Two doors away from Paulet House is the Walter Battiss Art Museum. Many of the Paulet House residents have visited it; and found much to interest them.
The Walter Battiss Art Museum, Paulet Street, Somerset East
The Battiss Museum holds a large collection of the artworks of Prof. Walter Battiss, who was born in Somerset East in 1906, and lived in the building for 4 years when he was a child. The building dates to 1818; and was originally the Officer’s mess for representatives of the Cape Colony Government, who answered to Lord Charles Somerset.
Battiss is arguably the most famous South African artist; and over 40 years after his death, is still considered to be the best water colour artist South Africa has ever had. His work continues to be part of the curriculum for learners studying art in Matric. He was brilliant, nonconformist, and challenging. His work broke boundaries, and it is a joy to hear children who come to see the Museum leaving saying “He was cool!”
On 18th and 19th August, the Walter Battiss Foundation, who have taken responsibility for the safety and sustainability of the building and the collection, staged the first Walter Battiss Artscape Festival. The Foundation have two aims; to create awareness of this national treasure, both locally and nationally; as well as to raise urgently needed funds to keep the doors open, and to maintain the building.
The spirit of Walter (aka John Wyatt) roams the trail at the Fook Island themed parkrun.
Battiss is remembered for many things, his career as a teacher, his involvement in preserving and recording the Rock Art of the early people, and his creation of his glorious, over the top world of Fook Island. The theme of the festival was Fook Island, and organisers and participants took to this theme with gusto!
Fook Island, his “island of the imagination” was his response to government rigidity and control in the 1970’s, as well as to the Conceptualist art movement. He felt that art should be for all people, and not limited to a few. Conceptualists felt that the idea, or concept was more important than the actual art created. He grew tired of going to exhibitions where there was little to see. As a teacher, he was able to travel extensively in school holidays, and visited and loved many islands. When he decided that he would have a “concept” of his own, he chose an imaginary island, and gave it the name “Fook”, a variant of “fake”. Ultimately, he had a language, an alphabet, currency, and a delightful Fook Creation myth. Fook feasts were held, and he and his fellow Fookians celebrated April Fooks Day. There was a very serious side to all the fun, as his philosophy of Cosmic Fookism promoted the personal freedom to be oneself.
King Ferd the Third of Fook Island’s cloak on display at the museum
The self-appointed King Ferd the Third of Fook Island left newly renamed KwaNojoli a wonderful legacy, in the building containing the Museum he opened himself in 1981, ten months before his death. The local community, as well as the Walter Battiss Foundation, have a responsibility to maintain the gift he gave in 1981, when he said “I give this to the people of Somerset East, all the people of Somerset East”. On the 18th and 19th of August, we repaid his trust, and honoured his memory with fun, Fookiness, and celebration.
The local community came together, and sponsorship and support were given freely and generously. As the Foundation wished to involve all the children of the Blue Crane Route, local learners were asked to design a T Shirt for the festival. From the entries received, it is obvious that Battiss was not the only child to grow up here under the Boschberg Mountain to be gifted with imagination and artistic ability.
Winning T-shirt design: 1st Prize winner Luncomowethu Ratyana; Gill Primary School with her parents Mr and Mrs Ratyana and Alan Hobson, chair of the Battiss Foundation.
Luncomowethu‘s winning design
No tickets were sold; people wishing to enjoy Friday night’s festivities purchased a Fook Island Passport. This enabled them to ride on the Fook Ferry from venue to venue, indulging in various wine and spirit tastings, and buying the Fook themed food which took their fancy. Their enjoyment of this was obvious.
Saturday began at 8.00 with a Fook themed parkrun, and many of the runner/walkers took up the challenge; and dressed with appropriate zaniness – Fook does mean Freedom, after all. The runners sped along the 5 km route wearing wigs, feathers, fake white beards, and odd running shoes and socks, in tribute to Battiss’ habit of wearing odd coloured tackies.
Fook Island running gear styles.
Art classes were given in the Battiss Museum, and an Art and Craft Market, featuring a lot of local art, was held in the Library at Gill College. A well supported Golf Day culminated in a prizegiving, and a lavish supper of spit braaied lamb.
Art and Craft Market at Gill College
Festival goers were mainly local, with one exception. Walter Battiss’ son, Giles Battiss, a great supporter of the Battiss Museum, came from East London to enjoy this tribute to his father.
As a first attempt, the festival was a success; and the Walter Battiss Foundation will be taking lessons learned to heart and start planning for the second Battiss Artscape Festival next year.
Local festival goers enjoying themselves being framed.
Photos: Somerset East parkrun and Blue Crane Tourism
