Students of the Spencer Street Studio in Salt River, Cape Town have, under the guidance of the Studio’s director Julia Teale, collaborated on a massive painting of a Percheron horse, which will be auctioned to benefit the local Cart Horse Protection Association.

Teale, who believes the function of art to create community has gone astray in the reigning century of self, rallied her students in this work in an effort to reinstate art’s social function.

The Percheron, a breed of draft horse, is an uncommon sight...

Students of the Spencer Street Studio in Salt River, Cape Town have, under the guidance of the Studio’s director Julia Teale, collaborated on a massive painting of a Percheron horse, which will be auctioned to benefit the local Cart Horse Protection Association.

Teale, who believes the function of art to create community has gone astray in the reigning century of self, rallied her students in this work in an effort to reinstate art’s social function.

The Percheron, a breed of draft horse, is an uncommon sight in South Africa and indeed in modern life in general.  However says Teale, ‘Working daily in Salt River, we were confronted by the large number of cart horses and how they are often mistreated. Art may be perceived as an affectation in this environment, but I truly believe that art can provide hope, healing and community – as it did in previous centuries.’

The choice of image was made on the basis of the Percheron’s historical significance as the working horses of mankind.  Percheron horses have been used by painters throughout history as the basis for depicting unicorns, and their muscularity and graceful movements made them favourite models for many Baroque and Renaissance painters.

The final artwork comprises 150 superwood panels of 21x21cm, which when joined forms a 250x300cm life-size image. Each panel was painted individually by some 20 artists.

Teale emphasises that there is no artist’s signature validating the value of the artwork. Instead, as a product of community, the work’s value rests solely in its execution.

The Percheron horse will be auctioned off at noon on 14 November 2009. Small works by artists and students of the studio will also be on sale for R500 each.  Teale has also donated her Exquisite Corpse collection of 16 etchings on the theme of Adam and Eve for auction.

For more information please contact:

Julia Teale

Email: Julia@spencerstreetstudio.com or Tel: 083 410 3460

From Cape Town to Johannesburg’s inner city, Keleketla Resource Centre in conjunction with Art Afrique gallery is hosting an art auction to raise funds for a community media lab for youth of the inner city of Jozi.

Established and emerging artists from South Africa and abroad have donated their artwork to be auctioned for the benefit of Keleketla.

Steven Sack, the Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage for City of Joburg, will open the event at Art Afrique Gallery The Old Tram Shed, Cnr Roberts and Kitchener Avenue, Kensington
on November 24, at 6pm.

Donations of artwork will be accepted until November 20.

More information can be obtained from Rangoato Hlasane

Email:rangoato@gmail.com or Tel: 078 764 4741