May 2024
SCAVA News
“a leave a part of me in my art”
Chairperson
From the Chair
Dear SCAVA members,
René Scribante
What an exhilarating time to be part of this association. At the moment we have a membership of 154 artists. SCAVA is nothing without its members and I thank all the members for their contributions to the arts and your support.
We had our AGM on Saturday 9th March 2024 at 10:00 at the George Museum. To the committee who have all been unanimously re-elected, I would like to thank each and every one of you, your support and hard work is commendable, and I am so very grateful to you.
We have done some incredible creative endeavours together. We have been pushing the boundaries by taking hands with other art forms and forming collaborations and I hope that we will go from strength to strength. We upgraded our website and have an Instagram account. Thus making SCAVA more accessible and visible on social media platforms
May SCAVA flourish in everything we do. SCAVA is an association run by artists for artists, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.
SCAVA provides its members the opportunity to take part in exhibitions in the Southern Cape and beyond.
SCAVA’s “Collaborative Flow” Exhibition
SCAVA’s exhibition "Collaborative Flow," took place from march 14th until may 2nd, with 48 artists participating. We embarked on a journey through creativity and expression, as we showcased the remarkable artworks of our SCAVA members. The artists creativity knew no bounds, and their collective efforts had transformed the Sayers Auditorium of the George Museum into a sanctuary of inspiration and wonder.
The transformative influence of music and dance embodied in the Motion Mark Marking workshop led by Hein Botha and the graceful movements of dancer Lynette du Plessis were acknowledged in this process. This collaboration together with the artists artworks produced in the workshop, which could be viewed upstairs in the George Museum has brought a new perspective, adding a dynamic energy and fluidity that resonates throughout every piece that was on display.
As you wandered through "Collaborative Flow," awe hope you allowed yourself to be swept away by the melodies of creativity, the rhythm of inspiration, and the dance of imagination. That the music guided your steps and the art spoke to your soul, for in this collaborative journey, we discovered the true essence of human connection.
We hope this exhibition inspired you to embrace the beauty of collaboration and the transformative power of art in all its forms.
Music, motion, mark making
The 2 sessions that focussed on mark making inspired by music demonstrated the un-rehearsed freeform expressions of individual participants resulting from different music ‘clips’ played during the workshop.
The dancer demonstrated the motion marks resulting from committing her whole being to give expression to the music played during the session.
The purpose of the dance demonstration is the underscore the powerful outward manifestation of our intuitive sensibility inspired by the emotive power of music. A way of unleashing the primal energy and playful child in each of us.
The participants were shown how any individual, regardless of level in ‘artistic skills’ can unlock emotive responses once letting go of social coding or expectations and left brain logic reasoning.
Allowing the heart and hand to dance through mark making.
This lies at the heart of making art. Hein Botha
Recent Exhibitions
SCAVA provides its members the opportunity to take part in exhibitions in the Southern Cape and beyond
Pezula Travelling Supper Event – 20 March 2024
Pezula Championship course is located on the Garden Route in the picturesque town of Knysna. Pezula golf course is undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful 18 holes and hosts an array of both international and local golf enthusiasts.
On the 20th of March, 2024 a Travelling Supper was hosted here where attendees were afforded the opportunity to Indulge in the finest local wines, a beautiful display of local art and a delicious array of canapes around the course followed by dinner at the Pezula clubhouse.
Five of some of our local artists were granted the opportunity to present their artwork at this event.
Terry Horn, Katia Veerapen, Tersia Hoffman, Tanya Lategan and Liezel du Toit presented their artworks throughout the golf course clubhouse, uniquely complimenting and undoubtedly contributing to the success of the entire experience.
Three art sales were made from this opportunity with a great thank you to the organising parties, Ashleigh Weir (Golf director) and his wife , also by the name of Ashleigh Weir, who coordinated the organisation of the event so beautifully.
We as SCAVA are grateful for such unique opportunities to contribute and complement our surrounding community with beautiful art, all the while affording our artists unique settings for granting eager onlookers exposure to their work.
