Celebrate the Visual Art of the Metro Central Education District with the Exhibition Opening of STORIES at the Iziko South African National Gallery Annexe
Media images and interview requests, please contact:
Zikhona Jafta on 021 481 3838 or at mediaofficer@iziko.org.za
Enquiries, please contact:
Betsie Strydom on 021 514 6762 or at betsie.strydom@westerncape.gov.za
Iziko Museums of South Africa, in collaboration with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), is pleased to present STORIES, a showcase of works by learners from the Metro Central District.
A celebration of the achievement of learners in the field of visual art, and under the theme of ‘Every picture tells a story’, STORIES comes as the third WCED visual arts exhibition of its kind, and opens to the public on Thursday 5 September at the Iziko South African National Gallery Annexe.
STORIES has encouraged and provided learners with the opportunity to display their artworks, their stories by means of colour, line, shape, form, texture and perspective – a true celebration of learners and their stories, made visible in art.
“Everyone has a story to tell. That story needs to be heard, seen, read and appreciated by all.
This exhibition is important because the creators are school learners being provided with the forum to express their stories through the visual artworks that they have created. This exhibition enables learners to believe in themselves and to discover their ability to be a new creative storyteller,” says Ms Rooksana Omar, CEO, Iziko Museums of South Africa.
“Museums like the Iziko South African National Gallery Annexe, is a space where the creative spirit of learners is encouraged and celebrated as an important part of our collective heritage.”
STORIES also encourages learners to read – to lose themselves in the magic of a book, to be transported to new places, to meet new characters, to be enthralled by a captivating story. By means of art, we can be sure that a learner reads for meaning – a learner not only reads, but makes sense of the story, internalises the story, and interprets the story by creating their own works of art.
Learners under the GET Band, between Grade R to Grade 9; and learners in Special Needs Schools were invited to submit artworks for the exhibition – of any medium, and in any style. The work could depict the learner’s own life story (or aspects thereof); it could be based on aspects of an existing story, song, poem or play; or it could interpret characters, themes, messages, and moods derived from a story of their choice. The work could also be based on a play-on-words of the theme – such as “a long story short”, “a tall story”, “once upon a time”, “the story of my life”, “bedtime stories”, “one more story”, “it’s a long story”, “and so the story goes”, “let me tell you a story”, and “a picture is worth a million words” – to mention just a few.
STORIES is on show: Monday to Friday from 09:00 until 16:00 at the Iziko South African National Gallery Annexe, St Johns Road, Cape Town, and runs until 30 September 2019.
ENDS
Issued by: Ellen Agnew
Communications Coordinator: Iziko Museums of South Africa
Telephone: 021 481 3830 Email: eagnew@iziko.org.za
Website: www.iziko.org.za
Issued on behalf of the Office of the CEO, Iziko Museums of South Africa
About Iziko Museums of South Africa (Iziko)
Iziko operates 11 national museums, the Planetarium and Digital Dome, the Social History Centre and three collection‑specific libraries in Cape Town. The museums that make up Iziko have their own history and character, presenting extensive art, social and natural history collections that reflect our diverse African heritage. Iziko is a public entity and public benefit organisation that brings together these museums under a single governance and leadership structure. The organisation allows *free access to all individuals on commemorative days, (*excluding the Castle of Good Hope, Groot Constantia and Planetarium and Digital Dome). Visit our webpage at www.iziko.org.za, join our online community on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IzikoMuseums), Instagram (@izikomuseumssa) or follow us on Twitter (@Iziko_Museums) for regular updates on events, news and new exhibitions.
