Art club still dabbles in creativity 30 years on
The Upper South Coast Art Association (USCAA) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a cocktail party and showcase exhibition at Lords and Legends.
“One of KZN’s leading artists, John Smith opened the exhibition, which was a great success,” said USCAA president, Joan Ray. “Artists of the Durban School for the Hearing Impaired were also invited to the party to exhibit their work and show the guests what they can do.”
According to Joan, the USCAA started 30 years ago when Hendriett Wolmarans and Connie Hetherington got together and decided to start an art club on the South Coast. “The two of them were the driving force behind the establishment of the USCAA in December 1983.”
Connie was the club’s first president in 1984, followed by Hendriett’s husband Dennis in 1985. Hendriett took over as president in 1986 until 2002 when her son Johan was murdered and she decided to relocate to Johannesburg. “Only 11 people turned up at the first meeting, of which nine became members. Since then the USCAA has grown from strength to strength and we now boast 50 members.”
The club meets once a month on the third Saturday of the month from 1.30pm to about 4.30pm at the Toti library activities room. “All media are welcome such as watercolours, oils, acrylics, pastels, pencils or ink,” said Joan. The cost is R25 for visitors and R5 for members, which includes tea. The meeting and demostrations for members is free. Annual membership is R120. “Usually a well-known artist from the area is invited to the meeting to do a demonstration on a subject.
Workshops are arranged throughout the year with invited artists, where members pay a fee and then spend the whole day painting with the artists. Exhibitions are organised during the year, in which members participate. We have hosted exhibitions in Galleria and Seadoone malls in the past.”
The club donates all the commission earned at these exhibitions to a local charity. “In the past we have donated to Toti SPCA, Jona Vaughan Home, Durban School for the Hearing Impaired and Jabulani Home for the Aged. We donated R15,000 to Toti SPCA from our last exhibition at Galleria.”
For more information on the USCAA, contact Joan on 039-976-1523, 082-951-3686 or email jvray@mweb.co.za.
