My Dinner with Chepape:
We walked onto the open air seating area at the Bier Market bistro style bar and restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio. Chepape’s kind South African accent blended with the aroma of fresh baked bread and spices. Chepape ordered a burger with fries, while I opted for a flatbread chicken sausage pizza. We talked about his travels to the US and his life in South Africa. As our general dialogue and meal were closing, Chepape took a little time to look over the first draft of this story (captured in feature image).
Chepape was one of the twelve international exhibiting artists at the Harris Stanton Gallery in Akron celebrating the gallery’s 30 year anniversary. Chepape joined these representatives from Spain, Italy, France, Greece and other countries to take part of this celebration.
I first had the pleasure of meeting Chepape via facebook, and later in person at the season opening of MOCA Cleveland. Not only is Chepape an accomplished Johannesburg artist and freelance arts writer, he is also very active in his community, sharing his talents both as an arts writer and artist. He is a patron of the Makgato Reading Center in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo province—the newly reading initiative established by the principal of Ngwamorei Secondary School in honor of Chepape Makgato and his passion and dedication for rural community arts and literacy development.
“What initially captivated me about Chepape’s work, were the large, faceless assemblages featuring women in headdresses. I had never seen work like this and found them very exciting. I also love his male portrait painting in our show whose eyes directly engage the viewer with a haunting stare. I find it very powerful.” says gallery owner Meg Harris Stanton.
HAF: Chepape, how did you connect to the North East Ohio communities with both Zygote Press, in Cleveland and Harris Stanton Gallery of Akron? Congratulations on the display of six of your work in the exhibition.
Chepape: Meg Harris Stanton saw my work at New York Affordable Art Fair last year and connected with me through Facebook. This is the second time I am showing in her annual international group exhibition. She then connected me with Liz Maugan at Zygote.
HAF: What was the catalyst that led you to work in the field of community arts and literacy?
Chepape: What led me into field of community arts and literacy development especially in rural areas of Limpopo, South Africa was as a result of the lack of arts facilities and access to arts education in the rural areas. Growing up in the rural village, I understand that many talented young artists never get to fulfill their potential and realize their talent because they don’t have art centers to take part and contribute to the national arts landscape. Also rural areas are confronted with high percentage of illiteracy rate where young people cannot read or write, and this to me is a major concern.
HAF: How did your dedication to the arts and literacy inspire the erection of the Makgato Reading Center by the principal of Ngwamorei Secondary School.
Chepape: This is the honor of the work I’ve been doing in the rural villages for the past seven years through my nonprofit organization called Samanthole Creative Projects and Workshop initiatives and other children’s book clubs—established both in Gauteng and Limpopo province.
HAF: How do you incorporate your printed works in your projects?
Chepape: I collect prints from fellow artists and incorporate that, together with my prints in my work. I have a printmaking background.
HAF: Is there textile incorporated in your works in the Akron show?
Chepape: Yes I collect textile head wraps or DOEK material that I incorporate in my work as found objects. Two pieces, Mosibudi and Mmagata have this material in the exhibition.
The works presented at the Harris Stanton Gallery are small scaled versions of works I did for my fourth solo exhibition in Johannesburg called The Heroines of Southern Africa. The focus was a bit on daughters of those heroines. In the last year exhibition I focused more on the black women leadership of the 18th century, leaders like Modjadji – The Rain Queen, Manthatisi – The Batlokwa Queen and few others. Yes they are all mixed media. I recycle prints to collage my work and the dimensions of each piece are 21 x 26″.
Capepa plans to return to Cleveland in the future to share his printing techniques to the local arts community. He is now preparing for an upcoming solo show in France.
Harris Stanton Gallery’s 30th Anniversary International Exhibition began with the opening reception on Thursday, June 1 and closes Saturday, July 15, 2017.
http://www.harrisstantongallery.com/
