David Krut Print Workshop
Check out the printing workshop details by David Krut. Be sure to make a note of the beautiful collectibles you could purchase. It’s been more than 3 years since Senzo Shabangu started printing with the David Krut Print Workshop (DKW) in Johannesburg. Senzo arrived in this African metropolis from Driefontein in Mpumalanga, hoping to become a pilot. However, the route to flying was harder than he expected. The daily reality of people living in Johannesburg also moved him, and he realised that producing art was a means both to making a comment on the situations surrounding him as well as a possible way to support himself. He studied printmaking at Artist’s Proof Studio before starting to make monotypes with DKW in 2010. He is now a regular collaborator with DKW and has not forgotten his dream of soaring, as he is currently taking flying lessons too. Senzo works primarily in the relief linocut method. He has an expressive style of carving that radiates with energy and vitality. This vibrancy is further enhanced by his use of strong and bold sways of colour, that provide the viewer with rich surfaces, thus balancing his expressive mark making. He uses deep scarlets, velvety golds and royal blues. Much of Senzo’s work speaks of his journey to Johannesburg and becoming a resident of this bustling urban environment. These vibrant linocuts therefore echo the African energy that is so familiar to those who have experienced this lively city. Take Me Away from the City III depicts the Johannesburg skyline constructed on top of a suitcase, which can be read to refer to the artist moving to the city, his new home, or constantly carrying the city with him, his new urban identity. Much of this artist’s work is inspired by social unrest and issues that affect the average South African on a daily basis. Vusumuzi Mandlakayise represents a man carrying his possessions with him in a ‘Jozi bag’ in one hand and the burden of three humans wrapped tightly in a towel on his back. The figures being carried on the back refer directly to his mother, his wife and his son. It symbolises the stress and responsibility that he carries by being the breadwinner in his family, as is the case for many men in South Africa. The struggles and battles of daily life are further investigated in Shabangu’s print, Checkmate. The print is dominated by a large, bold scarlet chess piece hovering in mid-air, waiting to be launched in a new direction, on a giant chess board that echoes a Johannesburg landscape. It evokes ‘a game of life’ in which pieces are...
SUOSO 3 LIVE FINALE: Top 3 is ready to pop, lock and roll!
It’s the moment everyone has been waiting for – the epic live finale of Mzansi’s most-loved street dance reality show, Step Up Or Step Out on Sunday 15 September at 6:05PM. The long and exciting journey that has had more than two million viewers waiting with bated breath each week, is coming to an end. The cream of the crop – Cyber-Links from Durban, De Javu from Port Elizabeth and Snap, Crackle & Pop from Cape Town, have outperformed hundreds of other hopefuls through the auditions phase, sweat week and ultimately the weekly studio dance challenges. Now the top three are ready to strut their talent on the Step Up Or Step Out stage to vie for the most coveted title of Mzansi’s best dance group and the cash prize of R70 000! Says Judge Emile YX about the three winning groups: “Snap, Crack & Pop has been the most consistent out of all the groups in the Top 10. Cyber-Links has always been about precision, which has worked to their advantage. De Javu has a strong hip hop dance style and can be a force to be reckoned with if they are all on point on the night of the finals. I look forward to seeing who delivers at the live finale.” Judge Euphonik believes that the groups went through a very strict judging process. “The fact that Snap, Crackle & Pop, De Javu and Cyber-Links came out on top says a lot about their character. I wish the three groups the best of luck and I’m sure they will have fruitful careers beyond the competition”. Judge Khabonina Qubeka adds: “The top three groups are hot. They are exciting and they are going to use this platform to not only strive to win this competition, but to win in life as well.” On the day of the live finale, viewers will experience the very best of South African street dance culture as the groups will challenge themselves on the dance floor with South African themes. The groups will have to articulate two themes – My Heritage and My City – through their choreography. And the fate of Cyber-Links, De Javu, and Snap, Crackle & Pop lie in the viewers’ hands. Viewers have a chance to vote for the group they think should walk off with the crown by way of voting. Voting lines open directly after episode 12 at 7pm on Sunday, 8 September and close at 12 noon on Sunday, 15 September, the day of the finale. So, who will “wow” the viewers this year and be crowned the next top dance group of Mzansi? Catch the...
REACHING GENERATION Y – Teaching youth to take risks wisely.
