Local artists get the chance to show off their work
2009-08-27
Liezl Dyson
THE Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Entertainment has recently displayed works of four local emerging artists at an exhibition at the Red Door office in the Shoprite Centre in Paarl. This follows an invitation to emerging artists from the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism to “show us what you can do”. As part of the the Provincial Government, DEDAT, District Art Exhibition Road-show, Gurshwon Wellman from Wellington, Andrew (Andy) Hector, Malukhanye Nkuzo and Kervin Cupido, all from the Paarl area, were given the opportunity to display their work to the public. These artists have been chosen to participate in one of two Winelands legs (the other was recently held in Worcester) in a series of province-wide exhibitions organised by the Department. At the end of September all artists who have exhibited during the roadshow will form part of an adjudication process and 25 artists will be chosen and then commissioned by the Department for further works. However, all the artists who have shared this art exhibition roadshow platform will be included in the Department’s database of artists in the Western Cape Province. The art work of the winners will be displayed in public spaces, on postcards and bookmarks. They will also be helped to start their own businesses. “We want to create a platform for up-coming artists and help them create a sustainable income,” said Viola May, Assistant Director, Arts and Entertainment. Kervin Cupido is already a well-known name in the art industry in Paarl and various other galleries in South Africa. Cupido believes that you should always strive to do better. The others are all artists in their own right who dream of seeing their work on display in art galleries. Gurshwon Wellman too has already sold some of his work through local art societies. “I couldn’t afford to study art formally, but I would like to make a full time career of it.” Wellman currently works at a bank in Wellington. Andrew Hector does maintenance work at Gymnasium High and says he would really like the opportunity to live out his dream of being an artist and earning a living from it. Hector says he taught himself how to paint and would like to learn more about the finer details of art. For now he paints after work because it helps him relax. Malukhanye Nkuzo would like to learn more about art techniques and how to paint. He currently does pencil sketching, but would like to see his work exhibited in art galleries. Labeeqah Schuurman, the Department’s Chief Director of Tourism, Arts and Entertainment, said that it is important for the work of any artist to be noticed and acknowledged. “It has long been apparent that many gifted artists, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, do not have the business skills and indeed in some instances, the life skills, to enable them to make a decent living from their talents. “We believe that an exhibition is an excellent way of introducing the work of up-and-coming artists to a wider audience,” she said.
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