Using art to cheer and inspire the community
This Women's month we chat to Glenwood artist Beverley "Gururgirl" Burne about how art has not only become inspirational but a pivotal thread throughout her life.
GLENWOOD creative, Beverley “Gurugirl” Burne is an artist who is not afraid to be playful and cheerful with her work.
The artist who has work currently featured in the second edition of the collaborative Intellectual Property exhibition at KZNSA, has been expressing herself through art throughout her life. “I prefer not taking my art too seriously. People are inspired by visuals, pictures and words, not everybody reads books to get inspiration, many are touched and moved by pictures so I work in mixed medium,” she said.
Burne laughed recalling her first “art pieces” whilst still in primary school. “My creativity started by doing little cartoon sketches to make my mum laugh, some of them were stick figures in various ballet poses.
Since then she studied art in school before furthering studies in interior design. “I have been painting and creating art that is uplifting and cheerful. I was so honoured to have Umcebo Design invite me to be part of their exhibition at KZNSA Gallery. It shows that dreams do come true, because exhibition my work at the gallery was on my vision board!”
Art has always been used to get her through life in both happy times and sad. “Whether it was making my mum laugh, selling my art to put food on the table, lifting my daughter’s spirits with painting lessons or today having my work exhibited at KZNSA art has been a powerful thread,” she said.
After her husband died seven years ago, life was difficult for the artist but was happy for the trying experience. “I’ve had to be both mum and dad to my girls so was quite firm and and am so proud of them. You have to have adversity in life in order for something to get better and beautiful.”
Exuding positivity and happy light energy is something the quirky creative has down to an art and this has been spilling throughout Glenwood for a while. With a passion for people and “keeping life happy and magical”, she was instrumental in getting together group of like minded “do-gooders” to uplift their environment. The modest artist does not like to take credit for the uplifting movement she started, but it certainly has spiraled into new and more exciting community projects around the community. The Glenwood Clean Up group started last year with Ian Reed, to take a hands on approach to grime, has community members being more active picking up litter and getting together to clean up parks and other areas needing attention. The Glenwood Rising group has seen the suburb fast become an art precinct in Durban with creativity and colour bursting at most corners and parks. “The gratitude wall, colourful bollards and art in the park is about making making people stop and think that there is hope! Everyone needs hope and to be positive and happy, it’s about magic,”
She is extremely excited to launch her Gurugirl artistic website in Spring alongside opening the Gurugirl Foundation to help girls in the Glenwood community. “Glenwood is an incredible place to live and work there is so much love and magic here, so despite the challenges, I feel there is much to look forward to,” she said.
