Yizwa Centre for the EcoArts

Re-Invention in 2011

2011-01-05T04:27:00.001-08:00

Yizwa is pulling up it's socks and changing direction in 2011. Working from Nottingham Rd just became too complicated and it seems that Mpophomeni is the place for us. With the addition of Ntombenhle Mtambo to the team it sems we have the drive to delve into much more needy territory and make a difference.
We are currently writing up a proposal to transform a piece of wasteland in the middle of the township into a thriving permaculture garden and pop in spot so have lots of work ahead of us!
The municipality are happy for us to use the land as it benefits the community. Ntombenhle lives around the corner on the greenest street in the area and her neighbours are keen to volunteer and support this project.
We'll keep you posted.
From our wellies to yours.
xxxx The Yizwaks

Latest things on the Go

2010-03-17T00:23:00.000-07:00

Yizwa EcoArt Creative Team is gearing up for some events- Dalton Private Nature Reserve is opening it's gates to the public for the first time in on Eco Saturday 17 April 2010 in aid of it's early Childhood Development programme and Yizwa will be there in force running an educators training session and generally adding fun and frolicks to the proceeedings.
On the 5 June Yizwa will be putting on The Big Green Day at Nottingham Road Combined School. Schools from around the Meander will be invited and there will be stands, art happenings and creative environmental shows in the grounds of this school to inspire and enthuse.

Strange Doings...

2010-02-26T01:20:00.000-08:00

Juggling children, yoga, food gardening, fingerpuppets, natural science lessons and endless proposals the Yizwa Creative Goddesses found inspiration in some delicious artworks and photo stuffs from Bomobob on Etsy.

To the Mountains...

2010-02-26T00:59:00.000-08:00

A little update from the Yizwa Front. The great and worthy office staff (that's Tasha & I in pyjamas with laptops)have been steadily tapping away sending proposals and bugging worthy folk for support. In between this I drove up the pot-holed and gravelly roads with stupendous views of the Drakensberg to the Dalton Education Trust Centre to meet with community members and help in the design of a permaculture garden. This garden will feed the local pre-school children who come to the centre from miles around to do motor-neuron skills training. What a glorious place, on the bend of a rushing river with a big iron bridge arching across the span and Nguni cattle wandering through the masses of Red Hot Pokers in full flower.

First Hip Hop Class

2010-02-08T02:52:00.000-08:00

The first Hip Hop class started on Feb 6 at Yizwa Centre. It was a blast and the children had a brilliant time. The Yizwa crew slaved for hours decorating the movement room with delicious sari's and then collapsed in a heap as energetic jane the Hip Hop Queen took control..

2010-01-29T03:35:00.000-08:00

The YIZWAKs

Tasha Saha
Yoga & Art instructor

Alluson Zuma
Renowned Sculptor

Eidin Griffin
Food gardener & Creative play specialist

Dumisane Shange
Art Educator & Facilitator for Room 13 project

Laila Smith-Blose
Life skills specialist

Emile Scholtz
Educator, photographer & illustrator

Visiting Artist in Residence from August 2010
Eithne Griffin
Fine artist, expert clown, puppeteer & resource specialist

Leaves for Trees...

2010-01-29T03:25:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken during the Big Green Day in June of last year when we brought 11 schools together to do environmental learning & share ideas. It was a blast!

Future Sculptors:-)

2010-01-27T11:22:00.001-08:00

xxx The Yizwa Crew

Big Bug Hugs

2010-01-15T00:59:00.000-08:00

We have some lovely friends that we work with among them are the infamous Bugs of the Meander education Project. Check out www.mmaep.co.za for their stuff.
They not only do cool and funky educational things they also kiss frogs, plant trees, eat cake and drink champagne given a chance.They cartwheel and hug their way around schools and make environmental education COOL:-)

Fresh New Year & All that Jazz!!

2010-01-15T00:46:00.000-08:00

Well here we are- got the idea, got the building and now- Whoooooppppeeee We got the Power (oh dear, too much nineties music influence going on here, my apologies, not cool)
We have a Hip Hop teacher waiting in the wings as well as a strange assortment of teachers, biologists, puppeteers, artists and creative folk all getting ready to burst forth from Yizwa this year.
The Big Green Carnival has been pushed forward to the 25 September with local Carnival/Circus Skills workshops throughout the year around the Midlands of KZN.
The Big Diski Dance is happening on the 15 May at the Fort Nottingham Highland Games (we're making the costumnes, training the face-painters and organising the dance training in two local schools.)
Busy Us!!!
Watch out we gonna get ya(whoops there I go again..)

Colourful Us? Surely not!

2009-12-13T02:42:00.000-08:00

The Midlands is home to an unusual blend of colourful personalities drawn to its celebrated natural beauty and focus on the arts. This Christmas morning, two of the region’s most inimitable characters will be forgoing the customary festivities for whimsy with a purpose, raising funds for a uniquely meaningful and enriching addition to the community: the Yizwa Centre for the Eco Arts.

Eidin Griffin, permaculture pundit, artist, and one-time clown, and Tasha Saha, art teacher, yoga instructor, undercover artist, and friend of trees will undertake a day-long ‘carbon-neutral’ journey on horseback along the Meander, canvassing support and raising funds for the innovative project. The centre will function as an educational facility firmly planted on the essential interface between environmental conservation and the creative arts, helping ensure the sustained prosperity of these twin concerns.