Upcoming Exhibitions
SCAVA’s Newest Exhibitions are on its way!
Winter Wonderland
This year’s SCAVA Winter Wonderland Exhibition is almost here!
Please note, this is not a themed exhibition. So, all art is welcome, bring on those bright colours to keep the winter blues abbey.
Herewith the details:
-Art intake 12 & 13 July
-Exhibitions runs 17 July – 14 August
-Opening evening 19 July @ 18:00
-Art collection 15 & 16 August
The painting used for the poster is by SCAVA member Hein Botha
SCAVA’s Annual “Visual Expressions” Competition and Exhibition
We are thrilled to announce the dates and rules for this year's SCAVA's Visual Expressions annual art competition and exhibition. The event is open to both SCAVA and non-SCAVA members.
Please follow the link to the UPDATED rules and dates: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65719778475a9a5366d0c185/t/65e6c5e8a b0fe56dd0c8dc19/1709622766421/2024+Competition+Rules+%26+Dates.pdf
IMPORTANT DATES:
Submission of Entries:
- Friday, 30th August 2024, between 09:00 and 16:00
- Saturday, 31st August 2024, between 09:00 and 12:00
Award Ceremony:
- Friday, 6th September 2024, at 17:30 for 18:00
Exhibition:
- Friday, 6th September to Saturday, 3rd October 2024
RSVP for Gala and Prize Giving Event:
- By Saturday, 31st August 2024, to admin@scava.co.za
Collection of Art at End of Exhibition:
- Friday, 4th and Saturday, 5th October 2024
PLEASE NOTE: This year, we are introducing a special project for SCAVA members
We invite all participating artists to create a painting on a deep stretched canvas measuring 150 x 150 mm in size. These artworks will be displayed together as a collective whole in the foyer of the Sayers Auditorium and will be sold for R 500 each. Half of the proceeds will go to the artist, and the other half will be donated to Oudtshoorn Dogs in Need. Artists are encouraged to create multiple pieces, but must submit at least one. Non-SCAVA members participating in the competition are also welcome to join this initiative.
Upcoming Exhibitions
This is not a themed competition, please see the categories in the rules.
We look forward to seeing this year's entries!
SCAVA’s Annual General Meeting took place!
SCAVA Annual General Meeting
The SCAVA Committee gave notice of the Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 9th March 2024 at 10:00 at the George Museum.
The AGM allowed our members to re-elect new committee members.
The current committee has been unopposed re-elected, ensuring another year of dedicated service. Special moments were shared with SCAVA’s first-ever members, Bill Bennet and Karl Sembach.
The committee is as follows:
René Scribante - Chairman, Liezel du Toit – Secretary, Kala Combrink – Treasurer, Colin Burgess, Gill Doddington, Hannelien Hattingh, Tersia Hoffmann and Susan Alexander.
Congratulations to the committee upon being re-elected.
Cupcakes and laughter filled the post-meeting celebration!
SCAVA Donates 116 Art Books to the George Regional Libraries to Enrich Community Resources
The Southern Cape Association of Visual Artists (SCAVA) has generously donated 116 art books to the George Regional Libraries, offering a significant resource to the local community and surrounding districts. The donation, which took place on Thursday, April 26, was made possible by a gift to SCAVA from the late artist Spies Venter of Groot Brakriver.
SCAVA, an organization dedicated to promoting the visual arts throughout the Southern Cape, received the collection from Spies Venter, a respected figure in the local arts community. After careful consideration, SCAVA decided that these books would best serve the wider community by donating them to the George Regional Libraries, where they would be accessible to a broader audience.
We are honoured that these books can be shared throughout our region and Spies Venter's legacy lives on through this generous donation. We believe that the knowledge and inspiration contained in these books will benefit artists, students, and art enthusiasts across the Western Cape region.
