SCAVA News
"For the love of colour"
Chairperson
From the Chair
Dear SCAVA members,
René Scribante
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this edition of the SCAVA Newsletter a celebration of creativity, connection, and community through the visual arts
On Friday, 29 August, we proudly opened the doors to this year’s “Visual Expressions” Competition and Exhibition in the Sayers Auditorium of the George Museum. The evening was nothing short of inspiring filled with colour, imagination, and the joyful exchange of ideas among artists, patrons, and guests. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to our esteemed panel of judges Prof. Elfriede Dreyer, Fawa Conradie, and Juria le Roux.
On a personal note, I had the privilege this year of curating Sacred Pulse at Klein Karoo Klassique 2025. It was an opportunity and I loved every moment of this creative endeavour!
SCAVA provides its members the opportunity to take part in exhibitions in the Southern Cape and beyond.
SCAVA’s Annual “Visual Expressions” Competition and Exhibition
We opened the doors to this year’s SCAVA “Visual Expressions” Competition and Exhibition on Friday evening 29 August, in the Sayers Auditorium of the George Museum. It was a memorable evening of celebration, creativity, and connecting through art.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to our esteemed panel of judges, Prof Elfriede Dreyer, Fawa Conradie and Juria le Roux, who undertook the challenging task of evaluating the artworks. Your discerning eyes and profound appreciation for the arts have ensured that the most outstanding pieces were honoured”
This competition was open to both members and non-members of SCAVA, from age 16 and upwards. This year we have 67 artists participating with a total of 152 artworks. Including in this number are 7 students of INKCUBEKO YOUTH SCIENCE CENTRE. Truly amazing!
We also had the pleasure of the Outeniqua High School’s Jazz band to entertain us with their beautiful music in a packed auditorium of artists, patrons and guests!
Thank you to every artist who have participated and helped to make this a successful event.
The generous sponsors of this year’s competition are:
Attic Atelier our Gold sponsor
House of Bloom
The Little Art Shop Artsavingsclub
Their support plays a tremendous role in making the SCAVA competition a success. “Thank you for encouraging creativity and helping to shine a light on the visual arts. It means a lot to both the artists and to SCAVA”
Recent Exhibitions SCAVA’s Annual “Visual Expressions” Competition Prize Winners:
Recent Exhibitions
Landscape/Interior/Seascape/Urban landscape:
1st place: All has purpose - Shania Heydon
2nd place: Prince Albert, Late Afternoon - Ferdo Voigt
3rd place: Landmark - Gerrit Jordaan
Merit award: Bo-Karoo - Mien Greyling Boundless - Thelma Kahts
1st place: All has purpose - Shania Heydon
2nd place: Prince Albert, Late Afternoon - Ferdo Voigt
3rd place: Landmark - Gerrit Jordaan
Merit award: Bo-Karoo - Mien Greyling & Boundless - Thelma Kahts
Recent Exhibitions
Portrait Category:
1st place: Ja Meneer, Ja Mevrou - Natali Downing
2nd place: I Said No - Cole Hay
3rd place: Daily Walk - Mien Greyling
Merit award: Roxanne - Niki Saunders Old Man - Susan Dekker
1st place: Ja Meneer, Ja Mevrou - Natali Downing
2nd place: I Said No - Cole Hay
3rd place: Daily Walk - Mien Greyling
Merit award: Roxanne - Niki Saunders & Old Man - Susan Dekker
Recent Exhibitions
Floral /Still Life:
2nd place: Still life with desert Landscape - Mien Greyling
3rd place: Kaaimans Meditation 1- Gerrit Jordaan
Merit award: Roses for You - Zanne Small
2nd place: Still life with desert Landscape - Mien Greyling
3rd place: Kaaimans Meditation 1- Gerrit Jordaan
Merit award: Roses for You - Zanne Small
Recent Exhibitions
Abstract/Experimental/ 3D Category:
1st place: Nature's Matrix - Rosa Snyman Wessels
2nd place: Drift - Theresa Pieters-Oldewage
3rd place: Simme Shelter - Marietha Smit
2nd place: Drift-Theresa Pieters-Oldewage
1st place: Nature's Matrix - Rosa Snyman Wessels
3rd place: Simme Shelter-Marietha Smit
Recent Exhibitions
Animal/Wildlife Category:
1st place: Delft into the Deep - Ferdo Voigt
2nd place: Seekat I - Adri Botha
3rd place: The dinner party - Brett Gendall
Merit award: Seekat II - Adri Botha
1st place: Delft into the Deep - Ferdo Voigt
2nd place: Seekat I - Adri Botha
3rd place: The dinner party - Brett Gendall
Merit award: Seekat II - Adri Botha
Judge: Prof. Elfriede Dreyer
Judge: Fawa Conradie
Thelma Kaths
Gerrit Jordaan
Ferdo Voigt
Zanne Small
Mien Greyling Niki Saunders
Cole Hay
Marietha Smit
Theresa Pieters-Oldewage. Rosa Snyman Wessels
Adri Botha
Brett Gendall
Inkcubeco with their participating artists
Where visual meets verse
On Saturday 6 September we had SCAVA member Hein Botha at the museum, teaching us how to add power and purpose to artworks through poetry. This was also the introduction session to our Art & Poetry event to come.
“We enjoyed an inspirational morning with Hein Botha. His poetic paintings formed the perfect backdrop for an interactive session with artists and poets. Hein spoke eloquently on the value of translating a picture into a poem. He encouraged us to open our minds to a playful state where creativity can flourish.
The audience were invited to brainstorm words invoked by the image of a drop of water. Then we each wrote a short three-line poem connecting some of these words in a meaningful poem. It was quite otherworldly to hear how we each had a different take on these words.
