Come on an art-inspiration journey with me as we unwrap the flags, just before they went up, and let me tell you a little bit about each chosen artwork and how it fits in with this legendary Karoo-themed art hotel. Click on the picture below to view the video.
Photo courtesy of the Karoo Art Hotel Facebook Page
Today, I’m going to show you the spruced up images of the flags. Each flag was taken using a segment of a Karoo-themed painting of mine — 12 in total. You can click on each flag to see what the full artwork looks like and to buy prints so these colourful pieces can brighten up your living space! Or just CLICK HERE to see the collection.
If you are in South Africa, I have these prints available through the Karoo Art Hotel, just pop in there or contact me HERE to find out how you can order yours.
Here are the 12 individual flags in detail, please click on each flag to take you to the print store if you’d fancy owning some of the Karoo magic:
This painting is called “Autumn Whispers”This artwork is called “Iceland Poppies with Blue Butterfly”This mixed media painting is called “Dream Weavers”This painting is called “Bee in Flight”This painting is called “Lavender Field Sunset”This artwork is called “The Mile High Club”This painting is called “The Triad”This artwork is called “White Poppies on Brown”This painting is called “Zebra Code”This painting is called “Cape Sparrow”This painting is called “Picnic in the Winelands”This painting is called “Pugmalion”
At the time of this publication, there are 3 of the above ORIGINAL paintings still available.
They are available at Saatchi Art for international clients (originals and prints) and/or through the Karoo Art Hotel itself:
A recent initiative to rekindle hope and celebration in our beautiful community of Barrydale, South Africa, has resulted in 944 prayer flags being made by the children of our disadvantaged community along with residents and local artists alike.
In combination with this uplifting flag installation, the team at Net vir Pret worked with the University of the Western Cape and their Centre for Humanities Research to bring the world, Reboot Eden: Celebrating Ten Years of Puppetry in Barrydale.
Reboot Eden will be an online program of four new puppet performances that will be available online from the 16th -19th December 2020, so follow their Facebook account to tune in and watch these incredible life-size puppets in action!
The prayer flag committee first met early August of this year to brainstorm a way to bring the community together in a creative and positive way, and this is what transpired…
They set out to create something positive, something artistic, something creative, something that the whole community could be involved in and as a result of an astounding group effort, 944 Prayer Flags of Hope will line the streets of Barrydale from 14 to 19 December.
The children and interns of charity orginisationNet vir Pret painted most of the flags under the guidance of their teacher, Cherie Dirksen, while the rest of the contributions came from local artists, businesses and villagers.
In fact, to illustrate just how village-focused this initiative became, we can today reveal that radio presenter turned axe-man Rueben “the screwman” Hart serves on the hanging committee.
Earlier this year Rueben played his axe in the Dung Beetle and Country Pumpkin restaurants and he is now part of the flag hanging committee that will in charge of decorating the Karoo Art Hotel and other places of interest.
The project is the brainchild of the prime genial Mez Karoo Kitchen owner Michelle Berry who, during the early days of lockdown, rediscovered a box of prayer flags she had made for a Barrydale in Bloom celebration of years gone by.
She instinctively knew it would be of great value and relevance as the world entered a strange space in time.
With her foresight a group of about 40 people united and focused their energy on sending out a message of optimism during the most uncertain winter in human history.
“A prayer flag has a positive connotation and during this time we thought it would be appropriate to do something that brings hope and reminds of the dreams we have,” said Michelle.
She was quick to point out that everyone she had approached to help with this idea had jumped at the chance to contribute. One of the first persons was Cherie and subsequently her under privileged art students became involved.
From sometimes unsung heroes at Net vir Pret like Herman Witbooi and Clarisa Esau to seaming sensations Richard Panaino and Katye Lovegrove, the willingness to contribute was overwhelming.
Businesses support worthy cause: Picture: Cherie Dirksen
Even the local poetry society pitched in and their work will form part of the 10 flags from the town’s artists that will be on display at the Karoo Art Hotel in what is a very fitting reminder that the Barrydale Art Meander will also be in full swing during this time.
