Annette du Plessis and another small group of South African artists as artists worthy to invest in.
Added: (Sun Nov 01 2009)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
The recent global media coverage on South African Anti-Apartheid painter Helen Anne Petrie (1932.2006) has raised much debate. Annette du Plessis and another small group of South African artists were mentioned as artists worthy to invest in.
They all hope that the general norm of only supporting South African artists AFTER their deaths will start changing, and very soon.
In Nelson Mandela Bay it is sad to see some brilliant artists ending up doing other work as they are not able to survive through their art as they are not exposed to potential art collectors, neither have studios in the City's busy spots, as is happening in other places in the Country or world.
Many years ago, just after their Democratic Dispensation, the visual artists of Nelson Mandela Bay spoke with one voice under the Port Elizabeth Arts and Council and requested that the then municipally owned old Post Office Building be made available as a Central Community Art Centre which was unfortunately ignored.
The historic and beautiful building was eventually sold to an Irish Investor and remained vacant (He was recently a much discussed topic on a South Africa television program named Carte Blanche for his reputation of allowing dereliction and vandalism to happen on buildings he purchases.)
Unfortunately like in other places in South Africa - the building has become vandalised.
The local Nelson Mandela Development Agency, however - through their passion for the Arts, have been working on getting many local artists on board in major development projects, and they, the artists, will always remain deeply grateful to them.
They want to be able to be productive as the talented and recognised artists whom we are 24/7. Just as sports people need venues, we as visual artists need studios!
So, they encourage everyone to make an appeal to the Business Sector to invest into the minimal upliftment of some of our old vacant buildings in the City Centre - as identified by our artists (not outsiders as we are visionary people and know what would be most economically viable) to be suitable spots as studios.
LIVING South African artists ALSO have a great contribution to make, please allow them to do so.
The Story Behind HER Art Expressions…
Creative thinking has been a natural aspect of her life since earliest recollection. She remembers vividly as a 5 year old how she used to build installations on the banks of the river, where her extended family had a farm.
She had so many questions about life already and was specifically intrigued by the universe, animals, plants, and the difference between the various types of people on the farm (it was during apartheid years and racism was rife).
Sadly - her dad had a problem with unpredictable anger outbursts and I feared him tremendously.
She became quite "developed" creatively because art in a way was a means to escape and live in another world - where she needed no additional friends - and no additional love.
At the age of 17 after she nearly died in a serious accident - she came under the awesome and loving power of God. General aspects about her life began to fall into place and she realised that her suffering and abuse evaporated totally and completely in the presence of God.
She is however far from living a real godly life - yet she knows that the creative energies within her - are not of her own - but run through her because of God's choice into and through her life - and she is so grateful for this blessing - She am learning about deeper meanings of existence – as she goes along expressing deep yearnings and thoughts that spontaneously well up inside...
She creates art without any prior planning - for her it is essential that she empties herself of herself - and allows her senses to pick up and spill out sounds and patterns and movements from the unseen world. She "hears music" as she does art and she feels “creative movements through her mind" like dancing patterns. This happens away and at the canvas.
Her desire is that viewers should interact with "her" artwork and that they find solace - which they be provoked to become better people - filled with love and compassion for others.
Some general background and her Art CV
Skills Arts and Crafts -,Painting, Drawing, Collage, Sculpture, Ceramics, Paper Mache, Jewellery making, Textile design, Textile printing, Embroidery, Beadwork, Tapestry, Lino printing, etc;
People orientated skills - Counselling and & ministering to children
International Project - Partnership NMMM & Göteborg
Volunteered at Masikulisane – Soweto by the sea, HIV orphans and neglected/abused children arts facilitation and counselling
Achievements -
Anti apartheid activist - moved into townships beginning 1989- active in civic structures and women’s organisations 1989 to 1994
Political - Head ANC Cultural Desk Port Elizabeth and surrounding areas, 1996 to 1997; SACP – treasurer Eastern Cape province 1993/4
Artist - National tour of work to major galleries in South Africa, Diploma of Excellency from Department of Arts and Culture; winner “City to City’ scholarship to Kunstepedimin artist residency 2001 (Göteborg, Sweden)
Founder - Founded Siyaya Centre for Young Arts in NMMM on return from Sweden, 2001. From end 2002 to 2005 was invited to be consultant for children’s art for the NMMM & Göteborg partnership and employed professional artists developed, coordinated and managed children’s art projects at Metro Libraries, Arthur Nyobo school, New Brighton Community and Masikulisane HIV orphans. SIDA report point4.1.1solplaatje.za/swedish_partship/evaluation;
Professional Artist:
1989 - 2005 Imvaba 1989 – 1994 Community Artist – doing banners, t shirt logo’s, posters, facilitating workshops with children
King George Art Gallery – facilitator for Gerald Sekoto Day of the Child workshops, several years
Siyaya Centre for Young Arts – Founder and Director from 2001, employed professional artists on part-time basis to run workshops with school pupils, community kids
Partnership Nelson Mandela Municipality Metropole and Göteborg City – acted as consultant, project developer, organiser and manager (arts and culture sector)
HIVAN Kwa Zulu Natal – been working with HIVAN (Jill Kruger) to form part of HIVAN’ job creation team (art therapy children) for two years.