There’s an African proverb that says “It takes a village to raise a child” it comes with a strong punch this time around as we are constantly seeing our world change given the advent of digital media feeding our kids all sorts of information. It is more crucial now than ever before to exercise the saying to its fullest meaning. Read about Generation Y below. Generation Y has been described as ambitious and materialistic, impulsive, impatient, seeking instant gratification and relying largely on luck – not characteristics associated with wise decision-making. But luck is really being surrounded by people who care and having the right information to make informed choices in living life responsibly. This is the message that the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) is bringing to Generation Y through a series of intervention workshops in Durban, Rustenburg, Witbank and Polokwane entitled “Taking risks wisely”, all aimed at 18 to 35-year olds. Explaining the reason for the workshops, Ms Nana Magomola, Executive Director of the NRGP explained “without the benefit of age, many young people lack the wisdom that is needed for making risky decisions. Through our series of workshops the NRGP aims to discuss some of the common risks they will encounter in life, to better understand these and equip them in managing life’s choices. Understanding the consequences of choices they make could prevent them from experimenting with drugs, gambling, alcohol or risky sexual behaviour.” While showcasing the effects of risk-taking in general, the workshops place specific emphasis on gambling and tackles issues of debt and money management, and the fact that excessive gambling does not lead to wealth. Instead it impacts on their health, their jobs, their relationships and financial well-being. In addition to receiving advice from experts and motivational speakers, an interactive play helps the youthful audience to see, through edutainment, why it is important to assess risks carefully. “The workshops deal with concerns regarding financial health and wellness, and emphasises the endless possibilities for youth in our country” Ms Nana Magomola concluded. “Edutainment is a far more effective means to reach Generation Y than preachy lectures.” A 2004 survey, “A Profile of Youth Gambling in South Africa”, conducted by the University of the Witwatersrand on behalf of the National Gambling Board, confirmed that although casino gambling is rare amongst youth given the controls in place, a fairly large number of young people do gamble, mostly amongst themselves on informal games. This finding is consistent with other local and international research which shows the propensity of adolescents to risk-taking generally, partly because the mechanisms for self-control within the brain are not yet fully developed. Prevention of...
To SoulProviders with Love.
When my boss approached me with the task to socialise six 3rd year BA Strategic Communication students from the University of Johannesburg into SoulProviders I gladly accepted the challenge. I knew what it meant and what it will require in me to achieve the three days this students had asked to be taught what digital communication is all about. Our contact began on a very cold winters day and I already knew when they finish job shadowing they should send us feedback on how this experience was to each and everyone of them – as promised, I got an email today that got me all so grateful to be a part of SoulProviders. Read their article below. Clockwise – Dineo, Dudu, Lerato, Zenobiya and Asanda. When we first arrived at SoulProviders, we had no knowledge of how digital communication functions from a practical side. We wanted to see where ideas are generated and where are they executed and transformed into interactive customer engagement with brands through digital communication. As soon as we met Bheki and the rest of the SoulProviding team we felt like we were home, the SP team greeted us with friendly smiles and made us feel welcomed. Our initial review of Soul Providers can be described as assuring and informing in terms of their work ethic. Strategic communication provides a wide range of career opportunities, we were each matched with an SP employee who does what each of us have an interest in. It was great to be able to see first-hand what someone in that specific position does and to get a feel of what their typical day is like, from the different brands to their responsibilities. Before one is exposed to such, there is a distinct pressure that one feels, because we had no idea of how the workplace is and whether we had what it took to make the transition from varsity into the workplace. It is challenging but if one is creative and passionate about what they do, there’s no reason not to thrive. It also seems like a lot of fun, because the environment at SP is “chilled” and intimate, everybody gets along very well. The fact that the digital communication industry is based on real-time instant platforms; it was very intimidating at first to see how quick decisions need to be made and how spontaneous yet well-thought-out content needs to be. Our time spent at SoulProviders has been educational, it also confirmed our passion which ultimately assured us that the career path chosen was a good one and allowed us to make valuable contacts for future employment prospects. We are passionate, self-motivated...
Announcing TEDxJohannesburgCity2.0
Dream me. Build me. Make me real. On Friday 20 September 2013, TED will host TEDCity2.0 in New York, focusing on how bright urban ideas turn into collective impact through collaborative action. TEDx communities across the globe – including TEDxJohannesburg – will host parallel events along the same theme. Our event, named TEDxJohannesburgCity2.0, takes place at JoziHub on 44 Stanley, Milpark, from 12noon until 7pm. The event will feature talks from the bright minds and big hearts involved in remaking Johannesburg – stewards, artists, builders and tastemakers shaping a brave new future for the metropolis. They will share narratives of urban innovation and transformation focusing on global City 2.0 themes – Art, Education, Food, Health, Housing, Play, Public Space, and Safety – all elements essential to the future health and success of our beloved Joburg. Thereafter we’ll cross live to New York for talks from the TED stage. TEDxJohannesburgCity2.0 will feature up to five live local speakers passionate about the city and in tune with the issues. One will offer an idea for a clear, do-able, compelling collaborative action. Speakers from the TEDstage will present ideas that cut across borders, also with very specific calls to action. Expect to mix and mingle with an audience of city dwellers open to new thoughts and perspectives on how we can collectively build Johannesburg into the city we want. Drinks and snacks will be served. R200 covers costs. Registration is open. Let’s make it real. TEDxJohannesburg...
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