Marked by the ‘farewell’ dinner on the main house’s veranda, Friday (8th) was the end of the residency. Preceding this last day, Thursday’s tea was drunk over reminiscences of memorable moments and meals shared together. Amidst the large amount of dedication poured into the creative process, Ros’s high-quality cooking became the highlight of the conversation as it lessened some of the Fellows’ enthusiasm to leave Caversham!

Cherished feelings of inclusion, cultural exchange and the learning curve provided by the process of creating has had a constructive impact on each Fellow. In various ways, each became a source of contribution and inspiration to one another, culminating in a spiritual, conceptual and visual manifestation of the continuous journey.This journey renders itself a springboard to cultivate the contagious notion of self- belief through self expression. Judging from gratitude expressed, this has undeniably been an experience to treasure that will stay engraved in the participants’ memories.

During the residency, much interaction occurred beyond Caversham. One such occasion was the invitation of two Fellows (Gregor Turk and Fahamu Pecou) by Vulindlela Nyoni to conduct presentations on their work for senior graduate Art students at UKZN (PMB campus). Afterwards Gregor and Fahamu had a tour of the art facilities and conversations with some of the students about their own work, opening much room for skill and passion sharing. This initiative was a result of Nyoni’s visit to Caversham on the 29th, where he had tea, networked and viewed everyone’s work in the studio.

Taking home

The transition made by the Fellows during the last three weeks is evidenced by their impressions of the residency, particularly its impact in terms of their typical modes of expression. Highlighting his viewpoint, Marshall Walker Lee said:
“During my residency at Caversham I focused on using collaborative projects to explore new modes of expression. The work I produced while at Caversham was strengthened by the openness of the process and the level of experimentation encouraged by collaboration”.

Whilst this openness and flexibility obliterated the lines between individual in comparison to communal expression, the idea of the artist as a loner was intensely questioned.
Considering the dynamic nature of the group, Colbert Mashile enthused on the impact of the residency, pointing out that the collective and reflective structure of the process compelled him to view his own work as “a process rather than a product”. Recognizing a shift in terms of expectations in navigating the hourglass process since his first residency, Mashile articulated that whilst “the first one was life changing”, this was a unique and yet continuous affirmation that has further reinforced his ambitions.

Further communicating his account of the hourglass process, Fahamu Pecou said;
“To take a pause, enjoy the silence and then allow creativity to manifest, the voices in my head is not ambient noise, but instead a symphony of potential. I’ve learned to trust those sounds and move in time to its rhythm”.

As a first-time collaborator, Kobus Moolman also “learned to resolve the tension between the spiritual and physical self”. Mixing with people of like mind has enriched his understanding of himself, thus bringing forth enormous change.
This common thread echoed in Gregor Turk’s words as he described the residency as “wonderful, refreshing and well- structured”.
Undoubtedly, each Fellow’s mental, spiritual, physical and intellectual satchel has reaped substantial replenishment.

Witty Nyide