Tafelsig doll maker Charlene Bruiners was a among a number of artists and creatives from across Mitchell’s Plain who recently completed an arts meets business meets personal development course facilitated by the Supporting and Mentorship Through Art (SM-ART).
The project, supported the Craft and Design Institute of South Africa, the national government’s Social Employment Fund (SEF) and the Industrial Development Corporation, is one of three similar programmes run by different community-based organisations in Mitchell’s Plain and across the city over the past few months.
It brought together men and women, young and old from all walks of life, culminating in a day of showcasing their crafts at Parkhurst Primary School, in Westridge.
Some, along with participants from the Portland-based BlacPearl Foundation and the Woodlands-based Mitchell’s Plain Music Academy were selected to showcase their work at an exhibition held at V&A Waterfront’s Watershed and amphitheatre earlier this month.
“My dolls are hand made and I do it all on my own,” said Bruinders, as she applied the finishing touches to one of her many creations at the group’s showcase day. “The mother of four said she would love to teach and inspire women facing difficult situations to follow in her footsteps and to draw on their own strengths.
Levona Christians a self-taught jewellery maker from Rocklands and fellow smartist, as group members call themselves, agreed, saying she started out in 2004, doing decor for her granddaughter’s birthday party, using recyclable material and haven’t looked back since.” she said.
Despite being diagnosed with a weak heart and having had a pacemaker implanted in 2022, the creative juices continued to pump through her veins. “It’s then that somebody recommended me to SM-ART. I came here, saw the different artists here and I was exposed to jewellery making. I would love to train others and teach them that other people’s trash can become your art.
Mural artist Ridwaan “Ace” Marcus, from Lentegeur, found a way to combine his love for dance and painting. “I had to choose between my dance and my art,” he said. “So I told myself, I can’t choose between my dance and my art, because I’m an artist, I’m versatile artist for a reason. So I decided to put the two together and create the art of movement. I know it’s been created before, but it hasn’t been crated the way I create it,. We’re all unique in our own way,” he said.
SM-ART co-founder and programme facilitator, Zeenat Isaacs said the aim of the project was to see growth in the lives of those who attended the course.
“We worked with 210 people, some of whom got permanent employment after completion. For more information about SM-ART, call 074 256 3243