The African Art Centre is hosting its
annual exhibition of lino cuts, mono prints, paintings and jewellery work
produced by students from the Velobala Group. This Group comprises individuals
hailing from disadvantaged backgrounds often with financial difficulties which
prevent them from enrolling for visual arts degrees at formal art institutions.
This initiative was launched in 1994 and since then
the African Art Centre has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to engaging with
young talented artists and allowing them to explore different mediums including
ceramics, drawing, painting, jewellery, printmaking and jewellery design.
This Velobala project is supported by the
Department of Fine Art at the Durban University of Technology. It has reached
over 450 artists and has proved that art is a universal language that can be
used to create employment, educate, heal and develop mutual respect.
In 2012 the African Art Centre received a
financial grant from the Artists for Human Rights Trust to facilitate this
programme. The grant enabled the Centre to host Velobala Fine Art classes
simultaneously with Velobala Jewellery Classes.
Fine Art disciplines embarked on were;
Drawing, facilitated by Bongumenzi Ngobese (fine art graduate); Painting by
Themba Shibase (fine art lecturer and artist) and Linocut facilitated by
Khulekani Ngubane (fine art graduate).
The Jewellery Design modules facilitated by
Taryn Coleman (jewellery design graduate) were formulated to instil principles
of jewellery design and manufacture amongst the group. Design activities
encouraged the students to employ various traditional methods such as chasing
and engraving on a variety of metals, enabling the students to continue with
their jewellery work at home.
The Velobala Jewellery Class also produced
a body of jewellery work for the Annual National Thuthuka Jewellery Competition.
The group performed exceedingly well and each student received an award for
excellent work.
The positive outcomes from the Velobala
Outreach programme were only attained as a result of financial assistance
received from Artists for Human Rights Trust, the WK Kellogg Foundation and the
support of the Durban University of Technology.
The Velobala exhibition also showcases work
by former Velobala Students Malibongwe Shangase, Wonder Mbambo and Lindele
Msweli, who have now embarked on their art careers.
The Velobala Fine Art and Jewellery work
will be on view at the African Art Centre until March 16. For more information
contact the Development Officer, Nozipho Zulu on 031 303 4634.
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