Creativity in lockdown

JAVET ART CENTRE: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA FACILITY’S COMPETITION

Entries poured in for an opportunity to win prizes valued at R900.

Even amid the current uncertainty of the coronavirus lockdown, it would appear the creative, artistic muse is alive and well at the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria.

Th institution recently invited South Africans to create lockdown art, proving that people are doing more than baking banana bread during our social distancing limitations.

With Javett-UP offering four prizes, each valued at R900, to at-home artists in its giveaway competition that was run in April across its social media platforms, entries poured in.

However, while the works were out of this world, only a handful could take home the bacon.

In a statement issued shortly after the selection was made, Javett-UP director Christopher Till said: “The sheer variety of work that was photographed and submitted attests to the fact that the wonderful and inspiring spirit of creativity and expression transcends boundaries, overcomes limitations and looks to the future.”

The winners, who will each receive a complimentary personalised guided tour of JavettUP, include Mari Brightmore (Wave of Covid, acrylic on stretched canvas),

Vian Roos (Untitled, cardboard and thread), Molly Catherine Roberts (Hausmayhem, paper craft) and Hardus Koekemoer (Last

Bird, mixed media on found book cover).

The prizes will be valid as soon as Javett-UP opens after lockdown and may be used for up to three months after reopening. Speaking to The Citizen about when the institution planned on opening, Dr Samuel Isaacs, interim chief executive officer at the Javett Art Centre, said this depends on the present national lockdown regulations.

“We will, however, reopen as soon as lockdown regulations allow. We hope this will be soon. In the meantime, members of the public can enjoy an artwork-by-artwork virtual exploration of our 101 Collecting Conversations: Signature Works of a Century exhibition by following Javett-UP on social media platforms.”

The exhibition shows, among a variety of featured works, how artists have responded to their time and environment with extraordinary and innovative works of art: from video installations to a sculpture carved from dozens of bibles glued together.

“Art gives us all a window into our collective human experiences, be they uplifting and affirming, or confrontational and divisive,” said Till. – Citizen reporter

Only a handful could take home the bacon