Wire trio craft their way to the top of their trade
Recycled materials can be used to make the most beautiful art pieces for any home. This is shown by the creative trio of Dauglas Pangeti, Willard Charumba and Tesh Chivadze.
POLOKWANE – The trio came to South Africa from Zimbabwe in 2005, after struggling to find work. They experienced the same challenge in South Africa, but realised there was a bigger market for their artwork. They decided to come together and make art using beads and wire.
“We used to do art at school and this is how our talent was honed. We can make almost anything using only beads and wire, and saw it as an opportunity to make a living. We try to make things that will appeal to the buyers,” explained Pangeti.
They make garden decorations and crafts that can also be used inside the house. They use recycled materials, as well as wire and beads. The art they make using recycled materials, are their best sellers.
“We find the recycled material at scrapyards. We buy what is called ‘sub-grade’. They put it on a scale and work out the cost. This makes it cheaper than the beads we have to buy in a shop,” he said.
The trio shared how it came as a surprise to them, how much people love arts and crafts. They say it’s a challenge because they don’t have a permanent place to work from. “Selling our work on the street corners is very challenging. We are not situated in a space where people can browse through the artwork, or have the confidence to take out their wallets without having to look over their shoulders,” Pangeti said.
They are not discouraged and explained they have created a network of people, who invite them to functions and exhibitions. This help them make money to send back home. “The money we make is not a lot, but at least we know that our families at home have enough to eat. We can also send our children to school, to ensure they will have better opportunities than we have,” he concluded.
