Ardmore California 

Ardmore/Halsted Fabrics

 

For me, the first fabric in this collection - "Wonderboy Wisdom" tells the whole Ardmore story: about Wonderboy, about Ardmore itself and about Fee Hlsted who started it all many years ago. All the drawings and writings on this fabric have been uplifted from the artworks of Wonderboy Nxumalo who was born in 1975 and died of AIDS in 2008. Wonderboy was a gifted artist and poet whose works and poignant words reflect the human condition and contemporary South African history. 

Wonderboy was able to realise his prodigious talent with the help of Fee Halsted and the artistic co-operative which she co-founded with Bonnie Ntshalintshali.

Despite the AIDS support programme started by Fee in response to Bonnies death fromthe disease, Wonderboy never came to terms with his illness, nor was he able to openly admit to being HIV positive. Silenced by the prevaiing taboosof his society, he used his art pieces to express his grief and pass on his hard-won wisdom. 

Fee struggled with allowing this fabric to be made. This is not just another fabric design, it is an artwork with a profoundly moving message which exposes the gentleness and vulnerability of its creator.