For ages now I have been wondering about South African paraphernalia, what it is, what it should be and how it could work. I have found an organisation, company and website that has answered these questions for me.
Streetwire rocks and has taken South African beadwork and craft to another level. This organisation seems to be full of lovely little surprises that make it easy to support the project and get involved!
From the Streetwire website:
WHY WIRE ART?
Street wire art, unique to Southern Africa and largely unavailable beyond our borders, is a living testimony to the industriousness and creative spirit of our people. Born in the shanty towns and dusty backroads and baptised on the streets, today this genre is a thriving and legitimate art form in its own right, with many ‘wiremasters’ making a living selling their creations not only on street corners and at craft markets, but also in upmarket shops and galleries around the world.
I couldn’t agree more and think that small business like the ones wired art create are imperative to creating some sort of change in SA. Streetwire seems to be making a good go of street art and culture.
It seems as though at the moment, approximately 120 individuals make up the organisation. That is a very large organisation and amount of people being helped and given an opportunity to make something of their skills and gifts as craftsmen and women.
I hope to get hold of Streetwires and have a chat with them, keep a look out for that interview!
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May 20th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
I wish you guys well, but you really need to get out more:
“Street wire art, unique to Southern Africa and largely unavailable beyond our borders, is a living testimony to the industriousness and creative spirit of our people.”
Wire art can be found on practically every continent, on and off streets.
May 20th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
bbm: Thanks for the comment!! I agree with what you are saying, I took the quote off the streetwire website, I am not affiliated to them at all, just liked the concept of what they are doing!!
I am sure there is (I have seen it) wire art across the world, but I have seen nothing like the wired art produced here in SA. South Africans relate to it and recognise it as stuff they see on the streets they live/lived in and I think that might have been what the phrase was trying to say, but I can’t speak for the organisation! That’s just my opinion!!
Again, thanks for the comment and hope you’ll be back again!!
June 1st, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Thanks for the comments & chat guy’s.
Hope you enjoying yourselves whichever country you are in. (hope it’s not to cold & serious!!!!)
Come and visit us at 77 Shortmarket Street in Cape Town if you are ever in the area. You can see ‘street art’ and much more. All the 120 artists are working together under one roof.
Take care & warm regards from all at Streetwires