LOCAL ARTISTS EXHIBIT AT STORMS RIVER MOUTH

Tsitsikamma artists Susan Kemp, left, and
Marion Brink, at the SANParks art
exhibition at Storms River mouth.
(Photo: Johan Brink)

SA National Parks invited Tsitsikamma artists to exhibit at Storms River Mouth during SANParks week from September 8 to 13.

SANParks has created a culture of reaching out to locals and provides free access to all National Parks for a week, once a year in September. Themed "Know your Park", this year’s campaign was launched in Tsitsikamma to coincide with the Park’s 50^th birthday celebrations. Celebrations included the re-launch of the Otter trail brand and arts and craft exhibitions.

The art exhibition involved 16 Tsitsikamma-based artists specializing in drawing, painting and photography.  It formed a platform to celebrate 20 years of Freedom and democracy, 20 years of connecting to communities living around the Park and the natural splendor and tourism products that have drawn travelers worldwide to Tsitsikamma.

The display of Sally Rush's pen-and-wash
illustrations for SANParks.
(Photo: Susan Kemp)

The artists included Charles Malandu, Franci Kruger, Marion Brink, Diane Brown Sampson, Jennifer Angoh,  Sally Rush, Susan Kemp, Ilse Kruger, Stanley Grootboom and Johan Brink, as well as students studying with Stanley and Johan, plus photographers Henk Liebenberg and Greg Pearson. 

Featured as part of the exhibition was a showcase of a special project with artist Sally Rush, well known for her lifelike pen and wash works of indigenous plants and animals, which she sells at markets.  Sally was commissioned by SANParks to provide over 60 separate paintings that were scanned to be included in four interpretive boards about indigenous forests.

Some of the artworks that were
exhibited. (Photo: Susan Kemp)

SANParks’ Manager: People and Conservation, Elzette Bester (herself a budding artist), organized the exhibition and said “I am in awe of the level of talent we already have here in Tsitsikamma and also of the great creative potential that can be nurtured among youth of the area.  We are looking forward to future collaboration with the network of artists that have been established through this project.” 

Ilse Kruger's beautiful seascapes. (Photo: Susan Kemp)