Matric Art Exhibition

My matrics have had a hectic couple of weeks with the disruption of the strike, only to get back to school and have to get their final exhibition up by Tuesday, 14 September.

They are absolute stars, though, as they didn't blink an eye and are putting their work up as I speak.

the invitation to the opening

Art Camp 2010

We have been taking our matrics on an Art camp for longer than I care to remember. It has become quite an institution and a wonderful way of creating a bond within the group.

As this year has been a year of change and disruption, the group was small, but this did not diminish the fun we had. We have our own site at T.O.Strand, just North of Port Edward.


 The weekend includes Land Art and various fun activities.

Land Art in the making

too cold outside, so the kitchen became our studio

beach soccer

a cross on the hill

Crazy-making stuff

We heard yesterday that the date for the matric final art exhibition is on Tuesday, 14 September! - less than a week away. I am so proud of my class - they didn't bat an eye at the news and it's all systems go.  We are setting up their work from Friday, and the moderation takes place on Tuesday.

this was them in Gr 11 2009 - now a tad older and wiser, but still great fun

The official opening will take place on Monday evening - such a good thing after the prolonged strike. We will all feel better after having achieved and completed something positive.

carl's animated video

 

Carl Leisegang, my assistant, teacher-in-training, inspiration for all things young and creative, created this music video for a study project.  He is currently doing his B.A. Multi-Media majoring in Digital Visual Arts and created this video using stop-frame animation. It consists of 1003 frames.

ENJOY!

Mosaics

Grade 11 Visual Arts learners constructing mosaic designs outside the art rooms. The brief was to come up with a design inspired by Early Christian, Byzantine and Islamic Art.  The plan is to fill in the gaps every year until we have covered the whole paved area.

This project proved to be a time-consuming process, but was well worth the effort as the end result is beautiful

learners who study Design were given a square format to work on

Square format use by Design students

carl's animated video

images in sepia

Tennis day at Normandale

I was raised on a sheep farm, Normandale, in the Southern Free State. Every farm had a clay tennis court and regular tennis days were held to which all the neigbours were invited. Everyone contributed to the lunch and spent the entire day playing tennis.

In this phot are my paternal grandparents, "Cookie" (Edith) fifth from the left and "Oupie", Stephen Denyssen seated on the far right.

My mom was pregnant with me and she is seated second from the left. My dad, david, is seated on the ground on the right. Next to him is my late uncle Jock campbell, one of my favourite people. He was a marine biologist and photographer who travelled to Antartica and was wonderful to listen to.

The preparation of the clay surface was a major procedure. We had to collect broken ant-heaps from the veld which were crushed and rolled out onto the tennis court while being sprayed with water.

The last step was to mark out the lines using a contraption on wheels which slowly fed whitewash down a spout along a brush.  The heavy old tennis net had to be raised and the height measured using a tennis raquet resting on its side on an upright one.  

blustery day

Definitely a "Blustery day" as Winnie the Pooh would say. South-Easter howling outside.

winter sun through my window.

Fortunately I am snug as a bug at my desk.