Wed Oct 23 14:53:00 UTC 2013
Two Grade 12 learners were pronounced winners of the respective paintings and sketches categories of the 2013 Strokes of Genius Schools Art Competition. Uma Pereira Krige from the St Martin’s High School in Johannesburg won the sketch category and Abongile Sidzumo from the Frank Joubert Art Centre in Cape Town won the paintings category. Both receive a tertiary education policy worth R50 000 and R10 000 cash towards their schools’ art programmes.
The Shoprite Checkers Strokes of Genius project is an innovative art initiative that recognizes the immense wealth of artistic and cultural talent existing in South Africa and aims to develop this largely untapped source of entrepreneurial expertise. The annual project seeks to promote the development of art amongst young people and accordingly presents an art competition for secondary schools. This provides learners with the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and a chance to win a bursary for furthering their studies in art.
Announcing the winners, the Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Dr Ivan Meyer, stressed the importance of cultural warmth that is created by the youth. He reiterated how the positive thoughts and actions of these young artists not only reflect a part of our heritage, but that it reveals the passion they have for art and the vibrant hope it manifests. Dr Meyer thanked the artists, their instructors and Shoprite Checkers for their involvement in the projects. He stated that although the artists clearly had talent, the sponsorship provided an opportunity for them to refine their gift of art through further studies.
Earlier this year Strokes of Genius invited students in grades 10-12 to showcase their artistic talents in the 2013 School Art Competition by submitting paintings (oil or acrylic) or sketches (charcoal or pencil) that portray the theme Picture a new tomorrow. Winners receive a contribution towards furthering their art studies, as well as a contribution towards the development of their school’s art programmes.
An esteemed panel of judges selected their choice of the Top 20 in each category of the almost 200 artwork entries received in total. The panel included Omar Valley, who inter alia, has a passionate interest for art as writer, is art consultant to private and corporate art collectors, and has been involved in the arts as the Chairperson of the IK APA Arts Trusts and the Cape Friends, and curator of the Iqabane art network; Janet Botes, who is a multi-disciplinary visual artist has exhibited nationwide and facilitates creative workshops, and is founder of the Green Your Art (GYA) initiative and the SCAPES project; Janet Ranson, an artist, educator and author of Arts & Culture textbooks, who has had various solo shows in South Africa and abroad; Maurice Mbikayi who is currently completing his Master of Fine Art degree at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, has exhibited nationally and internationally and is involved in various international art initiatives; and Jabulisile Chonco, Deputy Director of Development and Care at the Goodwood Correctional Services and responsible for the opening the Art Gallery of Hope – the first art gallery to exhibit the work of inmates from correctional service institutions in the Western Cape.
From the Top 20, the 12 finalists per category were selected who each receive R2000 for their works of art and have it photographed for use in the 2014 Strokes of Genius printed calendar.
The winners in the Sketch Category are:
Winner – Uma Pereira Krige (Grade 12) from the St Martin’s High School in Johannesburg with her sketch titled “Fly me to the moon, let me play amongst the stars”, who receives a tertiary education policy worth R50 000 and R10 000 cash towards her school’s art programme development.
2nd place – Nazarite Tam (Grade 12) from Pretoria Boys High in Pretoria with his sketch “Smile for Tomorrow”, who receives a tertiary education policy worth R35 000 and R8 000 cash for his school.
3rd place – Tyler Soloman (Grade 12) from the Frank Joubert Art Centre in Cape Town with his sketch titled “Together”, who receives a tertiary education policy worth R15 000 and R5 000 cash for his school.
The winners in the Paintings Category are:
Winner – Abongile Sidzumo (Grade 12) from the Frank Joubert Art Centre in Cape Town with his painting entitled titled “Home”, who receives a tertiary education policy worth R50 000 and R10 000 cash towards his school’s art programme development.
2nd place – Julia Lewis-Thomas (Grade 10) from Bergvliet High School in Cape Town with her painting titled “Reconstruction”, who receives a tertiary education policy worth R35 000 and R8 000 cash for her school.
3rd place – Sharon Anita Martin (Grade 12) from Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria with her painting called “Breaking Free”, who receives a tertiary education policy worth R15 000 and R5 000 cash for her school.
The project is presented in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Basic Education and provides artists the opportunity to gain recognition for their talent by exposing their work.
