THE Hilton Arts Festival has joined hands with the Midlands Meander to launch the Midlands Meander Emerging Artist/Crafter Project which provides opportunities for previously disadvantaged artists and crafters to join the Meander family.
According to Midlands Meander’s general manager, Ingrid Andersen, the project is possible because of the generous support of the N3 Toll Concession.
She shares: “The work of the two participants of the new Midlands Meander Emerging Artist/Crafter Project will be showcased at the Hilton Arts Festival. This year, the two artists nominated by members of the Midlands Meander are Siyabonga Duma and the Impumelelo Bead Artists. This project aims to use the resources of the Midlands Meander brand to provide talented, previously disadvantaged artists with marketing expertise to which they otherwise would not have had access. In addition, they will participate in a three-year accredited business-skills training programme and benefit from ongoing business mentoring.”
There will be a variety of works on offer at the festival. Anderson reveals: “Ardmore Ceramic’s iconic, internationally-renowned ceramic pieces will be available, as well as Astrid Dahl’s organic clay pieces inspired by leaf, flower and seed capsule shapes. The leatherwork of Groundcover Leather Company, handmade on the farm in Curry’s Post, comprises a variety of leather products, including a range of Nguni skins and products. Visitors can enjoy the scents of all-natural products such as creams, essential oils, soaps, organic pickles and jams from Peter’s Gate Herbal Centre. A celebration of two decades of quality workmanship from The Goodwin Foundry will be on exhibit, with collection of bronze sculptures from a variety of artists, including Sarah Richards, who is also a Midlands Meander member. More metalwork can be found at Sterling’s Wrought Iron, where traditional black-smithing is combined with modern metalwork techniques to produce a range of wrought iron pieces. For hands-on creativity, the stained glass and pottery specialists from Aladdin’s-De-Light Studio will share their experience with practical workshops. New glass works and a range of ceramic vessels from the studio will also be on show.”
Furniture-crafter Duma and the Impumelelo Bead Artists are the first participants to benefit from the Midlands Meander’s empowerment initiative.
“Siyabonga Duma is an excellent cabinet-maker and furniture craftsman who had worked for Corrie Lynne Furniture for eight years before starting his own small furniture workshop in Mpopomeni, which he has run for two years. The Impumelelo Beaders/Artists Co-Operative had its beginnings in 2001, when a group of rural woman was brought together to make beaded jewellery as Ubuhle Beautiful Beads. In 2007 the beaders established themselves into the Impumelelo Co-operative.”
So what can art lovers expect from the Emerging Artist/Crafter Project?
Andersen says: “The Impumelelo Beaders create exquisitely detailed beaded portraits, landscapes and wildlife images as well as wearable art and collectable items. Duma’s work is functional – finely-crafted furniture and wooden artefacts. Sought-after, he creates bespoke work.”
• Midlands Meander Emerging Artist/Crafter Project launches tomorrow at the Hilton Arts Fest at the Hilton Arts Block. 6pm. See hiltonfestival.co.za/craft-market.