The art project ‘RENDEZVOUS’ began in 2007 from the initiative of the French painter, Paul Boulitreau and the South African sculpture, Gordon Froud. The Director of the North West University’s gallery, Christina Naurattel joined them shortly after they started. The objective, which has been reached, is to create a bond between Education, cultures and Enterprises whilst giving all Artists the possibility to show their work, and offering to the South African community an easy access to the cultural contemporary South African art and international art.
RENDEZVOUS art project charmed very quickly most well renowned French and African institutions by the quality and the concepts of its program. Thus, from the very beginning, Alain Larousse the Director of AIR LIQUIDE, has given most of its support and was rewarded in 2010 with the ‘INTERNATIONAL SPONSORSHIP AWARD’ by Business and Art South Africa (BASA). Later on we were joined and got the support from the CEO of the IFAS Laurent Clavel, B.A.S.A’s CEO Michelle Constant, The HYATT REGENCY’s CEO Yann Gillet, Fine Arts and logistic, Squidart, Natixis CEO Alexandre Cosson, the Potchefstroom Academy, Veuve Cliquot, the Art Room Framing Johannesburg, the North West University, the University of Johannesburg, the Free State University, the Oliewenhuis Museum, the Sasol Museum and the University of Stellenbosch, the KKNK festival and the Aardklop Festival.
The first edition in 2007 called ‘RENDEZVOUS FOCUS SCULPTURE’, allowed us to exhibit about forty South African sculptors and to finance about forty learners from the township of Alexandra.
In 2008, RENDEZVOUS focus wearable art put together about fifty Artists and were able to give a scholarship to a financially underprivileged student from the North West University of Potchefstroom.
RENDEZVOUS focus original lithography presented in 2009 and 2011 the collection of Elizabeth Pons as well as a good thirty artists including William Kentridge, Diane Victor, Judith Mason, Bettie Cilliers Barnard and many others.
The conclusion of this cycle of expositions was that six artists were benefited of a lithographic course in Paris and their art work will be shown tonight with the expert supervision of Mrs Elisabeth Pons.
The art works shown are grouped under the name of ‘Back from Paris’. The six artists nominated are : Musha Neluheni, Pontsho Sikhosana, Henneke Benade, Johann Louw, Molefe Twhala, Lehlogonolo Mashab.
South African artists with Mrs. Annali CABANO-DEMPSEY, Mr. Paul BOULITREAU and the Consul of France, Mr. Christian M. ROBERT (photo : Nicole DIFFENTHAL)
