September 5, 2007
By Millicent Kgowedi
ART BANK Joburg is a year old, and in the past 12 months it has forged relationships between galleries, artists and clients, making waves in the art pool.
"The project has made a significant impact on the jobs creation market and has raised awareness in art; the trade is made known to ordinary people," says Vishnu Singh, the art bank's operations manager.
In October, Art Bank Joburg will hold an exhibition at the Sandton Civic Gallery to celebrate its birthday.
In its first year, the art bank has committed itself to two skills development projects. Firstly, it supports art and culture lessons at PJ Simelane High School in Dobsonville, Soweto. It is the only school in the area that offers such lessons and visual arts programmes. Some of the artworks created by the learners during their studies will be included in the organisation's collections.
It is also involved in the Phumani Paper Project, a non-profit organisation that trains talented crafters across South Africa to produce quality handmade paper and paper products. The Phumani Paper Project and Art Bank Joburg, together with Brendan Copestake, undertook a paper pulp workshop to introduce new creative paper pulp techniques to a group of established and emerging female artists in Joburg.
An art and culture lesson at PJ Simelane High in Dobsonville
Participating artists included Bronwen Findlay, Nirupa Sing, Mary Wafer, Yvonne Harvey, Flora More and Maja Marx. "The ladies were guided by master papermakers and assistants to best interpret ideas using specialised papermaking techniques," Singh explains.
The workshop was aimed at teaching artists technical expertise and promoting paper as a creative medium. Works completed under it are in the Art Bank's collections and will be exhibited at the organisation's October exhibition.
"During the month of October, the bank will host an exhibition to commemorate its success."
It is buying an increasing amount of contemporary art to satisfy demand in the city. It focuses on buying contemporary art created by artists living or working in Johannesburg, Singh explains. It collections include work by Bonnie Allice, Louise Almon, David Andrew, Bazak Awofeso, Joy Baloyi, Reggie Bar David and Vincent Baloyi.
Singh says that most of the bank's clients are government departments, such as Johannesburg Water and the South African Revenue Services, which often buy public art.
The bank also offers art for rent, ranging from R900 to R3 000 for a piece for a year. This way a company can change the art it displays at its offices as its culture or strategies change.
Art Bank Joburg is at 2 President Street, Newtown. For more information, phone the bank on 011 838 6266.
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