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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Magaziner, Daniel R., author.
Title: The art of life in South Africa / Daniel Magaziner.
Other titles: New African histories series.
Description: Athens, Ohio : Ohio University Press, 2016. | Series: New African histories | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016036236| ISBN 9780821422519 (hc : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780821422526 (pb : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780821445907 (pdf)
Subjects: LCSH: Ndaleni Art School. | Art teachers—Training of—South Africa. | Art—Study and teaching—South Africa. | Blacks—South Africa—Social conditions—20th century.
Classification: LCC N88.5.S6 M34 2016 | DDC 707.1068—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016036236
In a secluded corner of the yard he stumbled upon a gigantic operation. It was the work of the little girl. She was in the process of building a model village, all carved out of mud. There were mud goats, mud cattle, mud huts and mud people, and grooved little footpaths for them to walk on. He stood staring at it for some time, a look of pure delight on his face. Then he turned and chose a site as far removed as possible from this sanctuary of genius, and with lengths of string marked out the shallow foundation for the tobacco curing and drying shed.
—Bessie Head
Genius is never a case apart.
—Jon Berger
CONTENTS
Chapter 1: A Hillside in South Africa
ILLUSTRATIONS
FIGURES
A.1. Detail of a mural by Hamlet Hobe, 1960
Pro.1. Basketry class at Indaleni Mission, date unknown
Pro.2. Carving tools and objects at Grace Dieu Mission, late 1920s
1.1. A man in black and brown shoe polish, by Winston Radebe, 1965
1.2. Carving outdoors at the Ndaleni art school, late 1960s
1.3. The Hand of Destruction, by Fish Molepo, 1979
1.4. Stoking the kiln, Ndaleni art school, 1975
1.5. The kiln, Ndaleni art school, 1975
1.6. “I Am Longing to Be One of Your Art Students,” by Dominus Thembe, 1975
