The art of recycling
ALEXANDRA - Art is living up to its creative meaning at the Nursery Arts Incubator in Extension Seven.
Art has taken on a whole new creative meaning at the Nursery Arts Incubator in Extension 7.
The nursery is an initiative by non-profit organisation, Guardian Angels, led by Raputsa Lehabe, in partnership with local artists who are members of the Writers, Filmmakers, Arts Distributers’ Co-operative.
The nursery is still under development, and its objective, through the mentorship of practicing artists in the area, is to unearth artistic local children, and encourage them to pursue their talent and build a potential career.
The children come to the current site for afternoon and sometimes weekend and holiday lessons, and for support with their art. Sometimes they are taken on guided tours to nearby places of interest.
Lehabe said that initially the site was very small, but with support from the local councillor, additional land to develop their premises, plus parking a space next to the Jukskei River, was allocated to them.
Operating with no budget but armed with their creativity, the initiators are recycling rubble from building material illegally dumped in the area to build on to the centre. They also collect any wooden materials for locals to use for fires for cooking and illuminating darkened shacks. They regard this as a creative way to reduce the negative impact of illegal dumping.
The co-op has engaged six volunteers to sort out the rubble; and occasionally they get a compactor to level the area, and have cleared a section for a vegetable garden.
“The garden will be used to teach the children about plants, conservation and for vegetables for their home consumption,” he said.
Lehabe is hoping to draw many children to the incubator once all construction work is completed. He regards the project as a way to lessen the children’s dependency on expensive established art organisations in the city centre.
Details: Raputsa Lehabe 072 566 3424.
