Ceramics program helps improve lives of HIV/AIDS patients
Aside from making colorful ceramics, Ardmore Design in South Africa has started a mentorship program to support artists as well as a community initiative focused on helping people who are living with HIV/AIDS.
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 These colorful ceramics improve lives.
00:06 - The time I came here,
00:10 they asked me a simple question,
00:12 "Where's your CV?"
00:14 And I told her that my CV is my hands.
00:19 - Creating awareness to a colorful Kwergi tribute
00:26 to Africa's fauna, flora, and Zulu folklore
00:29 mentor and pioneering artist, Faye Halstead
00:31 established her luxury brand 30 years ago,
00:34 creating one of a kind ceramic artworks.
00:37 Her daughters, Megan and Catherine,
00:38 have followed in her footsteps,
00:40 making each piece more than just art.
00:43 - Artmore was inspired by my mom, Faye Halstead.
00:48 Many years ago in 1985,
00:52 Artmore started not because of a business,
00:55 because of my mom's passion to teach her passion for art,
00:59 her passion for giving back.
01:01 And it started in the Drakensberg Valley
01:04 at a place called Artmore,
01:06 which is where the name originates from.
01:08 And she started with one artist, Bonnie Nchalanchale,
01:13 and today we have over 70 artists.
01:16 - Alex Ibanda is one of those artists.
01:19 - Firstly, I worked in Jobbik
01:21 at a company called Into Arts.
01:24 So I had a friend here in Artmore called Love More Story.
01:29 He's the one who introduced me to Faye Halstead.
01:33 It was 2010, that's when I came here.
01:36 I come from Zem.
01:37 So my family's there in Zem.
01:40 I'm the only one working here in South Africa.
01:45 Yeah, it was bad, but through the hardships in Zimbabwe,
01:50 there was nothing I can do.
01:52 I had to come here and look for cleaner pastures.
01:56 Faye asked me to do anything I would like to do here at Artmore.
02:00 So my first animal was a rhino.
02:02 And she asked me, "Why are you using a rhino?"
02:06 I told him that that's my symbol.
02:09 I came from Zimbabwe using a taxi,
02:13 but now I'll use a rhino when I'm going back to Zimbabwe.
02:17 Rhinos are endangered species.
02:19 People always kill them for their horns.
02:25 So I felt pity for the rhinos.
02:29 So that's why I always do rhinos,
02:33 because rhinos die for their horns.
02:37 "We are because of others" is an evident core belief.
02:41 Their dedication to teaching others has spawned many opportunities
02:44 for creators from diverse backgrounds.
02:46 Fany Njali Jali was the start of the artist mentorship program.
02:51 Growing up during the apartheid era as a woman of color,
02:54 she was expected to work the fields.
02:56 But having been diagnosed with polio at a young age,
02:59 there was an organic shift focusing her talents on art.
03:02 So the story is a magical fairy tale story.
03:07 My mom was retrenched from Durban Tech.
03:10 She fell in love with my dad, moved to the Drakensberg.
03:14 Her housekeeper at the time, Janet Njali Jali,
03:17 had a daughter that was extremely creative.
03:21 Women weren't recognized as artists, especially the color,
03:25 the African color wasn't recognized.
03:27 My mom, just being this incredible creative who sees talent,
03:34 took Fany under her wing,
03:35 and they jointly won the Standard Bank Young Artist Award in 1990.
03:40 And that started to put them on the map.
03:43 Fany's subject matter was religious.
03:45 She was very soulful.
03:47 She was spiritual and, yeah, a unique artist.
03:51 I was very fortunate to sit next to her most days and paint next to her.
03:56 And she always had time for me and taught me.
03:59 So, yeah, I can thank Bonnie for where I am today.
04:03 Aside from empowering thriving artists
04:05 and bringing attention to issues related to endangered animals,
04:08 the company started a community initiative focused on AIDS sufferers
04:12 when it was a prevalent issue in South Africa.
04:15 So Bonnie unfortunately died.
04:16 She passed of HIV/AIDS.
04:18 It was a very sad and negative time for our brand.
04:24 We lost five of our top artists.
04:27 They were sisters to us.
04:30 And we created a body of works that traveled around the world
04:35 educating artists and the world about HIV/AIDS
04:39 and how we can overcome it.
04:41 And we got onto Antiretrovirals.
04:44 So during the time where HIV and AIDS was a really big issue
04:49 and there was a stigma, as Kath mentioned, a taboo,
04:54 we started a foundation to look after our artists.
04:59 I would say the focus has changed because of a different need.
05:03 I think, you know, our clinics are providing a wonderful support to the artists.
05:09 In recent years, the Ardmore Community Fund shifted its focus to fulfill another need, education.
05:15 So the Ardmore Community Fund was started with a vision in mind
05:19 to bring art into local schools
05:22 and specifically for children who would not have access to art.
05:26 (CHILDREN SINGING)
05:28 Ardmore has partnered with Timberley Claire School in Hawick.
05:31 The school provides access to quality education
05:34 for underprivileged children living in the community.
05:37 Angels Care is a division of that school
05:39 and they provide care for children that are victims of abuse and rape.
05:42 Here, the children have the freedom to express themselves through art.
05:46 (CHILDREN SINGING)
05:48 Born from creative freedom and fuelled by the vibrant spirit of African culture,
06:07 these pieces prove that together we can achieve limitless possibilities.
06:12 (upbeat music)