Marlene Swanepoel, George Regional Librarian, and Elmine Vorster, Reference Librarian, expressed gratitude for the donation. “We are thrilled to receive this collection from SCAVA”
SCAVA’s Membership Fees
For those members who has joined SCAVA before January 2024, your membership is due form 1st June until the 31st of December 2024. It is an amount of R150.00.
AS per our renewed constitution our year now starts on the 1st of January until the 31st of December annually. As there were members already paid up until the 31st of May 2024, only the amount of R150.00 is due for last half of the year to catch you up until the 31st of December 2024.
If you have already caught up your membership until the 31st of December 2024, thank you for your membership renewal.
SCAVA cannot exist without its members, thank you for your support and participation. SCAVA is an association run by artists, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.
SCAVA Name Badge
SCAVA has implementing name badges for our members that can be worn at SCAVA events. It will be R75 per badge. The badge will have the SCAVA logo, your name and surname.
Please email your proof of payment and the name you want on the badge to admin@scava.co.za to order your name badge.
An example
Janet Dixon
The Artist Pet
Someone wrote: “an artist studio without a pet is a lonely one”... a truth from my perspective. In a world where artists are often awkward communicators, a connection with animals is a direct line to comfort, companionship and inspiration. Words are not necessary, and animals are non-judgemental (excluding cats of course!)
This year under head curator Dineke Orton, the KKNK2024 in Oudtshoorn presented a visual art show titled Animalia, focusing on themes like Anthromorphism or the symbolism of animals in art. The Main Festival Artist 2024 was Colbert Mashile, the line-up included legends like Diane Victor, Wilma Cruise and Richard Specs Ndimande, Theo Vorster and sculptor Johan Steyn, interesting colourful newcomer Evert Esterhuizen and interactive shows with glass sculptures (Malebo Molokoane) and paper (Odette Graskie).
As part of Animalia I was asked to curate a show titled The Artist’s Pet, which, initially, I thought rather banal until I mused that many famous artists lives were integrated with their pets, (as is my own): Frida Kahlo had a menagerie; Andy Warhol wrote and illustrated a booklet on cats; Salvador Dali had two ocelots, true to his flamboyant style and Leonardo Da Vinci would buy caged birds at the Market just to set them free!
The list of exhibiting participants included ceramacists Katja Abbot, Steven Bosch and Billy McNaughton; the beautiful evocative work of Katherine Bull; sculptor Cornelia Stoop with her large dimension Baboon works; up and coming and award winning realism painter Matthew Blackburn; the exquisitely crafted works of Amé Bell and Nina Torr; Adela Friedmann’s enigmatic animal abstracts and glitter artist Katherine Meeding. The artists from the Karoo area were Freek Steenberg with his beautifully finished found wood creations, Ina Marx with oils in her distinct expressive style. Janet Dixon with alcohol ink works on glass and relative newcomer to the scene, Yvette Hess.
Putting together a meaningful display of so many artists was a challenge, and the show was presided over by Katherine Bulls two regal animal portraits. While Cornelia Stoop’s two Baboon sculptures stood guard, evoking many recollections of these animals of the Hermanus area, with hints of Thoth symbology. Talking about the works to festivalgoers was a pleasure. The story of Freek’s “My Very Unsuccessful Hunting Dog”, full of the pathos and joy of a dogs walk in the wild was my favourite to tell. My alcohol ink on glass work reflects the peace I too find in the Karooveld with my own canine companions. Mystical artist Ina Marx, who lives in a house on a hill in the veldt says enigmatically “My pets are outside of the fixed….My comfort pets are with birdlife...They know how to make morning sleep redundant.”…Yvette Hess painted a very poignant pivotal oil on canvas painting based on her own life experience with her faithful dog Jackson, and I expect to see much more of her on the local art scene soon.
This in short was the Artist’s Pet visual exhibition… but just dipping a toe into the enormous lake that is the relationship between animals and creatives!
