Die Evangeliese Lutherse Kerk se Kuns- en Handwerksentrum by
Rorke's Drift wat op die grens van Natal en KwaZulu geleë is, is 'n
unieke onderneming wat as opleidingsentrum en
gemeenskapsprojek met hulle Afrika-geinspireerde handwerk
bekendheid in Suid-Afrika en in die buiteland verwerf het.
Die behoefte na die stigting van 'n sentrum in Suid-Afrika om
plaaslike Afrika-kuns te bevorder het grootliks ontstaan as gevolg
van die Swartman se veranderde omstandighede. 'n Jong
Sweedse egpaar, Peder en Ulla Gowenius, is deur die Sweedse
Komitee vir die Bevordering van Afrika-kuns en -handwerk in 1961
gewerf om in Suid-Afrika te kom werk. Die algemene oogmerke
van die sentrum wat in 1962 op die geskiedkundige terrein van
Rorke's Drift gevestig is, was om die artistieke erfenis van Afrika
te bevorder en die Swartman se trots in hierdie erfenis te voed.
Werksgeleenthede is geskep, afsetgebiede vir die handwerk is
gevind en die lewensgehalte van die omgewing is verhef. Die
handwerksentrum waar weefwerk, pottebakkery en gedrukte
tekstiel deur Zoeloemense geproduseer word, vorm die spil
waarom Rorke's Drift draai.
Afrika-kuns reageer op sosiale en politieke omwentelinge wat
plaasvind. Nuwe tipes kunstenaars vervul nuwe funksies en gee
uitdrukking aan nuwe idees. Hedendaagse Afrika-kuns word vinnig
ryker en meer veelsoortig. Die Rorke's Drift-sentrum wat
daarna streef om 'n unieke erfenis relevant te hou, is 'n lofwaardige
projek waarvan die vrugte ook deel van ons erfenis vorm.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church Art and Crafts Centre at Rorke's
Drift which is situated on the border of Natal and Kwazulu, is a
unique venture which has won a name for itself as a training
centre and as a community project with African inspired crafts.
The need for the establishment of a centre in South Africa to
promote local African art was largely due to the Black man's
changing circumstances. A young Swedish couple, Peder and
Ulla Gowenius, were recruited by the Swedish Committee for the
Advancement of African arts and crafts in 1961 to work in South
Africa. The general objectives of the centre which was founded
on the historical battle field of Rorke's Drift in 1962, were to nurture
the artistic heritage of Africa and to stimulate the Black man's
pride in this heritage. Opportunities for employment were
created, outlets for crafts were found and the quality of life was
improved. The crafts centre where weaving, pottery and printed
textiles are produced, forms the pin of Rorke's Drift.
African art reacts to social and political upheavals. A new breed
of artist plays new roles and voices new ideas. Contemporary
African art is becoming rich and varied. The centre at Rorke's
Drift which is aspiring to keep a unique heritage relevant, is a
commendable project. The fruits of their labour also form part of
our heritage.
