23/02/10 - Craft creativity blooms at Kirstenbosch
Caption: Floral bunch: Craft producers show off their creations at Kirstenbosch. (L to R at back) Geoffrey Wright, Leon Kroukamp, Sphesande Dukwana and Heather Adonis. (L to R front) Abduragman Ismail and Angelica Alexander.
New botanically-inspired handmade craft products could enter the market following the Inspirational, Creativity and Biodiversity workshop held in the lush surroundings of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
Facilitator Wendy Hitchcock, who is a qualified botanist and teacher who formerly worked at Kirstenbosch for six years developing training materials, was appointed by the Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI) to take a group of craft producers through a three-day workshop held from 16-18 February.
Day one focused on getting in touch with the senses, drawing and creativity exercises, collecting information and making clay shapes, while on the second day the participants examined flowers and learnt about botanical terminology. More focused drawing took place in the garden. The group spent the entire third morning in the gardens, viewing products for sale in the shops, and drawing flowers in the conservatory and other areas.
The craft producers used recycled materials to each produce a flower in the final session – and Wendy described their creations as “outstanding.” A follow-up session will be held on Monday 29 March for the participants to show and discuss craft products inspired by the workshop.
“I did not know anything about flowers and have learnt a lot,” said craft producer Angelica Alexander. CCDI workshop assistant Abongile Ntsane added: “Craft producers can get stuck in a rut of mass production and business, and need to take time for inspiration.”
The CCDI, now in its tenth year, was set up in 2001 as a Section 21 company in a joint initiative by the Western Cape provincial government and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The CCDI’s vision is to help develop dynamic, creative, confident people producing innovative world-class handmade products that reflect the Western Cape and South Africa.
This biodiversity workshop (held for the third time by the CCDI) was part of the CCDI’s Creativity, Design and Innovation programme. The programme offers workshops and other interventions to develop creativity, design and innovation, and to help develop products showcasing the value and beauty of nature. Handmade products are created and developed through this process for markets such as corporate gifts, tourism, conferences and retail outlets.
For further CCDI information: T: +27 (021) 460 1488 │F: +27 (021) 460 1228 www.capecraftanddesign.org.za │75 Harrington Street, East City, Cape Town.
Issued by: Judy Bryant Communications
On behalf of: The Cape Craft and Design Institute.
Contact: Judy Bryant 083 2867168 │ judybryant@telkomsa.net
CCDI communications manager Marjorie Naidoo (021) 461 1488 marjorie.naidoo@ccdi.org.za
