Craft artists submit your work and be considered for inclusion in the Beautiful Things Exhibition 2022

By Edward Tsumele

A category of art known as craft has been in existence for decades, especially on the African continent whereby certain members of African communities have always been known to emerge and create beautifully amazing things that communities appreciated.

Often these kinds of art object were functional utensils that could be put to use by communities, such as cooking utensils and chairs, for example. But they also had other uses besides being functional, such as ceremonial, such as chairs for the royal family, or could also be used to fulfil religious roles, such as sacred practices.

Often the practising artists were born with the talent and had no training whatsoever.

But time has moved and the practice of art has evolved too, with opportunities available for artistically inclined members of communities now having an opportunity to learn these skills formally and even broaden  their knowledge and art practices in other genres of art, such as paintings, sculpture and drawing, for example, at formal institutions such as universities.

Therefore there are talented crafters that are still found in communities throughout South Africa today, both formally trained and those that are informally trained, who are practising artists.

Now here is the thing; If you create objects of beauty, you are probably the person the organisers of Beautiful things Exhibition are looking for to submit your works and stand a chance to participate in the Beautiful Things Exhibition 2022.

Crafters are invited to submit their proposals to participate in the Beautiful Things Exhibition 2022, a showcase of master crafts in a lush indigenous Mpumalanga forest.

Presented by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, this five-day craft exhibition will take place at the Graskop Gorge in March 2022.

All artists in the craft sector are invited to submit entries in the following disciplines: ceramics, beadwork,         wirework, wood, jewellery, paper, fabric painting and printing, quilting, leatherwork, pewter, glasswork, embroidery and mixed media. Submissions close on 11 February 2022.

The Beautiful Things exhibition was conceptualised in 2001 when South Africa hosted the World Summit on Sustainable Development. It has since been hosted in a variety of settings and venues, showcasing an assortment of high-quality hand-crafted products sourced from South Africa’s nine provinces. The hybrid 2022 iteration will comprise both a physical and a virtual component, for maximum reach and exposure.

South Africa’s craft art sector is a vital driver of local economic growth, with the work of several local crafters being in high demand locally and overseas for its innovation, attention to detail and design excellence.

DSAC believes this important sub-sector in the creative industries should be celebrated for its rich potential for entrepreneurship and export opportunities. The Beautiful Things Exhibition 2022 will therefore once again showcase the best that our outstanding craft artists have to offer South Africa – and the world.

Adds artist John-Anthony Boerma from Art Aid, curator of the exhibition alongside co-curator Mandla Hlophe, director of Malengs Holdings: “We believe the best ambassadors of South Africa’s exquisite handmade products are the artists themselves. With the Beautiful Things Exhibition 2022, commercial and retail buyers as well as the South African public will have the opportunity to interact with these works in a picturesque natural setting at the Graskop Gorge that is as unique and beautiful as their work.

“We encourage crafters to submit their work for consideration, to showcase the vibrant breadth and depth of traditional and contemporary craft art across South Africa.”

To submit your craft items for the Beautiful Things Exhibition 2022, send a photograph of your work, include your name, location and a short description before 11 February 2021 to beautifulthingscraft@gmail.com or to 071 153 9733 (WhatsApp)