ART IN THE HEART OF THE KAROO Prince Albert Open Studios: Winter Edition Thursday June 16th to Sunday June 19th, 10am to 5 pm daily. www.princealbertopenstudios.co.za
Blue Board welcomes visitors to Sue Hoppes Studio. Opposite page top: Kevin de Klerk working on the new dustbins around town. Opposite page bottom: Detail from jewellery designer, Di van der Riet Steyn’s studio
S
ince its inception 5 years ago, Prince Albert Open Studios has gained much traction with art lovers and afficionados, both local residents and visitors from afar. This could have something to do with the town itself, which encapsulates all the charm and warmth of this gem in the Karoo and a cando approach to life, making it something of a creative hub that has attracted a surprisingly high number of respected artists. The relaxed, laid-back atmosphere is enlivened by the contrasts and extremes that typify the Karoo. The resident artists are, likewise, a diverse bunch and there is always a sort of ebb and flow as some leave town and others move in, so there is always something fresh going on. While some open studios are characterised by strict organisation and structure, we relish
44
the individuality (dare I say ‘eccentricity’?) and independent spirit of our members. As Barbara Castle, editor of the Prince Albert Friend, wrote after the first event 6 years ago, “The Prince Albert Open Studios is driven by the enthusiasm and talent of local artists… There isn’t a committee. There isn’t a board. “We don’t ‘do’ meetings. We just ‘do’ art”... The joy is that each artist has the freedom to offer visitors a private look at their particular creative process. Some do it with music, some with wine, some with soft silence.” Since then, we’ve grown a lot, and some degree of organisation has evolved, but even this is a flexible process and members are currently gravitating towards “going back to our roots,” keeping it a distinctly laid-back but high-quality Prince Albert experience, pretty much like everything else about this special place!
W W W. A R T T I M E S . C O . Z A
