[Nov 2009] Business in Durban Article:

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Special thanks to Nicola Jenvey for this valuable publicity.

[May - Jun 2009] Wil Module 2009 Held at Umcebo's uShaka Store:

This year we again welcomed a group of seven DUT students to the store from 25 May 09 to 26 June 09.

The idea behind the WIL Module is to allow Fine Art Students an opportunity to apply their Fine Art skills in a more commercial design and decor field. They were given the brief of designing, manufacturing and displaying a piece of lighting (either a chandelier or a table lamp). We also asked them to consider introducing a recycing element to the project. We are then going to market and promote the work as well as display it for sale in our uShaka store. The idea is to create some potential markets for the students, so that when they graduate, they have the option of pursuing a career in the lucrative field of Design and Decor. In 2010 we are hoping to grow the module even further, and to include a stand at the Design Indaba, where students can be assisted to display their work and deal with buyers and the public. We will be discussing this with DUT in the review phase of this collaboration.

We are very pleased to now share the work of the students involved in the 09 WIL Module. Our thanks to the students for sharing their creativity so generously and to Tony Starkey and the DUT FIne Art Department for the opportunity to work with them on such an exciting collaboration.

Student 1: Brigitte Laurent:

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Brigitte graduated last year and was part of the 08 Indaba. Brigitte attend the 08 Indaba with us and displayed some of her work there. Brigitte came back to work with us and the WIL students this year, and we are very excited with her new range of work.

Her latest work involves bringing a sense of elegance to throw away PVC piping. Brigitte is an excellent designer, who is able to tap into a seemingly endless stream of creativity.

Her new work is very exciting and is inspired by Paisley Designs and is simple and yet elegant. Please see sketches and photos of her latest work.

We hope to be working with Brigette very often, and to be able to help her secure some firm orders, to set her on the way towards an enterprise of her own, as well as being one of our suppliers.

Student 2: Stephanie Balkisson:

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Stephanie is a 3rd year Fine Art Student at DUT.Stephanie already creates decorated mirrors with mirror and glass and she took this technique and created a very luxurious table lamp.

The lamp is made from a structure created out of recycled tennis ball tins, with broken mirror and green and brown beer glass mozaiced ontop of this surface. The lamp is very interesting, and is a combination of African and Middle Eastern influences. It has a very high recycled content, and would bring warmth and sophistication to any home or corporte environment.

Below please find images and drawings of Stephanie's work, which we are very excited about.

Student 3: Bongumenzi Ngomenzi:

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Bongumenzi is also a final year Fine Art Student at DUT. He has produced an amazing table lamp.

He is a superb craftsman, who can make a welding torch tell the most exciting and creative stories. His lamp is made out of recycled metal, and is inspired by the roof tops in informal settlements. It is the combination of polar opposites, in a way which establishes him as an exciting craftsman, artist and technician.

It was very exciting working with him, and below, please find images and drawings of his work.

Student 4: Sibusiso Mazibuko:

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Sibusiso Mazibuko is also a final year Fine Art Student. He produced an elephant wall light out of scrap metal, which he very creatively welded together. The piece is very contemporary, and could grace the top game lodges and hotels in South Africa. Sibusiso is very talented, and I only wish we could have spent even more time with him.

Below please find his drawings and images of the finnished piece.

Student 5: Siyabonga Madlala:

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Siyabonga Madlala, the fifth WIL final year, Fine Art Student, produced a very contemporary bedside lamp. The structure is welded recycled metal and the shade is clad in teething beads. The piece is very contemporary, and will grace and bring warmth and style to any home.

Siyabonga is very creative and a very good craftsman. I am hoping that he will explore this initial experience with us even further, as I know this is just the tip of the iceberg for him.

Please see below sketches and images of his work.

Student 6: Sayuri Naidoo:

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Sayuri Naidoo is a final year Fine Art Student, who came to share her exceptional talent with us. Sayuri sees Durban as opening up to the world, and as part of that her piece is inspired by the clubbing and social scene. She has combined shot glasses with bead and wirework and given us her take on the mirror ball. Her piece called HOT SHOT is already attracting interest.

Please see below drawings and images of her work.

Student 7: Lisa Herselman:

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Lisa, our final year Fine Art student, produced a very delicate piece, which is a chandelier made out of wire and beadwork, with crystals, made out of recycled softdrink bottles, treated with a heatgun. The end result is a delicate chandelier, which has a wind chime quality to it, as the breeze blows through it. Lisa sees this work gracing afternoon parties, silhoutted against the African sunset.

Below, please find images and drawings of her work.