The programme for 2010 will include workshops on Food-Gardening, Recycled Art, Kite Making, Yoga for Kids, and other activities designed to stimulate creative thinking, support curriculum - based learning and thoroughly nourish the soul. Children from under-resourced schools will be sponsored to attend these uplifting workshops and programmes which will be hosted in the purpose equipped premises neighbouring Kings School, Nottingham Road.

Adults will have a chance to play and learn too at community focus days, workshops, exhibitions and events. Planned for March 2010 is the 1000 Artworks Day in which artists and non artists, locally and internationally will be invited to donate A4 sized artworks, each one of which will be sold for R150. Larger pieces will be auctioned and all proceeds will go to the Yizwa Centre.

The two passionate proponents of this unprecedented collaboration will be an unmissable sight on their clip-clopping way. Decked out in playful, exuberant costumes on their mission, the message of fun and delight in the resources and limitless potential of the exchange between the environment and arts will be emphatically displayed. Tasha and Eidin will be sponsored for every kilometer they ride, and anyone wishing to contribute a voluntary amount is encouraged to contact them directly (details below). The project is a certified Non Profit Organisation, and relies entirely on funding and the generous support of its fundraising activities by the public. Thanks to projects with forward-looking vision like this, Midlands invaluable position in KZN's cultural tourism trade looks set to flower bright opportunities for the future.

For information on upcoming events, or to make a contribution to the Carbon Neutral Christmas Day Ride, please contact Eidin- 083 4292867 or Tasha 083 2797258, email yizwacentre@gmail.com or visit www.yizwacentre.blogspot.com

A Most Haphazard Photo Shoot

2009-12-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

Tired of waiting for the sun, we found a gap between downpours and sat ourselves on a soggy and slightly pertubed hoss who wasnt expecting an extra 100kgs on that particular friday afternoon.

Publicity shots for our Carbon Neutral Christmas Day Ride! (SPCA, we promise we're going to take two horses, not one.)

The Eclectic Art Day

2009-11-25T05:26:00.000-08:00

Lucky US!
We will be showcasing a variety of A4 artworks donated to us from an amazing variety of local and international artists. We'll keep you posted as they are arriving daily....how exciting
Oh and to do Your bit you'll be invited to the Grand Opening and sale of these artpieces which will in turn raise funds for art and enviro support and supplies to local schools in the area.
:-)

Upcoming Workshops in December

2009-11-25T05:21:00.000-08:00

Easy Food Growing for Complete Beginners
Saturday 5 December 2009
Learn simple ways to grow healthy delicious organic food to feed your family, impress your friends and tickle your taste-buds. One day workshop includes a complete garden starter pack and a home cooked lunch. Wear old clothes and be prepared to be inspired!
R450

Fun in the Garden Day for Kids
Monday 7 December 2009
Exciting gardening for smaller people specially designed for 6-10 year olds who love to get grubby, explore the natural world and do cool stuff in the garden. Morning workshop includes all materials, a starter kit to take home and a tea break with home made lemonade & freshly baked muffins.
R200

Family Creative Christmas Cards & Gift Tag Making.
Friday 11 December 2009
Make your own stylish, artistic cards and tags from a variety of materials that we provide. This is great fun to do with friends and family. Adults and Children from 6years of age welcome. All materials plus tea provided.
Individual R150. Family of two – R200, each extra family member R50.

Herbal Healing Remedies Workshop
Saturday 12 December 2009
Break the stressful consumer Christmas and make your own beautifully presented gifts of handmade healing balms, herbal salts and oils. Create your own handmade tags and labels and give gifts to use and appreciate. One day workshop includes all materials needed, labelling, tags, a home cooked lunch and a lot of fun.
Suitable for teens and adults.
R550

Family Shadow Puppet Theatre Day
Sunday 13 December 2009
Learn the ancient art of shadow puppetry with your favourite people. Make your own mini shadow puppet theatre and puppets and take them home to entertain your family over the Christmas holidays. Suitable for 8-100 years of age. All materials plus tea provided. Sorry but no unaccompanied children for this workshop.
Individual - R200. Family of two – R300, each extra family member R75.

LIMITED PLACES ON EACH WORKSHOP SO BE SURE TO BOOK EARLY
Vouchers for future workshops available as Christmas Gifts.

Phone * 083 4292867- Eidin * 083 2797258- Tasha*

Getting ready for a Meander...

2009-11-19T01:41:00.000-08:00

Tasha Saha & Eidin griffin are not just fun loving, creative sorts they are also quite possibly mad. Having decided to open a centre to promote the EcoArts in the very drizzly but charming Midlands of KwaZulu Natal they are now having to raise the funds, paint the building, run the courses, inspire the people and somehow do their other work, feed their familys and act relatively like grown ups. It's a bum rap but these two intrepid mullets are now planning on a daring adventure also. Mostly to raise funds for their beautiful Centre but also to raise awareness of ways to move around the countryside without being hefty carbon monsters.
So on Christmas Day they are abandoning their families, turkeys, trees and taking their Good Cheer on the road on horses, bicycles and on foot.....