"This class provides an invaluable pathway into the understanding of contemporary art. Very few people have any kind of art education these days, and the artworks at the Norval are particularly challenging for the ordinary viewer (in my opinion). So I found this class amazingly helpful and a great learning tool, both for the art itself and about my own responses to the different pieces.
Dawn Garisch, leading the class, exhorted us to choose a specific artwork, look carefully at it, and then contemplate it. Immersing myself in the ambiance of each piece greatly enhanced my understanding of the more abstract forms in the sculpture garden.
Writing about one’s response to art that elicits a strong negative reaction opens up a different perspective on the work.
I cannot recommend this class too highly. It should be required for all new members to attend."
COURSE:
How We Respond to Art
REVIEW BY:
Margaret-Anne Halse, Cape Town
"What a stimulating and enlivening course!
We wrote our responses to a work of art we were drawn to and one we disliked - I learnt so much about how my current state of being reflects in what I'm attracted to and it was revealing to face my prejudices and biases in what I turn away from.
Everything begins with emotion and brought up the question for me: are we drawn to art that reflects and matches what is already inside us or what is dormant and needs awakening? Perhaps a bit of both.
It was a special impromptu treat to be joined by the Norval's Senior Advising Curator Karel Nel who listened with such interest to our writing pieces and gave such astute feedback on each one."
COURSE:
How We Respond to Art
REVIEW BY:
Nina Geraghty, Cape Town
"A useful and thought-provoking experience of re-learning how to “read” - it brought up certain assumptions and pre-dispositions, which would not necessarily have surfaced in the well-worn process of “reading” words."
COURSE:
How We Respond to Art
REVIEW BY:
John Cartwright, Cape Town
The evaluations from your students indicate that many felt they benefitted greatly from your facilitation and encouragement to draw on their own inner resources to spark their writing, and that through this they gained knowledge about themselves and insights that were highly enriching to the writing process. They were given some methodology and tools and felt supported and enabled to be self-reliant in their work. Although this made others used to a more didactic approach insecure at first, they adapted to it and acknowledged its value.
COURSE:
How We Respond To Art
REVIEW BY:
UCT SUMMER SCHOOL
I enjoyed all the writing exercises as they showed me I have the potential to be a writer but I LOVED the excerpt readings and the balance of energies between the facilitators the most.
COURSE:
How We Respond To Art
REVIEW BY:
ZAMUXOLO ‘ZAMA’ NKOMPELA, Cape Town
