Participants

Jane du Rand Ceramic Mosaic Artist

Raksha Gobardan

Raksha is a Fine Art graduate from the Durban Institute of Technology, specializing in ceramics.

Raksha was fully involved in all the off site preparation of the mosaic panels and was able to contribute greatly with her keen sense of pattern and colour.

Since working on the West Street project Raksha has been involved in numerous other mosaic projects undertaken by Jane du Rand and the Mosaic Studio including a large installation of ceramics and mosaics to the Constitutional Court building in Johannesburg.

Using the skills learned from her involvement on these projects Raksha was able to confidently take on and complete with success her own commission for a mosaic wall mural as a memorial to the children who died in the Throb Night Club disaster in Chatsworth. Raksha was able to manage the project fully, with time planning, employment of helpers and installation on site all taken in her stride.

Zama Dunywa

Zama Dunywa is a graduate from the Durban Institute of Technology where she specialized in sculpture.

Zama was fully involved in all of the off site preparation of the mosaic elements for West Street and contributed greatly with her design input and the way she was able to combine pattern and colour, achieving rich and beautiful results.

Since the West Street project Zama has worked on a number of projects for the Mosaic Studio. One of these was a Mosaic Project for a new visitors centre at the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park. An important aspect of this project was the training of crafters from the local community in mosaic techniques. Zama was one of the main facilitators for this and the project achieved stunning results with very enthusiastic and fulfilled participants.

Zama was part of the team who worked on the large ceramic and mosaic installation for the Constitutional Court building in Johannesburg undertaken by Jane du Rand and the Mosaic Studio.

Zama has also been a facilitator for a mosaic training workshop run by CCO and funded as part of the Natal Society of Arts Training Arts Programmes.

Zama has worked on a commission of her own for the Warwick Avenue market area. She managed her own work team and used staff from the Mosaic Studio for assistance on site.

In 2004 Zama ran one of the domestic projects for the Mosaic Studio with which she had already had input in the design.

Thando Mama

At the time, Thando Mama was a post graduate student completing his Masters in Fine Art at the Durban Institute of Technology.

Thando was involved in all of the off site preparation of the mosaic elements for West Street project. Thando's ability to conceptualize and develop a design from the starting point was especially valuable given our Zulu ear plug theme. He really explored the motif and transformed it into something unique to West Street.

Since the West Street project Thando has worked on a number of projects for the Mosaic Studio. One of these was a Mosaic Project for a new visitors centre at the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park. An important aspect of this project was the training of crafters from the local community in mosaic techniques. Thando was one of the main facilitators for this and the project achieved stunning results with very enthusiastic and fulfilled participants.

Thando was also part of the team who worked on the large ceramic and mosaic installation for the Constitutional Court building in Johannesburg undertaken by Jane du Rand and the Mosaic Studio.

In the following year Thando was very successful as an artist in his own right, winning the prestigious MTN award for young artists.

Sbu Nkhosi

Sbu Nkhosi Sbu Nkhosi was studying Maritime Studies at the Durban Institute of Technology but had to stop after his second year due to a lack of funds. With a sister who has successfully studied Fine Art and who was involved in a mosaic project at Umlazi with Jane du Rand, Sbu was very eager to join the team for the West Street project.

Sbu was at a disadvantage having no fine art or design related training and in the beginning battled with the designs and colour schemes. However with perseverance and assistance from Jane and the other participants he managed to create some successful mosaic elements for West Street. Sbu was a very enthusiastic participant and was also very involved in the on site installation of the mosaic elements.

Since being involved in the West Street project Sbu began to manufacture his own small mosaic sculptures and sell them. He received a commission to make a mosaic sculpture for a private garden. In 2003 he attended a mosaic workshop run by the CCO and funded by the Natal Society for Arts Training Arts Programme. This workshop focuses on teaching people to manufacture commercial mosaic items for resale. Sbu has been making mosaic pots, mirrors and table tops which are sold by the NSA shop.

Nandipha Baduza

Nandi Baduza was studying for a degree in Architecture at the University of Natal, Durban. Because of severe financial constraints Nandi had to spread her degree out, working for a year between study years.

Nandi was involved in all of the off site preparation as well as the on site installation of the mosaic elements on West Street. The West Street project was not her first work with the Mosaic Studio as she has been involved in a large mural at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg undertaken by the Studio the previous year (2002). Nandi was able to help others doing mosaic for the first time as she had gained much experience in all the aspects of the work.

Nandi was also part of the team who worked on the large ceramic and mosaic installation for the Constitutional Court building in Johannesburg undertaken by Jane du Rand and the Mosaic Studio.

Because of her Architectural training, Nandi is very capable with on site installation work as she understands the building process and the nature of building materials. Nandi continues to work for the Mosaic Studio part time.

Nandi has also supplemented her income by making her own small commercial mosaic pieces (mirrors, pots and pavers) for sale at the NSA shop in Bulwer Road. Her wares have sold very successfully and are always in demand.

Richard Masoka, Patrick Xulu and Elias Lukhozi

Richard Masoka, Patrick Xulu and Elias Lukhozi were all full time staff at the Mosaic Studio employed by Jane du Rand. These men have had very little to no formal education having completed only one or two years at school level due to the pre 1994 apartheid government system.

Since beginning work at the Mosaic Studio Richard, Patrick and Elias worked closely with Jane du Rand and became considerably skilled in all aspects of mosaic work. They specialized in the on site installation of mosaic and were able to tackle any difficult situation from being meters high off the ground on scaffolding, to the bottom of swimming pools.

Richard, Patrick and Elias were in charge of the installation of all the mosaic work on site for the West Street project. Since working with the Mosaic Studio Richard Masoka has received driver training and was able to use one of the vehicles available to take the installation team on site. They became skilled in managing the installation process on site and only seldom required limited supervision.

Richard, Patrick and Elias traveled frequently to Johannesburg with Jane to install mosaic projects. They were all the chief installers on the project at the Constitutional Court building in 2003. They also traveled to the Eastern and Western Cape to do installations. This allowed them experience not only in the physical installation of mosaic work, but also gave them insight into different site conditions and environments around the country.

Send mail to info@durandmosaic.co.za with questions or comments about this web site.

Jane du Rand Ceramic Mosaic Artist

Site content & design by Tamryn Miller. Copyright © du Rand Huizinga Design and Manufacture CC 2007- All rights reserved.