Artist Janet Dixon
In the Spotlight -_Ink on double glass by Janet Dixon
Happy Sky Howl by Ina Marx
Oracle Sculpture by Cornelia Stoop
Reclining Dog oil on canvas by Katherine Bull and Loyalty Dog in ceramic by Billie McNaughton
My Very Unsucessful Hunting Dog By Freek Steenberg and Peace Man by Cornelia Stoop
Skrikkelkat in oil & Glitter on canvas Pepper & Flashh Linocuts by Amé Bell by Katharine Meeding
Yvette Hess delivering her oil painting En Gardé
René Gomes exhibited in “Fine Line”
This specific exhibition was hosted by The Drawing Guild- an association that gives a platform to artists working in dry mediums, on this occasion, “Fine Lines” was specifically miniatures only, specifications include no one side if the artwork is greater than 17cm in length including the frame and that the subject should be 1/6 of the real size.
The Miniature Art Society of South Africa (MASSA) has all the specifications of what a miniature is and more information https://miniatureartsocietyofsa.co.za)
MASSA and The Drawing Guild co-hosted this exhibit which was one stand and the greater, Art in the Country 2024, a 4 day exhibit of artist from all over South Africa, in Hilton, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
It was a fantastic challenge for me, René Gomes, a wildlife pastel pencil artist, to try my hand at miniatures which are a really exciting, different thinking challenge. Three of my entries were accepted and exhibited in May. They were drawn from my own photographs of various birds along the Chobe River, Botswana.
To other artists, I would highly recommend giving this very rewarding format a try in any medium. The smaller size is less of a commitment and really makes you think! Super fun!
Helen Pfeil, a dedication to her father: Lighthouses
I have dedicated this body of work to my father Mac Stewart, who joined the light-service as a young man and served for 40 years until his retirement in 1966. I was born in 1941 when we were stationed at Seal Point lighthouse on the Eastern Cape coastline. My sister and I had a wonderful and exciting childhood as we were transferred every 2 to 3 years to a different station. Sometimes near a city but mostly in very remote areas. A truly amazing life.
Please follwing the link to this incredible body of art work, dedicated to Helen’s father. https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:326d1e9a-617a-4eef-aed5-7a211a3fea9f
SCAVA Member News
Art selected for Bruise Gallery
Two of Cathy Fourie’s painting selected for Bruise Gallery
Four of my paintings were submitted to Bruise Gallery of which two were selected for this exhibition. The Exhibition titled 'Peculiar/Eienaardig' is on at the Bruise Gallery in Swellendam until end of June. As usual there was a very well attended opening night with a buzzing, festive atmosphere.
It is so nice to be able to exhibit in different places/towns to get additional exposure.
These two paintings are both watercolour and are based on photos I took of the shipwreck at Glentana.
Keep painting!
Cathy Fourie
Member online platform opportunity.
Artscatalogue
Liezel du Toit (SCAVA’s secretary) have launched an art marketing/online art selling platform for local artists work to be afforded online expose in the form of online marketing of artworks and access to online selling of artwork.
The service is aimed to afford artists the opportunity to get their artwork online and to allow buyers to buy their work through an online platform.
As SCAVA members you have access to this service at a reduced rate. See the pricelist attached.
Below are links to the social media platforms and what some of our artists profiles look like. Website: https://artscatalogue.co.za/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551333988168&mibextid=LQQJ4d Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artscatalogueza?igsh=Z3M0ZzFjanh6cWhh&utm_source=qr
Feel free to send her a message if this piques your interest or if you have any questions. She would be happy to give you more information.
Contact:
Liezel du Toit 0648195308 admin@artscatalogue.co.za
SANAVA Member News
Share your news of Exhibitions that you are part of with SCAVA, we would love to share them!
SANAVA News Letters
Links to SANAVA News Letter of the last 2 months.
April 2024 https://mailchi.mp/8b96cfe61ae3/sanava-matters-february-15942596
May 2024 https://mailchi.mp/b76f55384ff1/sanava-matters-may-2024
June 2024 https://mailchi.mp/c1c0b9d1b477/sanava-matters-june-17131895
End Colour is the light reflected by an object.
Inspirational Quote
Claude Monet
“What keeps my heart awake is colourful silence”
