Umhlanga artist Michelle Davidson’s life changed completely when she took on the role of art director at The Pencil Club at the Umhlanga Arch two years ago. Now she’s working hard to change and improve the lives of others through the club’s Pencil Art Foundation.
Art needs to be seen and talented artists need to be appreciated. This is the overarching theme and ultimate motivation behind the creation of The Pencil Club’s Pencil Art Foundation.
With breathtaking views overlooking Umhlanga and the Indian Ocean, and sitting at the highest point in the city of Ethekwini, The Pencil Club was founded by well-known businessmen Renzo Scribante and Marc Rosenberg in 2020.
It is a private members club located in the iconic Umhlanga Arch and a carefully considered and curated space where leaders, visionaries and people who are serious about creating positive change in the world can come together to collaborate and make a difference.
It’s also the space where Michelle, who is passionate about growing and showcasing the magnificent artists we have in our province and country, has finally been able to tell the story she says needs to be told, and to the right people.
A talented artist herself, Michelle is known on the North Coast as the co-owner of Eye4Art, a gallery, art shop and workshop space which she opened with her mother Zelda in the Sunningdale Shopping Centre.
The gallery closed during the first lockdown, but Michelle continued to sell stationery and art supplies and conceptualised and pulled together a remarkable ‘48-hour online art auction’ idea, which saw her raising awareness and funds for struggling local artists.
“I managed to raise over R200 000 with the auctions, and even sold four paintings overseas,” says Michelle.
“It was incredible to see even well-known, established artists donating their art sales to the relief fund.”
It was around the same time that Michelle was approached by Renzo (who she had previously worked for as a waitress) and Marc to join The Pencil Club team.
“I was apprehensive at first, because I didn’t really understand the concept behind the club. But, after meeting with them, I knew this was right. I was being given a platform to start the non-profit organisation I’d always dreamed of, and help make a real difference in the art world. I have realised how privileged I was to study art, but not have to rely on it for an income. For so many people, their art is their bread and butter. It breaks my heart to see hugely talented artists not having their artwork seen, appreciated and bought.”
Michelle was brought in as art director and her job was to source beautiful, significant artwork to place around the club. “The Pencil Club is truly amazing and I really believe in what it stands for. This is not just a fancy club for wealthy people. It’s a place where like-minded people from different backgrounds, and industries can come together to make a meaningful impact in the world.”
Michelle says the story of why it was named the ‘Pencil Club’ resonates with her daily. “I love the simplicity of it. Everything we have, eat, see, drive, wear and live in was first conceptualised with a pencil. A pencil is made from four different materials, sourced from different parts of the world – cedarwood, lead, metal and rubber. When they are put together, incredible things can happen. That is what makes this club so special. You need different people to come together and collaborate to make great things happen.”
The Pencil Art Foundation opened with 350 artworks in March 2021. Michelle worked hard to source a variety of artworks – from those whose value is in the millions, to pieces created by unknown artists that have never been seen before – and every piece is there on consignment. Around eighty percent of the sale goes to the artist and twenty percent to the foundation.
“The funds raised by the foundation will go towards furthering education and opportunities of local, struggling artists,” says Michelle. “The Pencil Art Foundation has created a platform for these artists to display their work alongside well-known artists. The aim is to create an appreciation and understanding of art from different backgrounds for our members and avid art collectors and allow them the opportunity to buy the art off the walls to adorn their personal spaces while supporting artists and upholding the legacies of memories and stories we as humanity should strive to remember.”
Joining the Pencil Club has been extremely rewarding for Michelle and, working closely with the club’s general manager Albert van der Westhuizen, who has over 25 years of international experience and a background in the art world, she says she is humbled to be surrounded by all the things she loves every day.
Details: www.thepencilclub.com, @thepencilmembersclub
Text: Leah Shone
