A MATERIAL PRACTICE

A workshop on process with Ann Mary Gollifer and Mma Motsei Nkwemabala

Facilitated by Dr. Tammy Hodgskiss, (curator at Wits Origins Centre) and Julie Taylor (Guns & Rain Gallery)

November 2024 at Origins Centre, WITS University, Jozi.

Tammy Hodgskiss says:

‘Ochre is a mineral pigment that has been used by humans for more than 300,000 years. It appears in archaeological, historical, and contemporary settings across vast distances of time and space, and increasing evidence shows ochre use by ancestral hominins as well as by certain animal species….’

She states that we need to:

‘…realize the complex histories, properties, and uses of ochre; not within a specific domain – but of the entire earth-human system, operating from deep time and into the future……..this experiential and transdisciplinary approach is not only important for improving our understanding of ochre use in the deep past, but also necessary if we are to appreciate, preserve and actively engage with this unique earth-material heritage now and in the future.’

The Origins Centre nestles next to Wits University lecture halls and residences, in the heart of Johannesburg.

Entering deep mysterious hallways, past that glowing, silvery relief map of Africa, one is drawn into the layered depths of the Origins Centre.., (aptly, I feel as if I am tunneling into a termite mound… ) and on up some stairs to the surface!…

In the well-lit venue where we are to delve into Ann’s ochre practice – earth ochres in shell receptacles and delicious shades of pigments ate laid out for us…

and Ann Mary Gollifer and Mma Motsei Nkwemabala are waiting to host us on our earth journey…..sharing their earth collecting and many personal stories – giving generously of their earth knowledge..

Ann holding her favourite thing….earth…

We admire a very finely ground earth ball purchased in Newtown, Jozi, destination for the cosmetic trade which still holds strong, the culture of using earth on skin ….

and look at the exquisitely fine pigments paints produced by Ann in her art practice..

the act of pounding earth to create a fine pigment, with traditional pestle and mortar, is intense…

the earth circle….

Earth is everything…

…as my ArtHarare art passport with earthy fingerprints stamp, attests..

We get a demonstration of how Ann prepares her ground earth to create the finest pigment suspension…

and at the last we are given free rein to create our own earth paintings, with curator Julie Taylor of Guns & Rain Gallery relishing the chance to be hands on, on the painting side of things…!!

I head home to my step daughter Kimmy’s house clutching my tiny artworks and some earth balls eagerly purchased from Tammy Hodgskiss, such treasure to lay out on the Congo cloth she has brought me from her travels…

My art monoprints are made by pressing Ann’s mulling tool, loaded with sumptuous earth pigment, onto the paper and duplicating the image by pressing other piece of paper over…

And those earth balls keep telling me to view them in different ways, such as against an ornate carpet…

like a strange moon rising in the far east….

what a moon, an earthball moon shadowed, eclipsed, by my ‘mulled earth print …..”

See more of my EarthBall MoonBall thoughts as I lay out my earth balls with my hand-dyed Kuhlu bark fabric and the Congo fabric, creating a strangely alien moonscape, a skyscape with swirling fabric clouds and full moons at my Kaya Nyala art studio…

and wonderfully, coincidentally, a full March moon sets in the west at our bush house, Tsavene….

continuing that strange feeling of synergy between the face of the moon as she sets, and my white earthball…..

NB For more news on earth pigments, PRI are fascinating, pigmentsrevealed_international

(Dr Tammy Hodgskiss @tammyhodgie is a board member and I listened to a wonderful round table discussion, OCHREWORKS….featuring leading ochre researchers that fluently cross disciplinary boundaries to connect ochres, their use, history and their vital roles in human evolution, health and cultures throughout time and across space, in multivalent ways. Participating Researchers at PRI were: Elpitha Tsoutsounakis @elpitha, Heidi Gustafson @heidilynnheidilynn, Tammy Hodgskiss @tammyhodgie, Elizabeth Velliky @itsevolutionbby, Jill Huntlev (Follow on X)

If you ever visit Jozi, do go and experience the Wits Origins Centre who regularly host ochre workshops, truly an immersive colour and social/art history experience…

Dr Tammy Hodgskiss being the Curator at the Origins Centre Museum, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, she has researched and has published on ochre use in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa, employing primarily use-trace analytical methods, supported by experimental analogies/understanding. Her research focus is on how ochre and pigment use can help inform interpretations of the cognitive abilities of early modern humans. She believes that the involvement of archaeological researchers in outreach projects, general academic life, and museums is vital in creating pictures of the past that are relevant and accurate.

Tammy tirelessly works towards making museums relevant, decolonized, and useful spaces.