An exhibition of new work will be on display at the African Art Centre in Durban’s Florida Road until May 17.
The works, across an array of mediums, have been created by the Velobala Group and other artists at the African Art Centre.
The Velobala Art Class is an outreach project which was initiated by the centre in 1994.
The centre’s director, Sharon Crampton, said over the past 21 years this project has created vast opportunities for unemployed youth in the arts.
“Velobala is a group of young artists who meet every Saturday morning at the Durban University of Technology. The class is made up of 25 students who participate in the classes for a period of one year. These students are between the ages of about 18 and 25. They are from disadvantaged backgrounds and are unable to afford a tertiary education. We get graduates and lecturers to mentor them in drawing, painting and jewellery making.
“This exhibition is of works that have been created by the group who did the course last year. There are monoprints, drawings, linocuts, ceramics and a variety of other works that will be showcased. We’re a non-profit organisation, so everything sold from the exhibition goes back to the artists to help them generate an income. They either buy more materials with the money they earn, or use it sustain themselves.”
Many students who have participated in the Velobala group in the past have gone on to become some of our well-known artists of today, including the likes of Malibongwe Shangase, Wonder Mbambo, Nkosinathi Gumede, Witty Nyide, Gabisele Nkonsi and Sthenjwa Luthuli.
“The students get a good grounding and you find that after a year, some of them are able to work on their own and go on to become full-time artists.”
Also on view at this exhibition will be a selection of new hand- coiled ceramics by Clive Sithole and Frank Nthunya, paintings by Victor Shange and Siyabonga Sikhosana and an array of unique beaded jewellery.
• Contact the African Art Centre, 94 Florida Rd, Morningside Durban, africanartcentre@afri-art. co.za or 031 312 3804/05.