The artist's gathering - Stellenbosch

Fri Aug 4, 13:00 - Sat Aug 5, 21:00

Shofar Franschhoek

ABOUT

Artists, like all people, need to be encouraged. Visual artists, musicians, actors, those in digital media, and indeed all creatives need perspective about their vital place within the rhythms of contemporary society.
 
This is a mini conference which spans two days of lectures and presentations with L’Abri style discussion sessions and time to eat meals in community. Like last year, it promises to inspire and equip both professional and aspirant artists, as well as cast a vision for how art and church could partner in it’s pursuit for serving God’s world.
 
This year Dr Gideon Strauss, Loraine Beaton, Dr James Krohn, as well as number of practicing artists will address a variety of topics, such as the arts in current society, the role of Christian arts in the church and the aesthetics of everyday life.


 
The event is limited to 30 participants and entry costs R80, which includes coffee, tea and snacks. You can pay via quicket (with a R5 fee), via EFT or with cash on the day. If you don't use quicket as a platform, you MUST register with me personally to secure your place. Meals are booked and paid per meal (R50 per meal, including something to drink). You are welcome to only come for certain lectures/presentations and book only those meals which you will be sharing with us.

If you cannot be there the full day, it is not a problem, just sign up for meals here (use this link): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsoLf6JyuFwhHh9US-ZYmTsJ5NOZG0h6knOuvJLIzR2wjfmA/viewform?usp=sf_link
If you are in need of financial assistance, please contact the organisers.
 
Conference Program  
Our program starts with lunch on Friday at the beautiful East Mountain venue, during which you can meet other guests and make yourself comfortable before the first presentation. On Saturday we begin at 08:30 for 09:00. There will be rusks and coffee, but should you like, please have breakfast beforehand.
Programme: Friday, 4 August 2017
13.00-14.30             LUNCH and registration        
14:30-15:30             “Self Aware Artistry” Heidi Salzwedel
15:30-16.00             COFFEE  
16:00-17:45             Discussion and Q&A about Christianity and the arts, Heidi Salzwedel and Loraine Beaton
17:45-18.30             DINNER  
18.30-19:30             “Ecce Homo and the Myth of the Secular”, James Krohn
 
Programme Saturday 5 August 2017
08:30                       Registration and coffee         
09:00                       Introduction and welcome     Gabe Smith from East Mountain
09:15-10:45             “Evangelicals and the Visual Arts: A short history and assessment", James Krohn
10:45-11:00             TEA
11:00-13:00             “A Spirituality of Wonder and the Aesthetics of Everyday Life (Food, Clothes, and Furniture)”,  Gideon Strauss
13:00-13:45             LUNCH   
14:00-16:00             (continue) “A Spirituality of Wonder and the Aesthetics of Everyday Life”, Gideon Strauss
16:00-16:15             Coffee break          
16:15 -18:00            Artist’s presentations             Jonathan Griffiths and Ydi Coetsee (visual arts)
18:00-18:30             DINNER  
18:30-19:45             “What would Jesus paint - a Search for a Christian Aesthetic”, Loraine Beaton
19:45-20:00             Hot chocolate break              
20:00-21:00             Artist’s presentation               Marina Albertyn (theatre)
21:00                       Closing   
 
Programme: Sunday, 6 August 2017
11:30                       Informal coffee/lunch in town after people go to their own churches. Talk to us if you are not from Stellenbosch and would like to attend a church.
 
 
About the speakers

Gideon Strauss PhD is Associate Professor in Worldview Studies at the Institute for Christian Studies (Toronto) and Senior Fellow at the Center for Public Justice (Washington DC). He cares about professional artists partly because one of his daughters studies, practices, and teaches fine arts (in particular, printmaking) at Concordia University in Montreal. He taught philosophical aesthetics for many years, with an emphasis on the aesthetics of everyday life.

Dr James Krohn is a theological educator, former pastor, and current founder of the Krux Centre for Christianity and Culture near Cape Town. 

Loraine Beaton, currently head of Screen Acting at the Open Window school of Film Arts, completed a BAFine Arts at UP, an HONS in directing and performance at Rhodes and is currently busy with her MADA at Wits. She also did 3rd year courses in Philosophy, English Literature, Creative Writing and Video and has taught Visual Literacy, Art History and Screen Writing. With a passion for the integration of the arts and it's potential to convey ideas, her current research looks at intermedial theatre and it's capacity to function as an alternative space for the current race debate in South Africa. She is married to Johan Erasmus who pastors Dialoog community in Pretoria.

Heidi Salzwedel is part of the art collective 40 Stones in the Wall, and is an artist and art educator. She holds a Masters in Visual Art (Arts Education) from Stellenbosch University. 
 
 
FAQs
1. How can I pay my R80 and pay for meals (R50/meal)?
You can use quicket to pay your R80 (with R5 fee), or via EFT. You can also bring cash to the event to pay there.
If using EFT please use the account below: Use your name and surname as reference:

Capitec bank
Arts conference
Account Number: 1530643846
Account Type: Savings Account
Branch Code: 470010
 
Sign up for the meals here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsoLf6JyuFwhHh9US-ZYmTsJ5NOZG0h6knOuvJLIzR2wjfmA/viewform?usp=sf_link

2. What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
The directions to the East Mountain centre are:
From Stellenbosch
... go South on R44 towards Somerset West.
At the Robots of Annandale Road (Mooiberge Strawberry Farm & Audacia) turn left (East towards Stellenbosch Mountain)
Go 2.2 Kms straight to the end of the road to the Bilton Wines security gate. 
Pass security and turn right (up the hill) on the first gravel road - just past the '30' sign up to a gate with an East Mountain sign.
Push the intercom button to open the gate (if not open).
From Cape Town
... heading towards Somerset West on the N2, take the Stellenbosch/Baden Powell (R310) turnoff to the left
Continue past De Wijnlanden Estate and Vlaeberg turnoff (both on left) for about 8km to the Robots at Zetler Farmstall/Total Garage - Lynedoch.
Turn right on Annandale Road and continue for 8km (over R44 Robots at Mooiberge/Audacia) to the security gate at Bilton Wine Estate
Pass security and turn right (up the hill) on the first gravel road - just past the '30' sign up to a gate with an East Mountain sign.
Push the intercom button to open the gate (if not open)

Parking may prove to be limited depending on the number of attendees, please ensure that you carpool as much as possible.
 
3. What can I bring to the event?
  • Notebook/pen/tablet
  • Please bring along one or two of your artworks to share with peers. This can be a painting, drawing or 2-dimensional work, a poems, a song, a design portfolio, a book/publication/children's book, a sculptural piece, photograph of an installation or any other work
  • If you are attending Gideon Strauss’s workshop, please see the instructions below:
Preparation Instructions: A Spirituality of Wonder and the Aesthetics of Everyday Life 
  • Bring along yourself, dressed. How is the way you are dressed today similar to and different from how you dress every day? How would you describe your personal style of dress? 
  • Bring along a colour picture (again in any format) of a meal you've enjoyed. What did you enjoy about this meal? 
  • Bring along a colour picture (in any format: on your phone, even, provided you will be able to show it easily to two or three other people) of a room (any room, anywhere) you like. What do you like about this room? 

  • 4. Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?
    You can contact Ydi Coetsee at
    [email protected]
    0846688616

     

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The artist's gathering - Stellenbosch
Shofar Franschhoek
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