The First Visit

Richmond research visit 20-23/10/10

123 panarama of Richmond

 

the building where my relationship with Richmond started

MAP side enterance on a rainy day

new libuary - potential sculpture site

town square -  out of bounds as it is site for X-mass lights

rainy day in the karoo

crossing the socker field

potential sight for sculptures -  bridge between town and township

schools out - will draw participants fron RHS

community shot

gang tag

 



some images of Richmond from research visit 20-23/10/10



Intervention 1: Kamamas/ Youth Centre / Brain Centre

Step 1:

One of our identified areas for intervention is Kamamas, a coffee shop created and initially funded by the National Development Agency (NDA), it like a number of similar projects in this area has recently shut down due to lack of funds once the NDA grants have been exhausted. Our intentions in this area involve gaining an understanding as to why so many of these projects fail and subsequently looking into some alternatives for the re-activation of the space.

The Southern African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) have also recently built a 'Brain Center' next to Kamamas, this centre will house internet enabled computers, educational play areas for smaller children and a reading and learning area. We are currently working together with key community members to develop plans and strategies to both activate and link the spaces.

One of the main features in our plans is the upgrade and re-imagining of an existing Planetary Highway, these current public structures are dotted along the only tarred road in the town of Sutherland, they indicate the different planets and represent relationally the size and distance differences between the planets. Unfortunately the structures have been vandalized and as a result large cages have been placed on top of them, the result being that the structures are virtually invisible and resemble dustbins or tombstones. In order to redesign the Planetary Highway as well as link it into and activate the Brain Centre we are holding workshops with the children every two days. The results of these workshops are informing our design solutions.

Digital mockups to follow shortly.

Yesterday’s activities involved amongst other things creating 'telescopes' that capture the stars during the day. Using donated and recycled tubes and vinyl each child designed his or her own telescope and covered the end with block out fabric, we then pricked star drawings into the fabric. The effect is obviously a daytime star experience. We are working towards turning this idea into a possible product for tourists visiting Sutherland, to be displayed and sold with Kamamas.

Sutherland Reflections

Image by Carolina Ödman

Art meets Science in a place of Darkness and Silence

We've arrived and spent the first working day scheduling meetings for the implementation of

2011 Sutherland Dark and Silent

This stage continues with the research and projects over the last 3 years to manifesting a series of site-specific interventions in collaboration with the local communities visiting scientist and artists in late 2010 and early 2011. The intention is to create an annual celebration owned by and to the benefit of the local community of Sutherland to highlight the resources and values of their unique environment and allow an opportunity to celebrate their context in relation to the otherwise isolated and challenging living conditions.

Objectives:

To host a meeting of scientists, artists and contemporary thinkers and practitioners to address points of discussions between their disciplines and the context of Sutherland.

To sustain the interventions and research in Sutherland into the creation of an annual celebration owned by and to the benefit to the community of Sutherland.

To create 3 participatory interventions spread from the town centre to the nearby international observatory to further the connections between the two places for locals and tourists.

To create dialogue and identify opportunities with current local Municipal Tourism and Collateral benefits programs from the Observatory.

To build on existing interest and proposed ideas by artists and scientists from previous projects in Sutherland.

To continue the transfer of knowledge and skills to the youth of Sutherland.

To make use of the current community development programs such as Kamama’s Coffee Shop and Venus Susters Guest House supported by the National Development Agency and support the new Youth Centre established by SAAO / SALT.

Activities by March 2011:

Intervention 1: Kamamas/ Youth Centre artwork

Intervention 2: Visitor Centre installation

Intervention 3: Observation Structure

Additional activities:

Possible intervention in the Observatory shuttle, Kamama’s Coffee Shop, the Youth Centre and Venus Susters

Oral history research and recordings

Redesigning the Planetary Highway and brainstorming the development and upgrade of other public areas

Kite Flying and experimental activities

DUNDEE : COLLAGE

These are some of the collages we made while facilitating the workshops.

Neil

Vaughn

DUNDEE : COLLAGE AND STOP FRAME ANIMATION

The following stills are a selection of imagery generated from a series of workshops held twice a week throughout December at the Umzinyathi Education centre. Various youngsters and community members participated in the workshops, liberally cutting up and re-arranging over 400 images of Dundee (mostly sourced from the Talana Archives).

