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Namibia: Book Review
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New Era (Windhoek)
BOOK REVIEW
11 April 2008
Posted to the web 11 April 2008
John Sampson
Windhoek
The recently published "Art & Craft - Ideas and Techniques" authored by Rika Nel and Elna Venter, is a landmark initiative in the educational field and within its sector. It is the first such publication since independence in 1990, and as such will occupy an important position in a number of areas in Namibian society.
Its target readership is given as the teaching arena and it has been compiled to serve as a ready-reference and guide for the art and craft sector, aimed directly at both the learner fraternity and the teaching profession.
But it serves a much broader agenda. The compilation, which encompasses most genres and methods, takes into account interest groups such as hobbyists, young aspirant artists, students and craftspeople of many persuasions.
The book is set out in simple fashion, which provides easy and immediate reference to projects and their methods of production, from elementary pattern-making to kiln-building, and easy entry to cottage industry projects like the making of leather sandals metalwork and utilitarian objects of the domestic kind. All projects are reinforced with photographs and drawings illustrating the sequential stages of each process.
What is of particular note is the fact that most, if not all the projects covered in the book can be easily managed with a few very basic tools. In this regard, therefore, it is ideally suited to both urban and rural communities. In the latter instance the recycling of waste material, and use of organic resources, readily to hand, is an important consideration, which has obviously come out of years of coping with the lack of manufactured materials off the shelf. In a country like Namibia the empowerment of art and craftspeople at every level can only be realised when material resource problems are solved and the gaps in the supply chain are bridged.
This publication goes a long way to providing solutions in the creative processes as well as addressing the perennial issues of supply and demand regarding resources, and improvising the use of tools and utensils.
But, like all early publishing initiatives there are lessons to be learnt and advantages not fully realised. One of the book's failings is the lack of crediting the individual creators of many of the objects featured. This would have been an ideal opportunity to maximise the captive audience. Young aspirant artists and students positively revel in having their names in print and invariably serve as active promoters for the sale of such books to friends, siblings and acquaintances. It might be an idea to correct this with the next edition.
Another shortcoming is the lack of a glossary at the end of the book, which in most instances serves a useful and important purpose. This too can be remedied in further editions.
One of the positive spin-offs of this publication, which might not have been considered by the authors, is the direct, positive, linguistic role that it plays.
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The level of English used throughout is such that students who have yet to come to terms with English as a second language now have another tool in their armory to learn the language in a clear, simple, concise and elementary form as expressed in the unambiguous instructions and terminology employed, as a way of explaining the methods and techniques. As such, it might very well outstrip its primary intent!
This first post-independence publication in the art and craft sector is a highly recommended publication, which should find a permanent place in most public and institutional libraries and schoolrooms.
It is also quite evident that its broader application will lead to it becoming a prescribed book in all the appropriate institutions of learning throughout the urban and rural communities in Namibia.
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