Thupelo

Thupelo workshops

Thupelo workshops are not only a space for artists to make art; they are also a space for the exchange of ideas, experiences, techniques and disciplines, thereby creating the conditions for artists to experiment and find new or different forms of expression. In essence, it is the interaction between artists from diverse cultural, national and social backgrounds that provides the workshops with a creative energy that is more than likely to influence the work of participating artists.


The Thupelo workshops are styled on the Triangle Arts Trust's artists workshops, the first of which was held in New York in 1982. Since then, workshops based on the Triangle prototype have taken place on a regular basis in thirty-seven countries, with nearly 3000 artists participating in events.

All workshops are organised and convened by local artists and art administrators in the countries in which they are held. They are run for an uninterrupted period of ten days to two weeks and are attended by between twenty and twenty-five artists. In the case of international workshops, half the number of participants are from the host country.

A feature of each workshop is the Workshop Open Day, which provides a unique opportunity for the public to interact with the artists and to view the wide variety of vibrant and highly original artworks and works in progress created during the workshop.

The first Thupelo workshop held in Africa took place in 1985 in Johannesburg. At the end of the 1980s, Thupelo moved to Cape Town, where it held its first artists workshop in 1990. National and regional workshops are held annually – depending on funding – and are attended by artists from South Africa, Africa and abroad.

The first Thupelo International Artists Workshop in Cape Town was held in 1995. Subsequent workshops took place in 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. Thus far, over 200 artists from different parts of the world have participated in these workshops. Workshops have been held in Cape Town, on Robben Island, and at the Goedgedacht Centre near Malmesbury.

Following the success of the Thupelo workshops, Thupelo Cape Town and the Triangle Arts Trust established Greatmore Studios, a facility that provides long-term studio space for local artists and three-month residencies for visiting artists from elsewhere in South Africa, Africa and abroad. It also offers exhibition space for resident artists and runs outreach programmes.

Greatmore Studios is the third in a series of residency studios established with the support of the Triangle Arts Trust in different parts of the world. Similar initiatives include the Bag Factory in South Africa, Thapong in Botswana, Kuona Trust in Kenya, Gasworks in the United Kingdom, Caribbean Contemporary Arts in Trinidad and Tobago and Khoj in India.

Current Workshops

There are currently no Thupelo Workshops running. The next workshop is scheduled for 2010.

Recent  Workshops

THUPELO ART AND CRAFT WORKSHOP 2008

The beginnings of the Thupelo Mentoring Workshop were organic. With serendipitous funding from the National Art Council six weeks prior to the start, a call for applications was made to artists in the community. To meet the deadline, people were forced to respond quickly; the first 19 artists who submitted applications were accepted with no formal selection process observed. Artists resident at Greatmore Studios were invited to participate as well as two learners who had formed part of artists' outreach workshops in Woodstock . The opportunity gave all the artists a space to interact and exchange artistic techniques-less experienced artists worked alongside professional artists with the hope of extending and deepening their art practice. The workshop culminates in an open studio exhibition on 13 December 2008 from 14h00 until 16h00 at Greatmore Studios where participating artists share works in progress with the community.

To learn more about past Thupelo workshops

Thupelo Art and Craft Workshop 2008
Open Studio Exhibition
Saturday, 13 December 2008
14h00 - 16h00
Greatmore Studios’ Event Space
Work in progress will be exhibited.
VIEW IMAGES

PARTICIPANTS:
A’isha Dollie (Cape Town), Dean Laminie (Cape Town), Ena Carstens (Cape Town), Eric Globia Bende (Congo, Kinshasa), Ferdinand Love (Cape Town), Glen Arendse (Cape Town), Isabel Reina (Spain), Jade Gibson (UK), Janet Ranson (Cape Town), Lee-Ann January (Bredasdorp, Western Cape), Ley Mboramwe (Congo, Kinshasa ), Lindy Du Toit (Malmesbury , Western Cape), Lionel Davis (Cape Town), Mercy Moyo (Zimbabwe), Shakes Tembani (Cape Town), Reinette Thiart (Vredendal), Ronald Muchatuta (Zimbabwe), Sophie Peters (Johannesburg), Susan Rossouw (Cape Town), Tasneem Howa (Cape Town).


“My approach to art has always begun with an idea, but with no plan. The pure joy of my work comes from the spontaneity in which it is created. Often times I will choose coffee or experiment with different media, that I have not worked with before. “
Ley Mboramwe

“I am doing things I never done before.”
Lindy du Toit ( Flook)

“I feel like I am amongst a mixed bunch of flowers.”
Ena Carstens

“…Because you know not now how to spin or sow, God clothest you and your children as artists.”
Mercy Moyo

“I see the hand of God, the fields, for you and me t be surprised in His love.”
Sophie Peters

“My work is about being true to myself, my originality, my identity in being a proud African woman. It deals with the discrimination and humiliation we experience when we travel to Europe as non-whites and still stay true to ourselves.”
Lee-Ann January

“At Thupelo I am, because we are.”
Reinette Thiart

“I learn from and give to others and we grow in abundance.”
Lionel Davis     

“My wereld is Fantasties omdat Kuns Deel Daarvan is.”
Susan Rossouw

“So much to share. Such wonderful people.”
Glen Arendse     

“Here we are, in the hothouse of happy accidents.”
Janet Ranson

“In my work I sue colour, form and textures to create an emotional or spiritual dialogue with the viewer in such a way as to inspire participation in the work itself.”
Isabel Reina

“Art is the precipice of life”
Jade Gibson

Eric Gbolia Bende

“The workshop is a break away from what I usually do. I’m excited to learn new techniques and explore different materials.”
Tasneem Howa

“There is a lot to learn in this workshop, at first I arrived and the experience was very strange to me; I am used to working alone but in this workshop wrong with other people means that I can learn different techniques to make my work better.”
Dean Laminie

“I feel free, good to be here- I am learning how to work with different colours and make my figures look more realistic.”
Ferdinand Love

“Most have done a lot of experimenting in the past and some have not- it is up to those that haven’t to learn from the experienced ones.”
Ronald Machatuta

“Inspirational!”
A’isha Dollie

“Art is the precipice of life”
Jade Gibson

“It was nice to interact with other artists…to be with friends.”
Shakes Thembani

“I like working with different artists to get more knowledge.”
Erick Globia Bende

Past Workshops

Past Thupelo Workshops