The first session of workshops involved imagining and building an alternate history of the town, while the second required participant’s to incorporate family photographs and personal pics into their collages.We encouraged participants to place themselves into an imagined past by creating fictional historical characters and settings.

Each participant was later asked to narrate their character’s story for the rest of the group. These narrations were recorded and we are hoping to use some of them in the final event at the end of January.

In the third and fourth sessions, collages were created around a collectively imagined future of the town and various stop- motion experiments were done.

Together we created a series of collage puppets and began to animate various scenes and scenarios. With the older group of kids we are currently creating an animated sequence for which they will later provide the score and lyrics.

In phase three of our project these collages and animations will be used in a variety of ways, as projections, inspiration for re-enactment costume designs etc. Collage characters will also be printed and posted around the town to create awareness around the project and events which will occur over the month of January.

First Session : Grade 8 learners

First Session : Students

Second Session : Grade 8 learners

Second Session : Students

Third and Fourth Session

Collage stop frame animation from vaughn sadie on Vimeo.

Some folks from 'below the road' in Hermon.
Abie Louw born in 1919, survived the second world war....

Anna darries born in 1913 and still going strong.

Folks from 'above the road'.....

Roger who is starting up a friut packing businness..

Connie and Willem who have owned the Hermon hotel for 40 years

Hermon above the road...
Roger who is starting a fruit packing business.

Connie and Willem who have owned the Hermon Hotel for the last 40 years.

Some residents from the 'other side' of the road'.

Anna Darries, born in 1913 and still going strong at 97 years old.

Abie Louw born 1919, and is 91 years old. He was in the second world war and has 7 children.

It works - an experiment with pallettes to create a toppling effect - the domino effect. There will be about 300 of them, about 300m of noise and dust.

Welcome to Hermon

the domino effect

In simplified terms the domino project entails two main elements:

• the fanwalk, and

• the domino tournament.

November commenced with a meeting with our initial contact in Hermon regarding the tournament, Doons. He subsequently discussed the concept within the community.

This enabled us to have follow-up leads to respective people who will be able to perform some of the key tasks, such as preparation of the fanwalk (manpower, materials, siting, displays); selection of the site for the tournament (the community are influencing this), its format and organisation; youth co-ordination; making of large 3-D dominoes; entertainment; catering; etc

A local Councillor who lives in the village, Geoffrey Ford, stated that the project was welcomed, and gave tips regarding keeping the municipality up to speed. He also has an industrial saw that we may use in the making of the large display dominoes for the tournament.

We have sourced materials for the construction of the fanwalk, such as poles, cement, sand, etc, as well deciding on the best strata and support for the visual elements. These need to be sturdy, UV and rain resistant and to the best of our ability not a target for theft or vandalism. Treated wood is not pleasant to burn and vinyl for the images has no further purpose.

Similarly we have sourced a wood laminate that will be used in creating the 3-D dominoes. It is envisaged that the 'dots' for each piece will be burned into the strata using a metal disc heated in a kiln. The wood is very hard and durable, and once they have finished as a visual function of the tournament, it is planned to utilise them as part of a playground for children.

Along with the fanwalk this will create a legacy of the project for the community.

A Friday night was spent in the village for us to gather our thoughts in situ, as well as to garner information and feedback from the white community. The owner of the hotel, Connie, was particularly helpful with background information (historical and contemporary) and made some suggestions that should assist us.

We are also starting to gather and take further photographs for the displays, which we''ll compile at a later stage. Because of our different approaches we'll undertake this part of the project separately.

Saturday 27 Nov was a community workshop with the key players, to finalise their respective roles regarding 'responsibilities', timings, etc. The meeting was very positive, and the people (the team) present were committed and enthusiastic. Things we discussed (in no particular order):

- Finances. We mentioned the basic costs of materials and labour for the project.

- We spoke about the two main aspects of the domino effect, the fanwalk and the tournament itself (and elaborated on where we drew our inspiration from - the Football World Cup, naturally).

- We finalised the venue (sports field) and date 26 Feb 2011 (because of the impact of payday).

