Colourful Us? Surely not!

The Midlands is home to an unusual blend of colourful personalities drawn to its celebrated natural beauty and focus on the arts. This Christmas morning, two of the region’s most inimitable characters will be forgoing the customary festivities for whimsy with a purpose, raising funds for a uniquely meaningful and enriching addition to the community: the Yizwa Centre for the Eco Arts.

Eidin Griffin, permaculture pundit, artist, and one-time clown, and Tasha Saha, art teacher, yoga instructor, undercover artist, and friend of trees will undertake a day-long ‘carbon-neutral’ journey on horseback along the Meander, canvassing support and raising funds for the innovative project. The centre will function as an educational facility firmly planted on the essential interface between environmental conservation and the creative arts, helping ensure the sustained prosperity of these twin concerns.

The programme for 2010 will include workshops on Food-Gardening, Recycled Art, Kite Making, Yoga for Kids, and other activities designed to stimulate creative thinking, support curriculum - based learning and thoroughly nourish the soul. Children from under-resourced schools will be sponsored to attend these uplifting workshops and programmes which will be hosted in the purpose equipped premises neighbouring Kings School, Nottingham Road.

Adults will have a chance to play and learn too at community focus days, workshops, exhibitions and events. Planned for March 2010 is the 1000 Artworks Day in which artists and non artists, locally and internationally will be invited to donate A4 sized artworks, each one of which will be sold for R150. Larger pieces will be auctioned and all proceeds will go to the Yizwa Centre.

The two passionate proponents of this unprecedented collaboration will be an unmissable sight on their clip-clopping way. Decked out in playful, exuberant costumes on their mission, the message of fun and delight in the resources and limitless potential of the exchange between the environment and arts will be emphatically displayed. Tasha and Eidin will be sponsored for every kilometer they ride, and anyone wishing to contribute a voluntary amount is encouraged to contact them directly (details below). The project is a certified Non Profit Organisation, and relies entirely on funding and the generous support of its fundraising activities by the public. Thanks to projects with forward-looking vision like this, Midlands invaluable position in KZN's cultural tourism trade looks set to flower bright opportunities for the future.

For information on upcoming events, or to make a contribution to the Carbon Neutral Christmas Day Ride, please contact Eidin- 083 4292867 or Tasha 083 2797258, email yizwacentre@gmail.com or visit www.yizwacentre.blogspot.com

A Most Haphazard Photo Shoot

Tired of waiting for the sun, we found a gap between downpours and sat ourselves on a soggy and slightly pertubed hoss who wasnt expecting an extra 100kgs on that particular friday afternoon.

Publicity shots for our Carbon Neutral Christmas Day Ride! (SPCA, we promise we're going to take two horses, not one.)

The Eclectic Art Day

Lucky US!
We will be showcasing a variety of A4 artworks donated to us from an amazing variety of local and international artists. We'll keep you posted as they are arriving daily....how exciting
Oh and to do Your bit you'll be invited to the Grand Opening and sale of these artpieces which will in turn raise funds for art and enviro support and supplies to local schools in the area.
:-)

Upcoming Workshops in December

Easy Food Growing for Complete Beginners
Saturday 5 December 2009
Learn simple ways to grow healthy delicious organic food to feed your family, impress your friends and tickle your taste-buds. One day workshop includes a complete garden starter pack and a home cooked lunch. Wear old clothes and be prepared to be inspired!
R450


Fun in the Garden Day for Kids
Monday 7 December 2009
Exciting gardening for smaller people specially designed for 6-10 year olds who love to get grubby, explore the natural world and do cool stuff in the garden. Morning workshop includes all materials, a starter kit to take home and a tea break with home made lemonade & freshly baked muffins.
R200

Family Creative Christmas Cards & Gift Tag Making.
Friday 11 December 2009
Make your own stylish, artistic cards and tags from a variety of materials that we provide. This is great fun to do with friends and family. Adults and Children from 6years of age welcome. All materials plus tea provided.
Individual R150. Family of two – R200, each extra family member R50.

Herbal Healing Remedies Workshop
Saturday 12 December 2009
Break the stressful consumer Christmas and make your own beautifully presented gifts of handmade healing balms, herbal salts and oils. Create your own handmade tags and labels and give gifts to use and appreciate. One day workshop includes all materials needed, labelling, tags, a home cooked lunch and a lot of fun.
Suitable for teens and adults.
R550

Family Shadow Puppet Theatre Day
Sunday 13 December 2009
Learn the ancient art of shadow puppetry with your favourite people. Make your own mini shadow puppet theatre and puppets and take them home to entertain your family over the Christmas holidays. Suitable for 8-100 years of age. All materials plus tea provided. Sorry but no unaccompanied children for this workshop.
Individual - R200. Family of two – R300, each extra family member R75.


LIMITED PLACES ON EACH WORKSHOP SO BE SURE TO BOOK EARLY
Vouchers for future workshops available as Christmas Gifts.

Phone * 083 4292867- Eidin * 083 2797258- Tasha*

Getting ready for a Meander...

Tasha Saha & Eidin griffin are not just fun loving, creative sorts they are also quite possibly mad. Having decided to open a centre to promote the EcoArts in the very drizzly but charming Midlands of KwaZulu Natal they are now having to raise the funds, paint the building, run the courses, inspire the people and somehow do their other work, feed their familys and act relatively like grown ups. It's a bum rap but these two intrepid mullets are now planning on a daring adventure also. Mostly to raise funds for their beautiful Centre but also to raise awareness of ways to move around the countryside without being hefty carbon monsters.
So on Christmas Day they are abandoning their families, turkeys, trees and taking their Good Cheer on the road on horses, bicycles and on foot.....