New work: Home

Home: Silence Has An Echo

This painting shows Lion's Head, which is situated right next to Table Mountain and overlooks Cape Town. The work forms part of my "Home" series, focused on the theme of homecoming, nesting and what 'home' means to me. I started working on this series in an attempt to explore my feelings and fears after we moved to another flat not far from where we used to live in view of Table Mountain. 

Breathe And Believe, W:34cm x H:67cm (unframed), R1 650

Bound By Earth,  W:16cm x H:59.5cm (unframed), R1 500

Spend a moment...

spend a moment outside

and feel

the wind against your face

spend a moment in the sun

and soak

the rays into your skin

spend a moment under a tree

and touch 

the rough skin of its trunk

spend a moment on grass

barefoot

and wiggle your toes into the green

spend a moment in the rain

and taste

the fresh drops wash away the dirt

spend a moment in a field of flowers

and see

the colour reaching into your heart

spend a moment in a forest

and breathe in

the trees and layers of growth and decay

spend a moment in the ocean

and hear

the roar of the water, the power, the rush

spend a moment outside

and be you

be free, be wild and happy.

Janet Botes, 2013

West Coast Fossil Park

We visited the West Coast Fossil Park this weekend, and it was a wonderful and enriching experience. Check out the Fossil Park's website at www.fossilpark.org.za. And the park is really worth a visit - make sure to join a guided tour!

BONES: Stories, secrets, history

Bones tell stories
Bones keep secrets
Bones contain history 

Secrets about the past
locked away in sand and rock
Stories about life before now 

Uncovered, polished and displayed
Stories about days long forgotten
Secrets that may teach us something about today

Tread Upon

TREAD UPON, as part of "Walk This Earth Alone" art exhibition, hosted by the Gallery @ Grande Provence, Franschhoek, 12 August - 26 September 2012

This work is focused on sand as material, medium and inspiration - sand representing the dust of our existence, the kernels resulting from ancient rocks' erosion, and thus a symbol of time and also place. The installation is a metaphor for the marks we leave behind as we tread upon the landscape, the spoor we leave in the sand. It is inspired by the Karoo 2052 exhibition, which I saw during the National Arts Festival in July 2012, as well as earlier work that I've done as part of HumanEarth and my SCAPES project. It is a continuation of the work I did as part of SAND(SPOOR], performed at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown in July 2012.

As part of the art installation, I specifically did not put poles and ropes up to keep people away from the artwork - the intention was for people to accidentally walk unto the artwork and destroy the stylized images of insects and foliage, as symbol of the way we destroy insects and plant life in the "real" landscapes, whether intentionally or unintentionally through the choices we make and the products we buy. Fracking in the Karoo is only possible if we as the public and as tax payers keep silent about our opposition against it. Renewable energy is viable as an energy solution for our country, but the government will only invest in it if we demand it. If we do nothing, we are allowing the destruction of our planet through coal mining, nuclear waste and fracking, and we are treading upon the landscape very harshly and mindlessly.

Beautiful addition(s) by one of the gallery goers or viewers

Koekenaap workshop: part two

 

3 October, Monday

 yoga after sunrise

breakfast and painting

meeting a new friend

land art raking leaves

taking photographs

documenting

delicious lunch

talking, inspiring, absorbing

explorative guided tree walk

building a booklet

constructing

dinner

share, talk, discuss, read, enlighten

write, draw

smell the leaves and berries

sleep

 

Kuier om die vuur, snags na 'n dag se werk. Die life of the party: George en Adri - albei met pittigste sêgoed en grappe. 

Stappies in die omgewing, laataand kuiers om die vuur en kunsmaak-sessies met toewyde konsentrasie - en soms konsternasie - vleg inmekaar in, sodat minute ure raak en ure sommer vinnig-vinnig in dae verander. Die tyd vlieg verby.

Die natuurlewe, landskap en self murasies was 'n visuele fees, en net soos wat die heerlike kos elke dag ons gevoed het, het dit ons kunswerke inspireer en gelei.

We went to Doringbaai, and I could've sat on the beach for HOURS just listening to and looking at the sea - words can't even begin to describe what I felt, heard and saw!

From chaos beauty can grow, just as life grows from decay in nature. Too often we perceive things (experiences, objects, people, events, etc.) as 'bad' without realizing the value and potential within it to grow and transform into something better and exquisite (making you a stronger person; an ugly duckling turning into a swan; someone learning from and helping others because of their worst mistakes and 'bad' experiences). And from the chaos that most of the time made it hard to find things in the studio, we created artworks that inspire and celebrate life.

Koekenaap workshop: part one

I returned on Monday 10 September from a 10 day art-making experience at the Koekenaap art workshop in the North-Western Cape on the West Coast close to Lutzville, Vredendal and Strandfontein. 20 artists, supplied with art materials, food and accommodation, and granted the freedom to create together, inspire each other and experiment with new art methods...

In stikdonkerte kom ons aan by Koekenaap net nadat Vrydagaand Saterdag geword het, na ons 30 September uit Kaapstad vertrek uit - lekker moeg omdat 7 van ons urelaaaank ge-saamwag en saamstres het oor vervoer uit Kaapstad wat geherorganiseer moes word. Dié was natuurlik 'n lekker ysbreker en teen die tyd wat ons by Koekenaap aankom, skraap sommige van ons nog energie bymekaar en drink wyn om die vuur saam met die ander kunstenaars. Die laastes van ons is halfvyf die oggend bed toe...

 ...net om weer halfnege wakker geroep te word vir brekvis. 15 minutes se snooze, kreun en maak of ek nog slaap, 10 minute op die foon met manlief, 20 minute om dingetjies in die kamer te organiseer en vir my stortbeurt te wag, en 15 minute in die badkamer en toe mis ek sommer ontbyt! 'n Paar vruggies en tee, en toe's ek reg om (nog half-aan-die-slaap) almal te join en te begin skep.

 

After breakfast we start creating and doing art right away. How exhilarating to be able - and be expected - to work on an artwork with no other immediate responsibility or distraction withig the specific space of time!!

2 Oktober, Sondag

Woorde wat vloei in beelde in

en gedagtes in 'n energiebelaaide lug

wat soos 'n wolk hang oor die kampterrein

hande wat verf, teken, plak, klei vorm en gly oor teksture

stemme wat gons oor herkoms, uitkoms, ontkoms

en ervarings van gister en vorentoe

'n vroegoggendstappie langsaan kanaal, plaas en boorde,

tussendeur bome sandpad en heinings

met kamera klets en voetstap op sand.

Two different perspectives

With a view over mountains and sea
One day with peace and tranquility
The next day with storm and wind

Near the foot of Africa
And part of the Sun Path of our ancestors
With age-old rocks around the sands of time

Here we find peace and truth
Here we can find ourselves.

Kalk Bay, 2011



Leaves on a table within my studio. Hidden underneath a roof. Captured within 4 walls. Contained within the control of my hands, my will, my ego. Control. Fear. Anger. Despair. We all long to feel connected again. Leaves plucked from a tree - death, decay and renewal.