“It was a real community effort and we owe a lot of gratitude for a lot of people,” Michelle added.
She highlighted that a donation of table runner material by Arran Bastable of Barrydale Hand Weavers was very generous indeed and with the contribution from Colour Screen Fabric Paint in Cape Town they were all set for action.
As always, Ant Chidrawi of The Hub also contributed in his unique way by providing stencil work at no charge.
Flags of Remembrance
He will be missed. Gari Crawford. Picture: Facebook
Just a few weeks prior to the finalisation for the Prayer Flags of Hope, Net vir Pret and the community of Barrydale suffered a huge loss when beloved and respected music teacher Gari Crawford passed away following a stroke.
Gari had just completed a compilation of 10-years of music Net vir Pret created as part of their annual Puppet Parade.
“There was a general consensus that we wanted this project to be about hope and celebration of last 10 years of Net vir Pret, but we did not expect this sad setback,” Cherie explained.
Cherie made it her task to ensure that that flags representing the love that exists for the mentor Gari were created and that in doing so, the music maestro’s life would be celebrated.
She fought off her tears when she explained just how moving this final tribute to a much loved turned out to be.
A final tribute to the inspirational Gari Crawford. Picture: Cherie Dirksen
Flags can become part of annual event(s)
Due to Covid related reasons the annual Puppet Parade was cancelled, although some of the the puppets that donned the streets of Barrydale over a decade will be on display in pre recorded puppet shows that will be broadcast online at certain times as part of the Barrydale Art Meander (BAM).
The 944 Prayer Flags of Hope that were created will be sold in bundles of 20 from the Magpie Art Gallery on December 19 and should any of these reasonably priced items go unsold, they will be utilised for 2021 celebrations.
All proceeds wil go to Net vir Pret.
Michelle noted that the flags will not be expensive and that Cherie might as well brace herself for the pressure related to producing such great volumes of excellence.
Inspirational Prayer Flags of Hope
Cherie unofficially confirmed that they would double the number of hand crafted flags next year and fully supported the idea of creating these decorative gems annually.
“I was taken aback with Michelle’s idea and I immediately thought this could become a yearly event.”
“What a lovely theme for attracting tourism back to Barrydale. It is something positive, something artistic, something creative, something that a whole community can be involved with.”
Now wouldn’t it be great if YOU could start a prayer flag initiative in YOUR community? Let prayer flags and messages of love, hope and unity go viral globally!
Below you’ll find some more pictures of the giant puppets and some of the flags that will be on display:
Thanks for looking!
Cherie Roe Dirksenis a self-empowerment author, multi-media artist and musician from South Africa.
To date, she has published 3 self-help and motivational books and brings out weekly inspirational blogs at her site www.cherieroedirksen.com. Get stuck into finding your passion, purpose and joy by downloading some of those books gratis when you click HERE.
Her ambition is to help you to connect with your innate gift of creativity and living the life you came here to experience by taking responsibility for your actions and becoming the co-creator of your reality. You can follow Cherie on Facebook(The Art of Empowerment — for article updates). She has an official art Facebook page (Cherie Roe Dirksen – for new art updates). You can also check out her Facebook band page at Templeton Universe.
If you are in the Barrydale area between the 13th-16th December 2019 and you want to pop in and have a cuppa while perusing some art, please contact me on whatsapp – 084 245 0821 or e-mail me at: cheriedirksen@yahoo.com. Viewing is by appointment only.
There is a lot going on over this weekend in the picturesque and arty town of Barrydale, so bring your walking shoes and camera! Programs are available at the Magpie Art Collective, 27 Van Riebeeck Road, Barrydale.
See the posters below for the wild and exciting BAM events:
Some of my available art you will see in my studio include:
See you there!
And if you won’t be able to make it in the flesh, you can view my portfolio at Saatchi Art. If you’re in South Africa, please visit Bid or Buy for prices in rands.
Cherie Roe Dirksen 