The Art & Craft Ramble in Wakkerstroom, successfully advertised far and wide, brought a large number of visitors into the village over the long weekend of the 16-19th June, along with a Charity Run and the Mountain Challenge. Feedback received is that this annual event is growing exponentially and artists / crafters are getting well exposed. Exhibiting alongside the local artists were Judy Jordan and Antoinette Walters from Newcastle; Sicelo & Thully Ziqubu from Charlestown; Yvonne Lariviere from Howick; Woza Moya from Hillcrest; Michelle Moreland and Engela van der Hoven from Johannesburg and Sheran van der Merwe from Pretoria. We appreciate your contribution and are thrilled to hear of some artwork being sold and a few commissions being ordered. See www.artramblewakkerstroom.co.za to see some of the exhibitors and their work.
The organising team would like to thank the extended Wakkerstroom Community who participated with opening their homes and venue’s, organising courses and talks, their time to man exhibition halls etc. To those locals who kindly donated prizes for the art & craft competitions and items for auction. There are too many people to name individually, but really a hearty thanks to you and your families!
There were over 70 entrants for the Kiddies Colouring in Competition. The public voted for the winners during the course of the weekend, and we managed to personally hand one of the prizes to a prize winner Abongile, in attendance at the Prize Giving, with her twin sister and proud parents standing by. The winning school prize for the Dr Pixley Municipality went to Country College in Volksrust for their overwhelming number of entrants. The school won R1000 worth of printing, computer and framing services from Wakkerstroom Central.
A number of people (both men and ladies) completed one of the craft courses, and went home with either a printed silk scarf, mixed media artwork or pewter box.
The Art Ramble closed with an Auction on Sunday afternoon and was supported by loyal locals with a lovely atmosphere (with a drop of wine & songs by Eric Anderson of the Crowned Crane adding to the event). The buyers got some real bargains, but we managed to raise a whopping R8000 for Dana frail care from that alone. So, well done everyone for opening your hearts and pockets! This together with the commissions from Art & craft sales in one of the hall, and an anonymous donation meant that the Art ramble managed to donate R10 000 to the Dana Retirement frailcare centre (this year’s chosen recipient) for the purchase of special beds/mattresses that they are looking for.
We all look forward to next year’s event – already planned for the weekend of 16-18 June 2017, with the Mountain Challenge also planned for the same weekend!
Kind Regards
Mark & Karen
DeKotzenhof
