On 24 September, the Javett Art Centre celebrated three years of its establishment. In celebration of a successful three-year run, the Art Centre hosted a free entrance day, which coincided with Heritage Day. After having emerged from the lockdown and still thriving, PDBY paid the Art Centre a visit for its three-year milestone.
Launched in 2019, the Art Centre is a collaborative and multidisciplinary space situated on south campus. The space is open to students (and the public) as both a learning resource and a place for art enthusiasts. The space aims to make African art accessible, relevant and engaging. Current exhibitions include Yakhal’inkomo, a multimedia exploration of black South African visual artists. You can also find the Scenorama exhibition which foregrounds artistic experimentation and a pan-African aesthetic. Jazz artist, composer, and UP alumnus, Keenan Meyer, has also been hosted by the Art Centre for a “one-night-only heritage experience.” PDBY attended the Art Centre’s free entrance day which was filled with all sorts of fun. The celebratory event was attended by a diverse array of people. The event also gave an opportunity to vendors who were allowed to promote their businesses and showcase their work and services. Some of the vendors were selling traditional wear in commemoration of Heritage Day.
The first activity on the programme was a face-painting session for children. The activity was a fantastic way to immerse the younger guests into the world of art and creativity. A tour of the Yakhal’Inkomo exhibition, curated by Bongi Dlomo, was also available for the guests. This was followed by a tour of The Gold of Africa collection, which was curated with historic artefacts all the way from 1922. Tshwane’s DJ Hebz kept the crowd entertained with a wide range of music from old South African jams to recently released hits. KACEY also gave a live performance which left the audience wanting more. The guests came in numbers dressed in their traditional attires to celebrate Javett and Heritage Day. Overall, the event taught people about the power of art and creative storytelling. The event’s spectacular exhibitions also proved that South African heritage is not only informed by cultural and traditional customs, but our history plays an important role too.
I am Minentle "Minnie" Mndiyata, a second year Enviromental Science student with a passion for writing, singing and watching movies. I come from the Eastern Cape, I am living my dream as an Entertainment journalist at PDBY❤️