Introduction

Terry-anne Stevenson's contribution to the arts in largely Durban South Africa is something we feel needs to be celebrated and documented. Her life journey took her to Ireland in the 1970's where she worked with rural communities developing traditional craft, then onto helping heal the divide in Belfast through community arts projects. Coming back to Durban, South Africa she worked at the African Art Centre, promoting black artists and organising exhibitions. In the 80's she was instrumental in developing Art groups like Zasha which endeavoured to establish and promote black artists and encourage independence. These initiatives led to the establishing of Community Arts Workshop and finally the Bat Centre. Terry-anne is mostly known for her murals which she embarked on working with communities in valley of a Thousand Hills. The project became formalised into a trust called Community Mural Projects with the intention to provide employment for artists and involve and empower communities. The project was extensive: well known murals are The Human Rights Mural (now a National Monument) painted in Dec 1992 and Nomkhubulwana (the Rain Goddess) both in Durban. Terry-anne also was involved in the Joko Tea Storytelling project with Gcina Mhlope, where she went all over South Africa, collecting stories which were then translated into colourful murals involving local artists.

For me, I remember Terry-anne as a wonderful spirited friend who sadly had to suffer due to a long illness in the end. She affected so many people's lives, helped people discover their potential and opened up doors to new things. I hope this blog will bring together all the stories and events that she created or helped create so that we may put it all into a wonderful colourful book.

Please help us with this journey and add your comments, pictures, articles etc

Ilse Mikula

1 comment:

  1. I found some drawings made by Terry-anne of beaded dolls and a helicopter which were made for a christmas exhibition at the African Art Centre. She worked with Jo Thorpe organizing many exhibitions, one of the most important was connecting with artists that had studied at Rorke's Drift Art School, tracking them down in Johannesburg and Durban and then showing their work at The African Art Centre in July 1989.

    ReplyDelete