Calling all people interested in being part of something new and exciting. Sunday the 27th of May will see the hills of Grahamstown lit with the glow of a thousand candles, and you too can be a part of the action. This is an invite to everyone who can get to Grey Dam on Sunday afternoon to join in and help 'build a house.'
The 'bricks' will consist of brown paper bags, printed with the design of the artwork and a short description of the aims of the piece; inside will be a candle. People who wish to be part of the sculpture are able to purchase these bricks for R10 each. Participants are then able to place them anywhere on a pre-laidout design: the part of the design or landscape which resonates most strongly for each person. People are welcome to join in from 12 noon and the candles will be lit toward sunset. In this way, participants will have the opportunity, not only, to be part-creators but also part-owners of the artwork. Once blown out, participants are welcome to retrieve their bricks from the landscape and keep them as souvenirs as well as part of an original print in an edition of 1000.
I believe the environment in which we find ourselves deeply informs the way in which we express our lives and how we relate each other. As such, 'the house at grey dam' marks my first large-scale landart project, exploring this concept. Bring friends and a picnic basket, torch and a blanket and help make this project a success.
The proceeds made from the sale of bricks will go toward building actual homes for those who don't have the means to afford a bank loan and will be donated to Habitat 4 Humanity. So get down, dig deep, have fun and be part of a collective project aimed at reaffirming our connection with the land.
**As this artwork is weather dependent, posts on this site will go up as soon as there is a clearer indication of what our fabulous microclimate will decide. If the weather is not conducive, the building of 'the house at grey dam' will be postponed till a later date and those pre-buying bricks will be informed via email**
the concept
'The house at grey dam' is conceptualised as a public participation art performance. It envisages members of the greater community of Grahamstown and beyond as being participants in creating, and therefore as both co-authors and co-owners of a landart work.The making of this work will take place within the shared space of Grey Dam- a recreational facility, and landscape to which many people in the area have a personal and emotional connection. I hope that in creating this sculpture, participants will be able to highlight the extent to which these spaces, although seemingly private and meaningful to different people in different ways, are shared and important to all who make use of them.
I also hope that in sharing in the process of art making, 'the house at grey dam' will help deconstruct many peoples' perception of art as 'an object to be viewed.' By actively involving themselves with the landscape, participants become part of dialogue where artists, artwork, landscape and viewers are equally important and all are part of the sculpture as a whole.
the way to be a part of it
There are many ways in which you can participate in creating 'the house at grey dam.'
- Come down to Grey Dam on Sunday 27th of May, buy a brick (or 6) and actively help build the sculpture. When the sun begins to set, you can sit back, relax and watch the hillside come to life as candles are lit and the completed sculpture materializes. There are few facilities at Grey Dam, so bring a picnic basket, blanket, something warm, your camera, a torch, gas lanterns, skottels etc. If you would like to help light up the house, be sure to bring a lighter.
- If you would like to participate but are unable to be at the event, you are more than welcome to pre-buy bricks. These will given to spectators who are unable to afford to buy their own so that they may also participate in this project. Habitat 4 Humanity is a worthy cause and require R50 000 in order to begin their work within the broader Grahamstown community. I appeal to individuals as well as to businesses to please consider buying bricks regardless of whether you will be able to attend this event or not. Each brick sold will not only facilitate the success of the artwork, but also represents one step closer to a goal that will perpetuate the themes of 'home' and community interaction invoked in the artwork. Bricks can be pre-bought via direct deposit or Internet transfer to:
Standard Bank Grahamstown
Branch Code: 050917
Acc No: 082 010 706
Ref: Habitat4Humanity- Grey Dam- '+your email address'
Fax proof of payment to: (046) 603 7086. Cheques should be written to: Rhodes University SRC – Habitat for Humanity.
Please add your email address as we would like to keep all sponsors aware of any changes made to the event. We will also send you digital images of the event as well as of the completed sculpture. Although Habitat 4 Humanity always welcomes donations from the public, please have any deposits made before Friday 25th May, so that they can be processed and bricks that you have bought can be included.
- You or your business could get involved in other ways such as: helping out on site on the day directing people, lighting candles, taking camera or video footage etc. Businesses can also participate by donating materials needed to make this day happen such as: rope to mark off the design (+-500m needed) , the use of torches, candles, sand (1000 candles will need a lot of sand to anchor the bags) etc. These aspects are all crucial to the success of this project and anyone interested in helping are welcome to contact me Tony on 072 018 1293 or via email gorgebaboon@hotmail.com .
the house
The design chosen to be lit on the landscape was inspired by one of the facades of a house standing in the Grahamstown Botanical Gardens. I felt that this was appropriate as the Botanical gardens is another shared space, important to both residents and visitors to Grahamstown alike.
Previously a home, then a restaurant, then uninhabited and now under construction towards a new use, this building reminded me of the transient nature of meanings imposed by us on each landscape we encounter. I feel that this transience fits very well with the ephemeral quality of 'the house at grey dam'. As it is under construction, this resonates with the participation aspect of building a house.
the beneficiary
Habitat for Humanity South Africa is a registered non-profit organisation in South Africa. The organisation is structured as three regional programmes, each supporting 6-8 affiliates and reporting to a national office.Policy decision-making, programmatic oversight and accountability lie with the National Board of Directors. Member of the Board assist with local fundraising and provide specialist skill in areas such as legal and finance, human resource management, marketing and volunteer management. A Habitat for Humanity International representative serves on the Board.
Locally, Habitat for Humanity staff members provide support to the affiliates in the areas of community development, training and facilitation, project and construction management, fiscal accountability and fund raising. A large network of volunteers also provides support in fundraising, community relations, corporate relations, training and constructions. These volunteers are organised in to committees that serve each of the regions.
Mission Vision: A world where everyone has a decent place to live
- To work on behalf of those in need to ensure basic housing needs are met
- To create lasting relationships between members of the community and Rhodes students to ensure that all may contribute to community development
- To promote a sense of self-worth, pride and dignity within the community
- To alleviate the housing crisis in Grahamstown
Habitat is about more than building a house. It's about establishing a home for a family, transforming a community and building a nation.
the sponsors
- Thanks to Pick n' Pay Grahamstown for helping source candles and brown paper bags.
- To Rhodes University Art Dept for the use of ink, printing press and design facilities.
- To the traffic, police and fire depts. I hope that your services will not be necessary
- To those people who are spreading the word of this landart piece via word of mouth as well as through their business and social networks
- To John Davies for donating sand for the project
- To John Luis from Reddam House in JHB for having the faith in me and this project to help finance it, couldn't have done it without you.
- To all those people who will be giving of their time and energy to help things run smoothly on Sunday
- To Hutch Properties for the use of their 'ON SHOW' signs
- To Rhodes University for lending me the fire extinguishers
Thank you to everyone who plans to be at Grey Dam on Sunday 27th May and take part in building 'the house at grey dam', you're all beautiful.
