Tomorrow is the last day of this year’s Prince Albert Art Festival.  As you all know by now: I am participating in the awesome group show: Flippen Vlambaar/ Freakin’ Flammable curated by Alex Hamilton.

As promised here are some photos:

My husband and I decided to drive through to Prince Albert for the weekend and arrived in Prince Albert late Friday afternoon.  I decided to dress up as some sort of Princess.  On my hand was written: “Have you seen my Prince Albert?”

Here I am with FalkoOne also known as FalkoStarr the talented street/graffiti artist in front of his work:

On Saturday I wore my custom made/ Maleficent inspired headdress and rubber chain around my neck:

Staring contest? from one ‘queen’ to another….

Scapegoats?…………

guilty as charged?………….

During the day we walked around town. I was chained to my husband.  Later the cops pulled over when they saw us in the main road and asked if everything was okay? Someone in town phoned them and said there are a man walking with a woman on a chain and wanted them to check if all was well.  Just before that some locals tried to perform some sort of ‘exorcism’ on us.  Never a dull moment in a small Karoo Town.

I found it appropriate to be chained to my husband for the day, since it was our 12th wedding anniversary as well.  Chained because he tamed me, and by tamed I mean like the way Antoine de Saint-Exupery explains it in his book: The Little Prince.

That evening we had the privilege to see a show: ‘Agter Glas” by Elzabe Zietsman.  I am at a loss for words.  If you ever have the chance to see her in action – do it!

Besides all the excitement and fun in the Karoo, I also experienced some sad moments like this one:

We went for an Instawalk (learning about Instagram) and I met some local children in the North-End suburb.  At first they were terrified of me, but after I convinced them that I wont hurt them, we started talking.  I asked them if they enjoy going to school.  They said no, because the bigger children hurt them and take their money.  This type of thing makes one feel helpless and sad.  This little town also has a huge problem with “fetal alcohol syndrome” which is upsetting.

With all the ups and downs experienced, I still don’t know how to say this without sounding way too sentimental:  it was truly a weekend to remember!

My artist statement for this exhibition:

With these works I attempt to work through my own burning issues I have about motherhood.  With the work:  “Burn baby burn- No recipe“ I wonder if I should let my children experiment etc.  Even if it means that they might get burned by their experiences.  When should I interfere, when should I protect?  There is to my mind no recipe for raising children.

“Venus devouring her children” was obviously inspired by Goya’s Saturn devouring his children.  In Afrikaans we have a saying:  “Ek gaan hom sommer opvreet“ – meaning something like I want to devour him with love.  I somethimes wonder if smothering ones children can have the same effect as devouring them?

With “Sacrifice” I wonder how much of yourself should you give when becoming a mother.

Wile working on “Tamed” I thought a lot about the book:  The little prince”:

“Come and play with me, ” suggested the little prince.  “I am so terribly sad….” 

“I cannot play with you’ said the fox.  “I am not tame”.

“What does tame mean?”

“It is something that is too often forgotten”, said the fox.  “It means to establish ties…”

but before I quote the whole chapter where tamed are being written about- I will end off with this:

“The little prince went off to look at the roses again.  “None of you is at all like my rose.  As yet you are nothing,” He said to them. “Nobody has tamed you and you have tamed no one.  You are like my fox when I first encountered him.  He was just a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes.  But I made him my friend and now he is unique in the world….”