Her Current additional activates include…
Research and Development- Land Art
Researching and organising Land Art project for the Metro that would be phased over some years and in coordination with local scientists, various structures, artists, community and learners.
Since January 2006 employed as Marketing Officer for Red Location Museum
Her specialised Collage Technique
1. Do the design on paper
2. Gather as many magazines - especially magazines with interesting textural content like "House and Leisure", "Architectural Digest", etc.
3. Tear interesting pieces from these magazines
4. Begin pasting paper pieces and even fabric, netting etc into the design
5 Blend with paints, inks, pens and pencils and even embroidery
6 It is important to constantly stand back from the works and correlate the feelings inside with what is manifolding on the design - evaluate meanings - search for deeper thoughts and rhythm that wells up inside
7 The collage is build up in layers over layers and some parts scratched through with sharp implement - tissue paper is also used to blend areas
8 Neatness is important and the work is only completed when every little particle is scrutinised over and over - constantly learn from what the image is saying
She recently published an article titled “Home is where the art is for white New Brighton woman”
(By Karen van Rooyen)
ANNETTE du Plessis was named “Vuyiswa”, Xhosa for happiness, by her new friends when she first moved to the Port Elizabeth township of New Brighton.
Today, nearly 17 years later, she is still happy to live there even though few, if any, other whites have followed her example.
Du Plessis, a multi-skilled artist whose work includes sculpture and collages, moved to the township after spending a weekend there in 1989.
Now she is looking forward to the official opening of the Red Location Cultural Museum in September. She said: “It’s so amazing that the spot where the museum has been built is where I made the decision to move to New Brighton.
“When I went into that museum two months ago, I was overcome with emotion because I saw that doors were opening for other developments in New Brighton and South Africa.”
Du Plessis, 50, had been visiting the township on an exchange programme arranged by an organisation called Koinonia and the National Initiative for Reconciliation during 1989 which saw different racial groups switching homes for a weekend.
The following week she decided to move there permanently.” I was shocked that I’d been so apathetic,” she said.
But Du Plessis’ apathy soon turned into passion for her community, a place she describes as “farm life congested into the city”.
Between fighting for basic municipal services to be restored in the area and raising her 13-year old son, Khaya Mfo, Du Plessis also runs the Siyaya Centre for Young Arts, which she founded at the local Arthur Nyobo Primary School.
She met Khaya’s father while the two were activists in the community and while no longer in a relationship, they are still friends. Du Plessis, who also has two grown sons, Yucca, 22, and Keran, 21, says she had to put up with accusations by people that she had turned her back on whites.
However, the change she has seen in her chosen surroundings has made any negative reactions worthwhile.
“It’s wonderful to see the tarred road. Before, the roads here were full of stones, and shoes did not last. It’s awesome . . . wonderful how this area’s been developed. There are playgrounds and I’m so proud.”
Du Plessis has learned Xhosa and although she doesn’t speak it much, she understands it – and loves being in a place where “nobody’s ever been rude to me”.
“The people here are very spontaneous, they have no inhibitions and for me as an artist, that’s amazing,” she said.
Her young pupils at the Siyaya centre are working on a paper maché cow – “because cows are so popular”. The cow will form part of an exhibition for the museum’s opening celebrations scheduled for mid-September.
Du Plessis regularly brings in Swedish artists to conduct workshops with the children following a one-month stint in Gothenburg three years ago.
Her years in New Brighton have allowed her to voice her opinions on every topic under the sun and while she once encouraged other white people to go into the townships, she has nothing against those who stay away.
“If a person can afford to live next to the beach, let them.
“I often have people here who say: ‘Why did our comrades move out’, and I say if they can afford to, then let them. They don’t have to remain in areas where they were once oppressed.”
Du Plessis, who was born in Cape Town, comes from a family of artists and thanks to her eccentric yet “extremely conservative” father, moved around and lived in Namibia before moving to Pretoria.
It was while hitch-hiking around the country that she ended up in Port Elizabeth – and she hasn’t looked back. “I just loved it here.”
weekendpost.co.za/main/2005/06/11/news/nl05_11062005
Her most notable exhibitions include…
Expos Solo (Listing)
Partnership NMMM & Göteborg City - scholarship award artist-in-residence Konst Epidemic, SE, 2001
• Expos Collective (Listing)
FNB Vita Crafts merit award for embroided waistcoat, 1989 Department of Arts and Culture, Eastern Cape - Certificate of Excellency, 1999