a group show titled ‘Angels’ was established by The Gallery at Grande Provence. The title was playfully based on the name of the award winning collection of ‘Angels Tears’ wines that is produced by the Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate. Over the years the exhibition has progressed from an annual festive-season group show with references to angels, to a thought-provoking exhibition that addresses a range of current social and environmental matters.

This year “Angels 7” is themed ‘I am an African’. The theme references to one of the greatest African speeches ever delivered - to visually celebrate our identity, growth, achievements and the beauty of our people, land and cityscapes. However, the exhibition also aims to communicate the critical social and other challenges that currently face our society and environment. All aspects of life in contemporary South Africa will be represented.

Some of the contributing artists in this year’s “Angels” exhibition include:
Christiaan Diedericks, Eugenie Marais, Strijdom van der Merwe, Gordon Froud, Mbongeni Buthelezi, Richard Smith, MJ Lourens, Ruhan Janse van Vuuren, Wilma Cruise, Frank van Reenen, Ricky Dyaloyi, Greg Lourens, Katie Barnard Du Toit, Uwe Pfaff, Loni Drager, Mongezi Gum, Niel Visser, Koos de Wet, Sanna Swart, Talitha Deetlefs, JP Meyer, Marieke Prinsloo, Ingrid Coerlin, George Holloway, Zhann Solomons, Marleen Wolters, Thokozani Mthiyani, Erika Prinsloo, Anastasia Sarantinou, Janet Botes, Noelene Kleve, Anton Smit, Martin de Kock, Marieke Kruger, Frans Smit, Paula van Coller Louw, Jacques Dhont, Lynette ten Krooden, David Brits, Rae Goosen, Susara Steenkamp and Debbi Morkel.

 The famous speech, ‘I am an African’ by former President Thabo Mbeki was supplied to the artists as inspiration for their work. A selection of angel artworks and distinctive gifts and crafts feature in The Shop at Grande Provence to complement the ‘Angels Tears’ collection that is available in the retail area off the courtyard, behind The Gallery.

 For more information regarding this years exhibition please contact the curator
 Carina at +27 (0)21 876 8630 or e-mail gallery@grandeprovence.co.za

The Gallery is open from Monday to Sunday, from 10h00 till 18h00. 

www.grandeprovence.co.za

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Gedig geskryf in Oktober 2012


landskap, hartland
vlaktes van gister se sond, wind en weer
oopgevlek vir die toekoms se woeker en weet
van wild leef en stilwees
en saamwees en lag

strandland, swartskaap
wegvee van spore deur wind se wieg
mynskag se sweepslag in doodstil dag
waar selfs tolbos en sonbesie
doodlĂȘ, wag

moederland, hartland
oggenwasem wat wegsmelt voor die son
waar ons langsaam voorsloer
en reik na die horison
terwyl sand by ons voete
verskroei, versag

landskap, moederland, strandland
gee my krag om te woeker en weet
dat more kan beter wees
kan vreugdevol wees
met oorvloed en vrede
elke dag lag

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Join the conversation, Green Art 2012, 23-25 Nov at the CTICC, Cape Town



During the 2012 Cape Town Green Expo in association with National Geographic Channel 281, 8 artists are exhibiting artworks and art installations that engage the viewer about our planet, seeking to spark dialogues about our connection and relationship with our natural environment.

Eight Artists, One Planet

Each artwork in some way talks to and about: nature, the earth, the natural world, the planet, the ecosystem, the biosphere, our natural heritage - and our place within it.

ARTISTS:

Simon Max Bannister, Janet Ranson, Kai Lossgott, Stefanie Schoeman, Janet Botes, Danelle Malan, Nicolle Marais, Claire Homewood
The Collage Mural Project, facilitated by Claire Homewood, forms an integral part of the exhibition. Here's the event page for it: https://www.facebook.com/events/550323068328061/
Make sure to read Recession aesthetics and making art without destroying the planet: "A Green Art Manifesto", Kai Lossgott's contribution to (eco)nversations, and part of our catalogue which is available at the exhibition: http://kailossgott.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-green-art-manifesto.html

www.greenart.artlovenature.co.za

Facebook Event page