The Little Artists

In 1995 Edward Selematsela phoned the Watercolour Society about children in a rehabilitated street children’s shelter run by Rhema Church.  He wanted help to teach these children art.   

Dulcie Robinson and Ulrich Schwanecke volunteered, and from these small beginnings, Dulcie Robinson & Edward Selematsela’s Little Artist Programme took shape.    

Dulcie, Ulrich, Edward and other volunteers (including Sam Maduna, Thurza Stott, Lazarus Ramotseng and others) saw how much creativity and the binding comradeship of the group helped the children.   

They flowered, and some showed great promise as artists.  The project grew as more children enrolled in the programme – children from all other walks of life, but mostly orphans and disadvantaged children who took to art like ducks to water, reveling in the release and creativity it allowed them. 

The story of the Little Artists is a long one, with many trials over the years.  Sadly, Ulrich died in a motor accident in 2007.   Dulcie, seeing the creativity and potential in these wonderful children, became committed to them, determined to show them a kinder side of life, through art.  

The team, led by Dulcie, continued to teach and encourage the children.  All this was funded both personally by the Robinsons and from a few other small donations, as well as donations from Winsor & Newton and other art suppliers such as Faber Castell. 

Encouraged and assisted by her very supportive and competent husband Peter, Dulcie and the team battled from year to year to find permanent premises.  Each new venue seemed more desperate than the last.   

They would travel to dangerous city centre areas, trudge up long flights of stairs with all the art materials and then pack up again afterwards.  Rosemary Pate aka Mama Cake, remembers how scary and exhausting it sometimes seemed, but she remembers too the joy at what they achieved, the love they felt for the children, and the extreme pleasure taken by the children in everything they did.  It took them a long time to win the children’s’ trust, but win it they did. 

Venues ranged from a double garage in Rhema Bertrams to the Hillbrow Recreational Hall to a room at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, amongst others. 

In 2001 the WSSA, led by Dulcie, organized a sponsorship from Goldfields.  This was lost in 2004 but Deutsche Bank came to the rescue and became the main sponsor.  Florida Framing framed the art at huge discounts once the exhibitions started. 

Also in 2001 the children chose their name themselves: “The Little Artists”.    

As their art improved, small exhibitions were organized at the Robinson home and at Cinema Nouveau.  Deutsche Bank organized two exhibitions.  The money earned from any sales went to the children.  Peter and Dulcie arranged for individual savings accounts to be set up for them.  Managing this became quite a task. 

Summer Storm by Dulcie Robinson

A few years later Barbara Moore organized for Dulcie to connect with Webber Wentzel Attorneys to register the Little Artists in their annual art competition, “Young Artist of the Year”.  This was a huge success, with significant prizes being won by some Little Artists.

Each year Christmas parties are held at the Robinson home, with the children having great fun playing, swimming in the pool, and receiving gifts from Santa.   

In 2008 Deutsche Bank sponsored premises at the Barnato High School in Berea.  This was a huge breakthrough.  Deutsche Bank’s sponsorship allowed for permanent use of their very own premises!  They put up shelves, and made other equipment to suit their needs and had a home at last.

Peter and Dulcie were able to get the Little Artists registered as a Section 21 NGO.

Dulcie, a very experienced art teacher, nurtured Edward and Sam to take over once she was diagnosed with cancer toward the end of 2008.

Dulcie passed away on 27^th April 2010.  Her loss was mourned by all her Little Aritsts, past and present, and by her many friends throughout the art world and the Watercolour Society, to which she had given great service and which had in gratitude bestowed upon her Honorary Life Membership.   We all extend our sympathy and love to Peter and the Robinson family.  As Mama Cake said in her tribute in the WSSA Aquarelle, “Dulcie now you know all the secrets of art….and when I see a glorious sunset, I shall know you had a hand in it somewhere”.

Peter Robinson, assisted by Dave Pate and artist Rosemary Pate, continues with the administration and financial management of the Little Artists.  Edward Selematsela continues to lead teaching the classes. 

Peter has arranged the “Dulcie Robinson Little Artists Exhibition” to take place in September 2010 at the Watercolour Society of SA’s Manor Gallery in Fourways.  Peter will personally fund the costs of the exhibition, with some assistance from the WSSA to reduce costs. 

Should YOU wish to become involved with assisting in teaching or administering the Little Artists, please do contact us at the WSSA telephone 011 465-7934 or e-mail aquarelle@wssa.org.za 

Every little bit of help is much appreciated.