Thank you, Hein”
Written by Kala Combrink
SCAVA & Poetry
SCAVA Art & Poetry Collaboration took place Saturday 13 September 2025
We were enchanted as 28 poets took the stage to recite 52 poems inspired by the captivating art pieces featured in SCAVA's Visual Expression Competition Exhibition.
Whether you're an art enthusiast, a poetry lover, or someone seeking a novel cultural experience, the collaboration between the SCAVA "Visual Expressions" Art Competition and Poetry was a morning of inspiration and artistic immersion.
A huge thank you to Gail Hagemann who stepped and organised the poets this year to make this event a special! She was amazing!!!
Gail Hagemann
Recent Exhibitions
SCAVA & ODIN
This year, SCAVA carried on with its ODIN fundraiser which invited artists to submit miniature artworks on canvas to be sold at a set price of R500 each, of which proceeds went to ODIN. The response from local artists was overwhelming, and these miniature works were on display in the Foyer of the Sayers Auditorium of the George Museum. There were many beautiful pieces available to purchase for this worthy cause, and we are so happy that we could make a small difference in some animal’s lives.
SCAVA Visual Expressions Closing
This year’s SCAVA Visual Expressions Competition & Exhibition came to an end with the handing over of this year’s Viewers Choice Award from Artsavingsclub on Saturday 4 October 2025. The trophy was awarded to Thelma Kaths with her painting “The Golden Harvest and the gathering storm” A huge congratulations to her!
The Year-End Exhibition is around the corner!
Upcoming Exhibitions
SCAVA Year-End Exhibition
Intake for SCAVA’s Year-End Exhibition will be starting soon.
Important dates:
Art intake: Friday 7 Nov 10:00-16:00 Saturday 8 Nov 09:00-12:00
Opening evening: 14 Nov 18:00
Art collection: Friday 23 Jan 26, 10:00-16:00 Saturday 24 Jan 26, 09:00-12:00
✨Art in any medium can be entered by our members✨
There will be a special award: The Bill Bennett trophy will be awarded for the best sketch entered in exhibition (only sketches entered in this exhibition will be eligable for this prize). This trophy has been donated in memory of Bill Benett by his family.
Looking forward to the last SCAVA exhibition of the year�
Upcoming Exhibitions
This is an incredible opportunity that SCAVA will be involved with!
SCAVA and the George Festival 2025
More details to follow soon! Watch this space!
https://www.george.gov.za/something-big-is-coming-launch-of-georgefestival-2025-culture-art-and-sport/
SCAVA’s Channels of Communication!
SCAVA now have two separate groups for communication through WhatsApp!
-SCAVA NOTICE BOARD - this is our existing Notice Board, and we will only post SCAVA information on this group.
-SCAVA ART NEWS AND CHAT - here we will post about other arts and art related opportunities to take part in or to attend. Members will be able to chat on this group. If you don’t join this group, you won’t be notified about other opportunities. Please note that there will be rules that needs to be adhere to for this group. We are looking forward to hearing from you and to be able to interact.
The reason for the two groups is to keep SCAVA’s important information separate to other opportunities and news and to be able to chat to fellow members of SCAVA
Please follow the link shared on SCAVA’s NOTICE BOARD to join the *SCAVA ART NEWS AND CHAT group.
SCAVA’s Committee:
Art Exhibition and more by our SCAVA Members!
SCAVA’s Chairperson and Klein Karoo Klassique 2025
Sacred Pulse at Klein Karoo Klassique 8-10 August 2025
Curated by SCAVA Chairperson René Scribante
The exhibition Sacred Pulse, curated by René Scribante, Chairperson of the Southern Cape Association of Visual Arts (SCAVA), offered audiences a deeply engaging exploration of rhythm, frequency, and flow where visual arts and music converged in a vibrant sensory dialogue.
Set against the evocative backdrop of the Klein Karoo landscape, the exhibition invited viewers to experience the heartbeat of the region through the eyes and hands of its artists. Scribante’s curatorial vision wove together the themes of movement, resonance, and connection, transforming the banqueting Hall into a living composition where sound became image and gesture became form.
Featuring the work of 17 artists from the Klein Karoo and the greater Southern Cape, Sacred Pulse highlighted the rich diversity and creative energy of the area. Many of the participants were SCAVA members, further reflecting the organisation’s ongoing commitment to supporting and showcasing local talent.
The exhibition, featured on the TV program Fiesta with their recording of Klein Karoo Klassique 2025, also included a visual arts walkabout in the Banqueting Hall, where René guided visitors through the works, sharing insights into the artists’ processes and the interplay between art, music, and landscape.
Together with Sacred Pulse she also curated the Friends & I exhibition presented by René Scribante Loft Studio, held in the Prince Vincent Building during Klein Karoo Klassique with a total of 93 artworks.
Sacred pulse Artist: Janet Dixon, Lisl Barry, Yvette Hess, Freek Steenberg, Constance Jonkers, Hilton Jackson, Francois Tiran, Tayla Stewart, Kala Combrink, Magda Faul, Chantal Gerber, Tersia Hoffmann, René Scribante, Gerda Smith, lan Tainton, Vandana Premchand en Ester Zonnestein
SCAVA Member News
Share your news of Exhibitions that you are part of and more with SCAVA, we would love to share them in our Newsletter!
SANAVA Newsletters
Links to SANAVA News Letter of the last 3 months.
July 2025 https://mailchi.mp/4894aeae1a99/sanava-matters-july-19876758
Aug 2025 https://mailchi.mp/e47b20d7fdba/sanava-matters-august-19877125
Sep 2025 https://mailchi.mp/0c0fb44f3f1d/sanava-matters-september-19877295
The End
“May we never stop creating – it is for the better."
René Scribante
Inspirational Quote
Louisa Punt Fouche
“Never let the colours of your heart run out”
