Teaching in South Africa 2001-2004
NEDCOR ART IN THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FOR THE WATERBERG BIOSPHERE RESERVE:
I started teaching when in South Africa in 2001. I had moved to the Waterberg to continue my sculpting of wildlife and on meeting Clive Walker (a conservationist and artist) we decided that it would be rather wonderful if my stay could benefit the local community by setting up regular art lessons mainly for children. Art is a subject that was not offered in remote rural schools in South Africa and it was felt that traditional African pottery skills were being rather lost to the younger generation.
We set up the project from very small beginnings and it operated for the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO). I was the voluntary teacher and project co-ordinator and was solely responsible for the project. As most of the students were between the ages of 8-15 (although there were several participants from 19-60 years old), this project was primarily educational rather than leading to a business and as such it was necessary for the project to be funded. Although at the outset Clive and Conita Walker generously provided funding I realised to do it properly we needed more support, so I approached charities and businesses for grants. Very quickly the Nedcor Foundation stepped in to sponsor the project with supporting matching grants from Business and Arts South Africa.
Between 2001-2004 I taught a total of 60 students, most from Refihlile School and around R10, 000 (£1,000) in total was taken for sales of the work produced. All felt this was really quite remarkable as the majority of the students were children. Proceeds from sales were split between the students and the project running costs.
I organised and took group trips and in 2002 a workshop was held with Joanna Moshidi, a Pedi potter living in the Waterberg, as it was decided that it was important her skills be passed on in order that her traditional African techniques, (which involve sourcing all materials from the surrounding bush), are not lost in this area.
The student’s work was exhibited at The Society of Wildlife Artists Annual exhibition, London, UK in 2003 and in July 2004 an exhibition was held for the project at Nedcor Sandton, Johannesburg, which was a great success. As a result of the Nedcor exhibition Joanna Moshidi was asked to be a guest exhibitor at a National Ceramics Exhibition at the Pretoria Art Gallery in September 2004. Quite an achievement. Sadly the project has now closed as Nedcor could not continue their sponsorship and I needed to return to the UK.
SUMMARY OF PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS:
2001:
- The project was set up in April 2001 with limited budget.
- The class was filmed by Discovery TV as part of a series with Michaela Strathern and Chris Packham.
2002:
- The project expanded due to sponsorship from The Nedcor Foundation and a supporting grant from Business and Arts South Africa, which continued until mid 2004.
- Work was first exhibited in the Waterberg Museum art gallery in late 2001.
- A talented pupil, Martins Masalesa was sponsored for the year to stay at Refihlile School.
- The Society of Wildlife Artists, awarded the project a grant.
- The project had publicity in Country Life South Africa and in SA Millionaire.
- Camilla took on Rosie Boya as a teaching assistant and she was trained until end 2003.
- A special exhibition at the Waterberg Museum was set up for the World Summit visitors.
- We took part in a Garden Exhibition at Triple B Ranch as well as an exhibition at The Black Mamba Gallery, Vaalwater.
2003:
- Selected works were exhibited at the Society of Wildlife Artists Annual Exhibition, London, UK.
- Exhibition at The Black Mamba Gallery, Vaalwater.
- Project featured as part of a series on Radio 4, UK.
- One of the sculptures was raffled off at a fundraising event at the Waterberg Museum to raise funds for projects run from the museum.
2004:
- I took a school trip to George Masebe Reserve to see Stone Age rock art and Iron Age storage pots.
- Clay and tools supplied to two talented pupils that had left Refihlile for Vaalwater Secondary School in order that they can continue their clay work.
- A final Exhibition at Nedcor Sandton, raised R2, 700 in sales which Nedcor matched.
- Publicity: Fourways Review, Sandton Chronicle, Africa Geographic, Talk Radio 702.
- As a result of the publicity Joanna Moshidi was asked to be a guest exhibitor at The National Exhibition for the Association of Potters of South Africa at the Pretoria Art Museum, then following this at a Garden Exhibition in Pretoria. Several of her pots sold.
- The project is featured in the book: Due South - Art and Craft Routes in South Africa.
- The class studio was moved to Refihlile School where many of the students are based and close to where several of the adult participants live and Lizzie Monyeki is taken on as assistant teacher.
- Exhibition at the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve Open Day, Vaalwater.
OTHER TEACHING:
2001-03: Weekly private art / sculpture / pottery lessons for 10 children (aged 5-14) in the Waterberg, S.Africa.
2004: Clay sculpture classes at Gillian Bickell Ceramics, Johannesburg: Taught adults in weekly classes.
2004: Imbali community project, Kagiso Township: Sculpture workshops - Taught clay modelling to 10+ students (aged 15-18), also advised on improvements at the studio to encourage learning, motivation and organisation.