Art, Ubuntu, and Reconciliation: Journeys from Members of Artist Proof Studios
A portfolio by Daniel "Stompie" Selibe Brandeis International Fellow 2003-04
Dealing With Destruction
Fire Fallout
Last year the first and original Artist Proof Studio was attacked by fire, leaving us with complete catastrophe." - APS Student.
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Remembering Nhlanhla (pdf)*
"When [APS] burned down, I felt that my dream had been destroyed... I never recovered util I made a print. I had to deal with the fire the best way I could, and the only way I could was to come up with an art piece that would take away my rage..." ? APS Student and Teacher Trevor Thebe.
Rebuilding and Reconciliation
Student Journals (pdf)*
"The death of my sister made me realize that death can strike at any time. That's when I started thinking I'm not alone; I was surrounded by ubuntu from my friends, APS members, neighbors, and my relatives...that's when I started feeling ubuntu spirit." - APS Student
Music in the Classroom (pdf)*
"Music was used in a variety of cultures; people could communicate across all cultures of South Africa through music." -Stompie Selibe
My Story
"I realized there wasn't a sense of ubuntu, which means humanity, which means I see you through me, I acknowledge and appreciate who you are, I appreciate what you contribute and what you have..." - Stompie Selibe
Renewal
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By Daniel Stompie Selibe
I think after two weeks APS was celebrating its ten-year anniversary. So Kim asked me if we would like to play for students. Then I realized why don't I use this opportunity to play with the students. Then we had a two-week session that they were practicing. I want you to realize that what we are going to do is a symbol of ubuntu -- where we are coming from with this. So we should notice that. They felt strong about that. The APS people were amazed by that kind of spirit. They said, what did you do with these guys? I didn't do anything. Just be with them, engage as much as possible with what they are going through. It's huge, just to stay with the feeling that evolves, to hold the spirit, to participate with them in the journey. Even if you don't understand all of it.
There was the time of the performance and people were nervous; we were in the dressing room; I said you have to breathe in, breathe out, hold breath. Look at individuals, notice each other, notice ourselves. Think about what you have been going through with ubuntu. Just go and take this with them; There were 3 -4 guys who did poems based on ubuntu. We went on stage, I said I am going to be part of this process. I want everyone to be responsible; we are all leaders on this journey. I stood with one of the guys I had taught him to play a bit on the drum. The audience was silent. I looked at him, he looked at me. It came out so beautifully, so powerfully. The audience was so amazed. Something powerful came out. They were dancing playing, reading poems. There was this joy. Sometimes it is hard to express it. It was there. It was happening. They felt that they did it. They felt the energy of individuals. The group knew what they wanted to be. Where are they going? What are they looking for in life?
(Interview, Cynthia Cohen, 10/04)
*PDFs listed here may be requested by completing the online publication request form.
