(Art teacher Njabulo Hlongwane showing
Siyanda Mvune how to ink a linoleum tile)
The A J Mwelase Secondary
School is to present Print Making Artworks from their Room 13 at the Lamontville
Library on June 11.
Room 13 is an art
studio run by learners, for the learners, supported by the artist in residency,
Njabulo Hlongwane. Learners are given a safe place in which to explore their
feelings and their imagination. At the same time, they are encouraged to
develop their studio as a business. This means that while developing their
skills they take a journey of self discovery with no limits or boundaries.
The aim of Room 13
is to develop and empower youth with creative and business skills, so that they
can discover their talents and follow suitable traits while at school. The
learners are taught in different art skills and management skills. The learners
are required to manage the studio as a business in a form of a management team.
This is done through holding meetings and deciding on the things that could
generate income into the project. The learners are required to sell and market
the artworks to the members of the public.
“Room 13 was
started in Caol Primary School in Scotland approximately 12 years ago by art
teacher Rob Fairle,” explains Njabulo Hlongwane. “The story goes that, when Rob
was retrenched from the teaching post, the learners wanted him to continue
teaching them and he jokingly asked them that, if they could pay for his salary
he would stay. That is how Room 13 was started and it has grown from one
classroom in Scotland to more than 30 Room 13’s across the world. These include
studios in the UK, USA, Nepal, China Mexico, Canada, India and South Africa.”
Only school-going
learners aged 12 years upwards are allowed to join Room 13. They must be
committed and passionate learners who love doing art, music, drama, poetry and
dance. Room 13 takes place after school hours from 14h30 to 16h00 from Monday
to Friday at A J Mwelase Secondary School.
The artworks on
display on June 11 are part of the print making workshops that were held at the
school. For this workshop, the learners were required to draw a human skeleton
and later to use their imagination to create an appropriate background. The
results are these amazing prints that are on display.
Learners who participated
in the workshop are Asanda Mkhungo, Mbali Finiza, Snethemba Hlabe, Nqobile
Zulu, Siyanda Mvune, Lindani Zulu, Mlungisi Kheswa, Zanele Masiteng, Nombuso
Msani, Snovuyo Mngojo Mveli Ngubane, Andisiwe Hlengwa, Siyamthanda Hlakanyana,
Ntobeko Ndlela and Ayanda Dludla.
The exhibition
takes place at the Lamontville Library on June 11 at 12 noon. For more information contact Njabulo Hlongwane
on 072 600 2575 or email: sheranami@gmail.com
or visit www.room13southafrica.org.za
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