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MONKEY BIZ
June - July 2004
Click here to see installation of MonkeyBiz at Nancy Hoffman Gallery
Monkey Biz, #09, 57 x 19 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #01, 44 x 33 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #10, 50 x 10 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #02, 35 x 24 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #12, 48 x 9 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #03, 27 x 13 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #14, 53 x 14 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #11, 69 x 20 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #06, 40 x 22 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #05, 34 x 18 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #04, 36 x 30 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #08, 42 x 33 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #07, 60 x 17 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #16, 62 x 17 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #15, 50 x 10 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #17, 35 x 23 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #18, 55 x 17 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #19, 42 x 37 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #23, 31 x 24 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #25, 63 x 28 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #21, 49 x 19 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #20, 41 x 25 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #22, 47 x 16 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #24, 43 x 25 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #26, 51 x 20 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #27, 42 x 19 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #30, 44 x 33 cm, 2004
Monkey Biz, #28, 50 x 21 cm, 2004
a South African Beadwork Project
It is said that glass was discovered in Egypt 30 centuries ago, during the era of the Pharaohs. Egyptians, well placed to trade with Africa, were probably the first to trade glass beads for gold, ivory and slaves. The seafaring Phoenicians carried cargoes of glass beads, along with other merchandise, to every port along the coast of Africa.
The Arabs succeeded the Phoenicians and then in the 1820s English-men came to Africa once again offering glass beads to the natives as "commodities," or currency for trade and exchange. Beads became valued in Africa as products of an exotic technology, which did not exist in Africa, and were soon linked to the cultures of the people who owned and crafted them.
While beadwork has been part of South Africa's history since ancient times, its practice has diminished over the years, until recently when two avid collectors--prominent ceramic artists--of South African artifacts founded Monkeybiz in 2000.
Monkeybiz is a South African non-profit organization of over 250 women, who create unique beadworks for sale, rekindling the art and craft of South African beadwork. The beaders are mostly from informal communities in rural areas of the Cape Peninsula: Macassar in Khayelitsha, Samora Machel in Philippa, Mandela Park in Hout Bay.
In 1999 when a young African woman, Mataphelo Ngaka, came to Barbara Jackson and Shirley Fintz's studio to try to make a living as a ceramist, they gave her dolls and beads to help her make money. She returned to the studio with beautiful dolls. Mataphelo then went to women in the community of Macassar to make more dolls while Monkeybiz provided the beads and cotton. Thus the network of 250 practitioners of the ancient craft began and blossomed.
The beaders are never told "what" to make or how to make it. It is the personal inspiration and interpretation of each beader that brings energy, life and spirit to each creation. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and signed by its maker. Beaders are paid based on the quality of their pieces, and thus inspired to infuse their works with greater creativity all the time. Money from sales goes directly into improving the quality of the beaders's lives as well as toward providing opportunities for new beaders to join in the craft.
Monkeybiz is a well-orchestrated machine. Coordinators meet with beaders twice a month providing them with glass beads and cotton, and paying them for completed dolls. Monkeybiz also teaches the women business skills and inspires them to become recognized bead artists. The women work in their homes, so they do not have to leave their families to earn a living. This project has empowered women in need of financial assistance while reviving the forgotten tradition of beadwork in South Africa.
Monkeybiz has given its participants, many of whom were neglected by society, a sense of pride, confidence and self worth within a meaningful community of co-creators. Each doll or animal is filled with a splendor of color, personality and joy; no two are alike.
They range in scale from 12x5 inches to 40x14 inches.
Each piece is positive life force personified!