San Women



African Black Oyster Catcher

AFRICAN SAN ROCK ART

Africa is known to have the widest range and the most well researched and preserved Rock Art paintings in the world. The spiritual heritage of the nomadic herding people, the African San, also known as Bushman or Khoisan. San Art may seem esoteric and inaccessible, the images are unfamiliar, and the visual conventions are not those of the Western art, to which most of us are accustomed. Thousands of archaeological sites exist in Africa, dating back to thirty thousand years until a few hundred years ago.

Using knowledge of recorded San beliefs, research has shown that rock art played a fundamental role in the religious lives of the San painters. The art captured visions of dreams from the San’s world behind the canvas / rock-face. This other world is inhabited by spirit creatures, to which dancers could travel in animal form, and where people in ecstasy could draw power and bring it back with them, to use for healing, rain-making and capturing game.

I am an artist, and not an archaeologist and my appreciation for all these San Art images is as works of art. My original replica San Rock Art paintings are not exact copies of specific panels but rather a combination of various shaped, coloured rock canvasses with examples of San Rock Art paintings found in Africa. For scholarly analysis and interpretations of what specific paintings may represent, please contact branches of the South African Archaeological Society who have researched this subject over many years and have many books, exhibitions and arrange field trips to view the various archaeological sites.

AFRICAN SAN ROCK ART

SPORT SERIES

&

SAN ROCK ART TRUST

The aim of the African San Rock Art Sport Series and the San Rock Art Trust is to assist in poverty alleviation programs and the upliftment of Khoi and San people, as well as, to create awareness and protect one of Africa’s most valuable recorded assets associated with the San communities – African San Rock Art.

The African San Rock Art - Sport Series will comprise of rugby, soccer, cricket, and athletics etc. depicting oil painted scenes from sport games, matches, events and tournaments. Various framed original African Rock Art canvas paintings, as well as, limited addition framed posters/photo copies of the original Rock Art, will be sold, each with a numbered Certificate of authenticity/endorsement.

The Licensed/endorsed African San Rock – Sport Series will be marketed and sold internationally through the website www.african-rock-art.com/www.art-me-africa.com and nationally through art galleries and art affiliated retailers. Portions of the profits made will be channeled to the San Rock Art Trust, to be used for the assistance and poverty alleviation programs of Khoi and San communities and/or the South African San Institute/Khwattu San Cultural & Education Centre and the conservation /preservation of San Rock Art in Africa.

Limited addition

 

San Rock Art

 

"Springbok Rugby World Cup Champions 1995 & 2007"

 

This painting was done to celebrate Springbok Rugby in Africa as well as the oldest form of Art in Africa "San Rock Art". The painting captures the images of a modern day rugby match in the Kalahari Desert as it would have been observed by a San Shaman or Artist hundreds of years ago. Using his knowledge of San Rock Art the Artist captured the Rugby match using examples of the many unfamiliar existing San Art images to record most of the many facets of the game of rugby football as we know it today - lineout, scrum, blood-bin, try, tackles, referee, supporters, cheer leaders, springbok game hunting (SA braai vleis and biltong) etc.

 

San Art seems esoteric and inaccessible, the images are unfamiliar and the visual conversions are not those of the Western art to which most of us are accustomed. Using knowledge of recorded San beliefs, research has shown that rock art played a fundamental and important role in the religious lives of the San painters/artists. The art captured visions of events and dreams from the San's world on and behind the canvas or rock-face. This other world is inhabited by spirit creatures, to which dancers could travel in animal form, and where people in ecstasy could draw power and bring it back with them, to use for healing, rain-making and capturing game.

 

 

 

The "Springbok Rugby" Rock Art painting depicts some of the spirit, passion and ecstasy that rugby fans and enthusiasts have for the game. The same spirit, passion, ecstasy and pride depicted on all the San Rock Art paintings done hundreds of years ago.

 

Through the purchase of this Art a percentage of the profit will be held in Trust to be used for the assistance and poverty alleviation programs and upliftment of African Khoi and San Communities, as well as, to protect one of Africa’s most valuable recorded assets associated with the African San people – African San Rock Art.

 

“WORK IS LOVE MADE VISIBLE”

www.art-me-africa.com / www.african-rock-art.com

African Black Oystercatcher Conservation

The African Black Oystercatcher breeds only on the coasts of Namibia and South Africa and is classified in the International Red Data Book as Near-Threatened. Because of a perceived growing threat to the species, the Oystercatcher Conservation Program (OCP) was launched in January 1998 by Prof. Phil Hockey, Percy Fitz Patrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, who heads the National Black Oystercatcher Conservation Program in Africa. The main aims of the OCP is to develop a conservation strategy for African Black Oystercatchers that will also contribute to the conservation of other coastal species and to develop awareness of the conservation needs of South Africa's coast.

