AfricanColours - A New Greatmore Art Studios Initiative

South Africa Fri 19-11-2010

A New Greatmore Art Studios Initiative - Art Bus
By a Correspondent

When the Khoisan christened South Africa’s most recognisable mountain “Hoerikwaggo” or “Sea Mountain” it seems fortuitous that centuries later a vast ocean of creative souls would congregate in its maternal embrace.

Artist at work | Image: Greatmoreart.org

Greatmore Studios has recently acquired a bus which The National Lottery kindly funded and has since undertaken an initiative that will assist this creative, socially-conscious NGO’s accessibility to communities that are out of reach.

Art has been known to move people in profound ways and it’s this notion that has prompted Greatmore Studios to move the art to the people, with its core emphasis being to create a sustainable network that operates beyond the confines of ‘elegantly-lit’ galleries in the CBD.

Taking inspiration from the Community Transport buses found in countries such as Panama, India, Philippines, India and Haiti, Greatmore intends to bring visitors to its studio location as well as other inspiring art spaces as part of its Art Tour.

The Art Tours will run twice a month on Fridays and its buses have been specially modified to house screens, projectors and sound facilities. The tours will embark on journeys of various arts galleries, project spaces and studios of Woodstock with 15-20minutes devoted to each stop.

As a “mobile gallery” the Greatmore Art Bus will provide a temporary creative infrastructure as part of its rural outreach programme as well make the bus available for private functions as a means to generate revenues in an attempt to become more self sufficient.

Edwin Pennicott and Tom Fleming, resident artists from the UK, recently did a workshop at Greatmore Studios with local artists to assimilate the elements that would best communicate the essence of what the bus represents. They have been inspired by the local community as well as the aesthetic elements that contribute to Woodstock’s alluring bohemian charm. Their work will be unveiled at the end of November 2010 at Greatmore Studios.

During the Greatwalk in July, artists collaborated with the community of Greatmore Street, turning homes into temporary galleries as well as taking visitors on guided bus tours through Woodstock.

It was this unconventional cultural immersion that redefined the way Capetonians should be exploring and showcasing their city. With a majority of visitors to our shores opting to explore beyond suggestions of shopping at the Waterfront and having a coffee on Long Street, “Alternative Tourism” initiatives such as these have spawned a creative revolution which has come to serve as the energetic foundation to the Urban Renewal Program the City of Cape Town has proposed.

Participants at a meeting at Greatmore arts studio| Image: Greatmoreart.org

As a living, breathing entity, Cape Town’s social eco-system has undergone a profound awakening post-World Cup and it seems the exponential cross-pollination of culture, history, art and music will continue to serve as conduits to the City’s progression to a first-class destination for all the people of the world.

For more info please contact Greatmore Studios, 47-49 Greatmore Street, Woodstock Tel: +27 (0) 21 447 9699 | Fax: +27 (0) 88 021 447 9699 e-mail: info@greatmoreart.org | Website: www.greatmoreart.org

Posted By: Hirum Ndungu

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