Art mentor in Tembisa dies aged 67
Scully spent a lot of time immersing himself in the African culture
A well-known photographer and artist of Kempton Park, who became a renowned and respected character in Tembisa, died on March 19 as a result of kidney failure.
Dermot Scully (67), a long-time resident of Kempton Park, died at his home in Rhodesfield.
He spent his early years in Mayfair, Johannesburg and moved to Kempton Park in 1957, where he lived for 62 years.
His passing left a huge void in so many lives he had touched over the years, not only in Kempton Park but also in Tembisa, where he spent almost two decades, teaching both art and photography to scholars and the youth.
This was a project sponsored by the Arts, Culture & Heritage Directorate of the City of Ekurhuleni, to offer art classes to those who had no access to art tuition. He not only taught these youngsters but also became a mentor for them.
He became a renowned and respected character in Tembisa. Many of his students have become successful artists in their own right. Through his dedicated and brilliant teaching the students were able to produce portfolios and even be accepted to study art at tertiary institutions, some are now in turn teaching art in schools.
Scully spent a lot of time immersing himself in the African culture and he even became known as the “white-sangoma”, as he had extensive knowledge of how to heal with plants, which advice he gave out freely to all who sought it.