Since 2001, the OCP has made major advances in understanding the movements of juvenile birds and the conservation needs of the species. Of critical importance, the OCP program has established that movement of surplus birds from protected areas to unprotected areas is too infrequent (and is likely to remain so) to buffer ailing populations. Most Oystercatchers breed on the beach and have there nests in a hollow in the sea sand. It is very difficult to spot well camouflaged eggs or chicks. Pointers that the general public can remember to help with the OCP are;

  • The critical time in the oystercatchers annual cycle is between November and March when the birds are breeding. All sorts of things can go wrong at this time, from unattended eggs cooking in the sun to chicks succumbing to dogs. If you can stick to the following guidelines, you will minimize the chances of causing breeding failure.

  • The behavior of the adult birds is the best indication that you are close to eggs or chicks. They become agitated, running up and down the shore, or flying in circles around you, often calling loudly.

  • If you are close to agitated birds, move away far enough so the birds calm down. Do not try and find the eggs or chicks - both are very well camouflaged and can easily be trampled by accident.

  • Please control dogs on the shore; many eggs and chicks are lost annually to dogs. Loveable pet as he/she may be, your dog's natural instincts are predatory. Also, avoid walking your dog on remote stretches of shore at this time of year - often these are the only places where oystercatchers have a reasonable chance of breeding successfully.

  • Fisherman and surfers, please be aware of the behavior of oystercatchers around you. If there are agitated birds in the area, you may well be in danger of causing chicks to drown on an incoming tide. When adult birds sense danger, they call to chicks which then hide under boulders or run into gullies to hide. The young will only come out of hiding when adults indicate to them that the danger has passed.

  • Please advise others if you can see a problem arising.

    • With residents Martin formed the Grotto Bay Nature Reserve African Black Oystercatcher Conservation & Breeding Program in close working relation with students and Prof. Phil Hockey, Percy Fitz Patrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, who heads the National Black Oystercatcher Conservation Program in Africa. The aim of the BOCP is to develop a conservation strategy for the African Black Oystercatcher that will also contribute to the conservation of other coastal species, as well as, to develop awareness of conservation needs of the African coast. Currently 40 birds (20 breeding pairs) form part of the Grotto Bay breeding program. The participation in this program and the observation, studies of breeding habits of the Oystercatchers has resulted in Martin photographing, sketching and painting these birds in there natural habitats.

    NATIONAL HERITAGE

    AFRICAN SAN ROCK ART SOCCER

    (2010 FIFA WORLD CUP TM)

    One of South Africa and Africa’s National Heritage’s is the well known San Rock Art images. Africa has the widest range and the most well researched and preserved San Rock Art paintings in the world. As a result of many original paintings being lost in time through corrosion, destroyed or vandalized, my interest in this form of art was established as a conservation effort, the San people and the meaning/interpretations behind the paintings, as well as, to capture or record some of these paintings on canvas as a modern form of art.

    “WORK IS LOVE MADE VISIBLE”

    www.art-me-africa.com / www.african-rock-art.com

    SAN SOCCER

    AFRICAN ROCK ART

    The "San Soccer" Rock Art painting was done to celebrate Soccer / Football in Africa, the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM, as well as, the oldest form of Art in Africa "San Rock Art". The painting captures the images of a modern day soccer match in the Kalahari Desert as it would have been observed by a San Shaman or Artist hundreds of years ago. Using my knowledge of San Rock Art I captured the Soccer match using examples of the many unfamiliar San Art images to record most of the many facets of the game of soccer / football as we know it today - penalty, corner kick, goal kick, dribble, tackles, referee, linesman, supporters, cheer leaders, etc.

    San Art seems esoteric and inaccessible, the images are unfamiliar and the visual conversions are not those of the Western art to which most of us are accustomed. Using knowledge of recorded San beliefs, research has shown that rock art played a fundamental and important role in the religious lives of the San painters/artists. The art captured visions of events and dreams from the San's world on and behind the canvas or rock-face. This other world is inhabited by spirit creatures, to which dancers could travel in animal form, and where people in ecstasy could draw power and bring it back with them, to use for healing, rain-making and capturing game.

    The "San Soccer" Rock Art painting depicts some of the spirit, passion and ecstasy that soccer fans and enthusiasts, all over the world, have for the game. The same spirit, passion, ecstasy and pride depicted on all the San Rock Art paintings in Africa, done hundreds of years ago.

    San Soccer