On Wednesday, July 16, Morning Cruise delved into the world of textile art with Dr. Elbe Coetsee, founder of Mogalakwena Craft Art Development Foundation (MCADF).
Currently, Mogalakwena has an exhibition entitled Narrative Threads at the Montebello Design Centre.
The showcase features the work of seven women textile artists from the Art, Life & Stitches Group of MCADF. Each of the artists was allocated a stable to display their work.
“We decided to present our work for other people to enjoy and to see and to inspire women. For women to come together to stitch.”
Coetsee said that her love for stitching came from a creative home life. During her childhood, she would often stitch with her mother and two grandmothers.
Coestee started the MCADF more than 30 years ago. Mogalakwena has a permanent gallery and shop at the Montebello Design Center, and their artists are based at the Mogalakwena Reserve in Limpopo. She wanted to create a community for women to come together and inspire each other.
“The human hand, for me, is such an amazing tool,” said Coetsee. “You can stitch your can weave, you can knit, you can crochet, you can cook, and you can care for people with the human hand.”
Morning Cruise host Khusi noted that, recently, the new Minister of Arts and Culture said that the art community was not receiving necessary funding.
In response, Coetsee said that art is extremely important to any culture, and can even create opportunities.
“The whole thing about art and craft is that it creates employment,” said Coetsee. “If you can learn skills you can create employment. Especially for women—they care for their children, they care about their household—it’s important to be able to sustain yourself. And I think art is a wonderful way of doing that.”
Coetsee said that she hopes audiences leave the exhibition inspired and appreciative of what can be made by hand.
The exhibition is open for viewing on Tuesdays-Fridays from 9 a.m.—4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m.—3 p.m. The exhibition runs until 26 Sept. 2024.
Contact MCADF for any questions at 021-685-4844.
Listen to the interview here
Presentor: Mkuseli Khusi Veto
Producer: Nikoletta Anagnostou
Written by Nikoletta Anagnostou
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