Three from EC in 2016 calendar
Annual child art project a ‘social investment’
ACREATIVE young artist from East London, who only started doing art this year, is one of 13 pupils from around the country whose artwork is featured in the Santam 2016 Child Art calendar.
Six-year-old Sisonke Majola, a Grade R pupil at Cambridge Primary School, is one of three Eastern Cape pupils whose artworks have been selected for the calendar. The others are Michael Prioleau, in Grade 6 at Lilyfontein Primary and Iyakha Xalabile, a Grade 2 pupil at Cotswold Primary in Port Elizabeth.
For the web exhibition, 65 other artworks from the Eastern Cape have also been selected.
The Child Art project is one of South Africa’s oldest social investments projects and was started in 1963 to develop the notion that art is a valuable aspect of human development. The project is aimed at promoting a love of art among youth, and also provides an opportunity to express thoughts and ideas.
Through the years the Santam project has developed into a nationally recognised initiative that now incorporates a national art competition, an online exhibition of selected artworks, an art calendar and informal art centres at schools around the country.
Thirteen winning artworks are selected every year to appear in their calendar. This year, Santam received more than 4 000 entries nationwide. The theme was A Place of Dreams.
Sisonke’s artwork is titled In My Dreams I Have a Dog.
He said he drew inspiration from his teacher and his imagination and that he loved the bright colours.
“I love drawing because it helps show what I’m thinking. Now that I’ve won something I want to draw forever,” he said.
His art teacher, Lisa Dell, said it was very exciting to see a child’s creativity shining through.
“I commend Santam on this project and wonderful opportunity for the children. It allows children’s imagination to take flight and the results are testament to that.
“We are so grateful. Art in South Africa needs this type of exposure and opportunities,” said Dell.
Michael’s artwork is titled The Magical Castle. He says he has a love of fantasy and mythical themes.
“The birds lifting the castle in the artwork added the extra fantasy, I am very happy with this achievement,” said Michael.
Emma Rankin, Michael’s art teacher, said she was extremely proud of him and the creative fun he had in producing the artwork had paid off.
“Art is underrated in terms of a child’s development,” she said. [It] is the one subject that allows a child the freedom to express themselves with no rules or judgment.” —