VANSA WESTERN CAPE UPDATE

"After two years heading up VANSA Western Cape, Peter Hayes is leaving to devote himself full-time to his career in the theatre industry. Peter Joined VANSA in March 2009 and took the Western Cape branch to new heights in a remarkably short period of time. Whatever he did, whether it was running the office, fundraising or creating and running projects, he did so with a calmness and competency that was an inspiration to those around him. He will be remembered for his wit, charm and extremely hard work. It is with sadness that we see him go and we wish him success and fulfillment in his future endeavors." - Jonathan Garnham, VANSA Chairperson. 

The core staff, Hope and Cheryl, are here to help as you need, and to make sure VANSA’s core projects continue as well as some exciting new developments about which they’ll keep you posted.

We also have two fantastic Interns on board for the rest of the year. Many of you will know Ruarc Peffers and Monique Pelser and if you don’t they are introduced more fully below. Ruarc and Monique will be curating SPIN Space for the rest of the year and they are also available should you need advice or input. You can reach them at the office (021-465 7895) or on email:ruarc@vansa.co.za and monique@vansa.co.za.

After completing a BA (Fine Art) at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, Ruarc Peffers was employed by the auctioneers Stephan Welz and Co. in association with Sotheby’s where, after successfully running the art department in the Johannesburg office for some years, he was made a director of the company. At the end of 2008 he moved to the UK to pursue further studies. He completed an MSc in Curating and Criticism at the University of Edinburgh in 2010receiving a distinction for his dissertation entitled The Economic Sustainability of Dematerialisation.

There is a general perception that the arts industry contributes little to the national prerogative and annual fiscus. I would like to engineer my curatorial practice to address and rectify the misconception of the perceived contribution, or lack thereof, made by the arts and culture sector. Considering the recent developments in contemporary art, such as The Social Turn and Dialogical Art, which developed in the wake of Relational Aesthetics, I would like to pursue policies and strategies for social upliftment and sustainable development; as well as focusing on developing the perception and appreciation of the tangible value to trade and business made by the arts sector.

Monique Pelser is a practicing visual artist working in photography. Between 2008 and 2010 she headed up the photography department and lectured in the visual arts and the history of art at the School of Arts, Wits University, Johannesburg.

Pelser was educated in fine art at Rhodes University Grahamstown where she majored in the photographic arts. In 2006 she was awarded a Masters of Fine Art with distinction. Voted by Art South Africa as a brightest young artist for 2007, Pelser is well known for her role reversal portraits. Her works reflect the complexities that surround the conventions of the photographic medium. In 2010, as winner of the Tierney Fellowship for photography, she exhibited her series of photographs ONS LAND/ OUR LAND at the New York Photo Festival.

Over the past three years she has been selected as one of three South African photographers to attend the African Curators Meetings/ Portfolio Reviews in Mozambique in 2008, Mali in 2009 and Ethiopia in 2010.

Her approach to curating is aimed at supporting young artists to transition into the art world. She has a keen knowledge of the arts internationally and locally and is committed to developing levels of visual literacy amoungst young artists as well as collectors in South Africa.

Regards,

Peter Hayes