Seed is back hosting an exhibition and art auction, raising funds for artists and arts organisations in southern Africa
Some 40 of the 60 artworks by 60 artists to be exhibited 14 -15 October from 12 noon – 8pm, Villa Arcadia, 22 Oxford Road in Parktown. Entrance is free. The auction is online with STRAUSS & CO 17 – 24 October, 2022.
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
In 2019, a select group of arts journalists gathered at the sleek 4 Seasons Hotel in Forest Town in Johannesburg. Surrounded by tree lined streets and a good view of Johannesburg north on this Westcliff based hotel, we were treated to a sumptuous French themed breakfast, including some champagne, the real stuff. Life was good. Our host was art collector and architect turned art philanthropist Pierre Lombart.
The Belgium born architect, a well-known art collector was announcing an ambitious new art initiative called Seed, operating under the auspices of the Southern African Federation for Contemporary Art, (SAFFCA), an organisation formed to promote artists and their art practice from Southern Africa, exposing them to the best global art practices and trends.
The organisation organises artists residencies, taking mainly African artists to European art centres and those in Europe to African art centres to gain different perspectives in art practices. Lombart is also instrumental in the formation of that federation.
But Seed is an initiative that would see regular exhibitions of art works carefully sourced form a select artists and galleries, put up for sale to raise money to assist art organisations, such as The Centre for Less Good Idea in Maboneng, founded by internationally renowned South African artist William Kentridge, and similar such Non-Profit Organisations in the arts.
The first such fundraising auction and exhibition was held in nearby Villa Arcadia, in Parktown, the same year. It was a success. Everything looked bright for the arts and the organisations that were to benefit from such a fund.
But as fate would have it, the optimism was short lived. Covid-19 struck, making it impossible to organise another edition as countries of the world went into lockdown in 2020 and most of 2021, as Covid-19 ravaged communities and made it impossible to organise gatherings. Seed was affected too.
Now the arts community will be happy to know that Seed is back and everything looks bright for the southern African artists once more.
“Finally, after two postponements we have been able to generate the second edition of seed. Some 40 of the 60 artworks by 60 artists will be exhibited on the 14th and 15th of October from 12 00 to 20 00 at the Villa Arcadia, 22 Oxford Road in Parktown. The entrance to the exhibition is free. The auction is online with STRAUSS & CO from the 17th to the 24th of October,” confirmed Lombart to CITYLIFE/ARTS yesterday, October 5, 2022.
He added: “SAFFCA NPC and SAFFCA.EU are now organising artists residencies in four locations in South Africa and one in Brussels. You will find much more info on our recent developments in the first pages of the catalogue. The next South African artist to come in November and December 2022 in Brussels is Lindo Zwane.” You can view the full catalogue on www.seed.saffca.com
The organisers are also transparanet about who will benefit and how much of the money raised will go to each category of beneficiaries.
Breakdown of beneficiaries
60% to support the artists (50 % and 10% to the gallery if they are represented)
39 % to support folur essential non-profit organisations – The Bag Factory 3%, The META Foundation 3%,(( non-profit arm of August House), The Centre for the Less Good Idea 3%, and SAFFCANPC 30% (in partnership with SAFFCA.EU in Europe) and 1% towards the communication costs for SEED II.
Details of the event
Public viewing of some 40 of these 60 artworks is at VILLA ARCADIA, 22 OXFORD ROAD IN PARKTOWN, 14th and the 15th of October from 12 00 to 20 00. Online auction by STRAUSS & CO www.straussart.co.za
17th of October -24th of October 2022.
.The images are courtesy of William Kentridge and the Goodman Gallery, Bongani Tshabalala and the Free-State Art Collective, Usha
Seejarim and SMAC Gallery, Ronald Machatuta and the Melrose Gallery, Louis Olivier, and Chris Soal and WHATIFTHEWORLD Gallery.