Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Su-Su Travels to Johannesburg in October 2007


Life for Su-Su is always sooooo busy!!

Su-Su has already packed his suitcase and is about to head off to Johannesburg (in South Africa) for the South Project Gathering. As soon as he arrives, he’ll be getting a taxi straight to Belle Primary School in one of Johannesburg’s suburbs, Soweto.

Johannesburg is a big city, and Su-Su has heard that although it’s pretty loud and busy, there lots of colour, music and dance, and people know how to have a good time! Let’s hope Su-Su doesn’t decide to stay – we want him to come home after the Gathering’s over!!

Aside from meeting all the South Kids in South Africa, Su-Su really wants to meet some of the animals we don’t have in Australia. But he better be careful, because it’s no fun being chased (or eaten) by a rhinoceros or a leopard…

Take care Su-Su and see you when you get back. (Don’t forget to send a postcard)

Clifford Charles and Vicky Shukuroglou create a bridge between the South Kids in Melbourne and Johannesburg



South Kids in Melbourne will remember the workshop Clifford Charles took at ArtPlay back in June. Well, the big news is that Clifford is going to be helping with the South Project Gathering in Johannesburg, including some exciting workshops with the kids at Belle Primary School. But the most exciting part, is that for the very first time, artworks by Melbourne’s South Kids will be traveling overseas, to be included in the South Kids workshop in Soweto!



So what artworks are going on this FIFTEEN HOUR LONG flight to South Africa? Well, three weeks ago, Melbourne artist Vicky Shukuroglou led workshops with the kids from Thornbury Primary School, Abbotsford Primary School, and Pembroke Primary School. The kids created small, easily transportable artworks, using a combination of personal objects (like photos, old toys, and even their own hair!) and a whole range of recycled materials (things like textiles, beads, buttons, wire, and polystyrene). Have a look at some examples:



These artworks will be transported to the kids at the Belle Primary School, Soweto. Once there, the kids will have the chance to rework the artworks from Melbourne, perhaps just using them for inspiration or having them on display in their classroom, or maybe by adding them to their own artworks. They’ll definitely be using their own local materials and items they’ve collected to make a large installation, for a local exhibition. How exciting to think that the final work will include something from both groups of South Kids – it’s as though we’ve actually had the chance to all work together!