- The sports field is managed by a committee (Sports Forum), and the chairman is on our team. They require a letter of intent so they can plan access, lighting, etc.

- We discussed seating for the tournament participants. Initially the idea of plastic chairs and tables was mooted, but a suggestion that bluegum trunks emanating from the removal of these trees locally would be a better solution, because of their lessened physical impact on the pitch. Also this would have the aspect of recycling a discarded product.

- The 3-D dominoes for the event: they team were happy that the shutter ply we had sourced was appropriate, already cut to size. A solution for the rounded edges would be found within the community (either the saw offered by the local councillor, or that belonging to the tree fellers). We said that the apparent solution for making the 'dots' was a suggestion by local metal artist, Lisa Perold, to burn the imprints into the wood with a kiln heated metal disc, which could happen on her premises in Riebeek Kasteel. Some members of the Hermon community will be present to witness and assist.

- We spoke of the legacy of these large dominoes, as a playground for children on a vacant space within the village. The team appreciated that these would have a practical value after the event.

- It was decided that members of the team present would deal with digging of holes and erecting of the poles for the fanwalk. The initial date for this is Sat 4 Dec, from about 7am. Prior to this we will mark out the appropriate 20 spots for the displays.

- The original prices for the poles, cement, sand and stones (fanwalk) was obtained from Agrimark in Riebeek West. A suggestion was made that we approach the local branch of Kaap Agri (same organisation) for a more competitive cost. We met the the assistant manager on Monday afternoon (29th). They came to the party with good prices and offer of delivery, as well as access to water for the installation.

- A loose sequence for the day of the domino tournament evolved: the introduction by the master of ceremonies, followed by the entertainment (young dancers, steel band performance, guitar session by two residents, choir performance by The Golden Voices - all locals). After a break the young competitors (approx ages 6-10, then 11- 17/18) will partake. Finally the main adult competition. The initial stage will be the shortened, quick version of the game. Once down to the teams for the quarter finals and on, a short break will happen. Then the main event, with a slightly longer version of the game, to the final. Then presentation of prizes.

- It was seen as important that the games are controlled by referees (preferably neutral, not from the village) as there is a tendency for subtle 'cheating' by language and visual indications. These guys must also be able to control the timing.

- Prizes were decided as being shopping vouchers from Shoprite in Wellington, as this is where most of the community make their larger purchases and it would be the most appreciated. Token small cups would be appropriate as longer term memories. An added incentive was suggested in that the individual team with the most enthusiasm during the run-up could also be recognised

- Identification of the teams was seen as important. Caps were discussed, but considered too expensive. Colour co-ordination (as in t-shirts) was seen as a good solution. Even at Nirox this was mentioned; we must give this some thought.

- Publicity was seen as an important aspect, even now. A suggestion was that the first part must be an awareness 'campaign' for locals and especially farmworkers in the vicinity. This could be done via leaflets in post boxes (it will have the benefit of making the farmers aware of the tournament) and posters in local shops. Early in 2011 local print media will be informed (Paarl Post, Swartland Monitor) as well as Die Burger and Cape Times. The latter two might serve as interest only as we should be conscious of too many people attending. Michelle Constant does a fantastic job at promoting this sort of initiative on her programme on SAFM on Saturday mornings.

- The councillor representing Hermon is attending a meeting there at 19.15 on Thursday 2 Dec and we asked the sports chairman, Willie Marima, to request that we could chat to him first in order to give the established details of our project. Subsequent to this will be a formal presentation to Drakenstein Municipality based on the councillor's comments.

- The team was made aware of their 'larger' involvement, as in the other recipients of grants from VANSA for projects nationwide. We believe that one of the fanwalk posters should deal with this so the community can relate that this is a part of a project on a national level.

- Catering for the final. One of the team, local shopowner, Rodney, said some of the locals would probably be prepared to do stalls. He could co-ordinate just outside the sports field, then these people will also benefit. Because of his outlet he has dealings with the Coke representative. Whilst we are both not totally comfortable with this product we must appreciate the level of awareness of this brand within the community and I'm sure Coke would appreciate the opportunity for the exposure. And we could certainly benefit from their publicity and aspects like umbrellas.

Chris and Tracey

New location for the domino tournament