Port Alfred steps out in full colour
Port Alfred has seen a welcome brightening up of public spaces through eye-catching street art.
First there were the lively contributions of Artship’s Helen Averbuch at the Kelly’s Beach lifesavers platform and hut.
Then came Mook Lion’s whale tail on the roof of the Port Alfred River & Ski Boat Club.
The latest in the colourful revival is a series of paintings on public buildings which were completed just in time for the Port Alfred Easter Festival.
A surfing seagull at the East Beach showers, a beautiful beach theme on the Oriole Road substation and the nowfamous Whale on Wharf Street were completed by recent arrival in Port Alfred, Carmen Kemp.
“Lindsay [Luppnow, Port Alfred Ratepayers & Residents Association chair] and I met a few times, drank lots of good coffee and discussed our ideas for beautifying Port Alfred,” Kemp said.
“I shared my passion for community art projects and the value in getting local people involved.
“Lindsay had identified buildings in need of a facelift.
“She got permission and called for proposals.
“The brief was to keep to a nature theme, nature that relates to our local surroundings.”
“The idea of a whale on Wharf Street appealed to me and we were really happy when we got the go-ahead,” added Kemp, who moved to Port Alfred a little over two years ago.
“With help from the Port Alfred Ratepayers and Residents Association (PARRA), we got the wall prepped.
“ihire got scaffolding for us
and CDR arrived with their cherry-picker. Buco advised us on paints and a few volunteers were available to help us to get the whale up before the Easter weekend.”
The surfing seagull at East Beach and the beach theme on the Oriole Road substation followed soon after.
Kemp said the art projects were all about bringing joy to the community.
“Our aim is that passers-by may be delighted by fresh colours and new shapes. That has certainly been the case in Port Alfred,” she said.
“From locals walking by and stopping to thank us, to motorists hooting as they cheer us on, and holidaymakers who even added a brushstroke or
two, we have received so much encouragement.
“But the most awesome part of these projects is that ordinary people come together to give of their time to paint, create and connect.”
Kemp has worked as a professional artist for decades.
“For some years, I painted almost full-time and exhibited in both group and solo exhibitions.
“Today my work can be found in collections both locally and abroad (US, China, Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, Australia, New Zealand).
“As a fine arts student I was always torn between graphic art and painting. Still today, I find myself involved in both.”—