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Charlie Vettori is a woman on a mission. The semi-retired professional artist is painting Sir Lowry’s Pass Village red – and green, and blue and all colours bright and beautiful.
Already the village is looking charming and inviting, dotted with colourful murals, painted bridges, decorated bus stops and witty slogans making up “feel-good graffiti”, which also serves as an expression from within the community. And there’s much more to come.
Born and educated in the United Kingdom, Vettori started out as a set designer for West End productions. She later formed her own interior decorating company in London, receiving worldwide commissions, including from Mick Jagger, Elton John, Oprah Winfrey, King Hussein and Abdullah of Jordan and the Sultan of Brunei.
Vettori’s art is featured at the Monte Casino and Palazzo Hotel, Gauteng, Livingstone Hotel, Zambia and the New Pearls Tower, Umhlanga, and her work has been featured on Top Billing several times
In 2001, she moved to South Africa after many visits at the request of Decorex and Garden, and after meeting and falling in love with her Italian-born husband.
They moved to Wedderwill Country Estate in Sir Lowry’s Pass about three years ago and ever since, Vettori has noticed the plight of the community around her, which she says appears to be “forgotten” and neglected.
She has been painting for 42 years and during her “semi-retirement” phase, in which she focuses on canvas paintings, she has lacked the fulfilment she got from more decorative outdoor artworks.
“Driving through SLP Village on a daily basis it’s hard not to notice how dull and dreary it has become. “I just looked at the ‘Welcome’ sign and it looked terrible. I thought to myself I am going to paint it.”
Over the past year she lost her mum and recovered from a serious operation, experiences that prompted her to think of a way to pass her skills on and engross herself in something beneficial and purposeful, and to find a rewarding, fulfilling experience with a sense of belonging. “I don’t want to be just another rich white lady living on the hill,” Vettori declared, “but rather I’m part of this community; their well-being is my well-being.”
And so the project started, paint was bought and artwork penciled before receiving colourful paint. And then the next wall was painted, the brick towers next to the old railway station, four bus stops and last week the bridge. Bollards were painted too, outdoor toilets and fences, and the project continues full-steam ahead. The old railway station building is next. Vettori hired four permanent workers, all from the village, where she imparts her skills to the community.
The transformation of the village is clear for all to see, and the messages painted instil a sense of positivity and also feature expressions from the community. Art at the bridge states: “‘S-kom, kom asb’ in reference to the community please for Eskom to restore power following outages, which has also led to protests in the village.
Says another mural, situated where the voting station will be located during the upcoming elections: “Grow vegetables don’t elect them.”
“The messages through art is an expression of the community,” said Vettori. “They have embraced the concept and wholly appreciate it. People from all over the village have been complimenting the work. Every day the art brings a smile to the faces of the people in this community and has motivated the continuation of this project. As long as we have donors, we will find a wall to paint in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village.”
She thanked the local residents for their donations, support and time in supporting the project, stating that without them the project would struggle to get off the ground.
The initiative has been named “Positive Impaint” and offers a new way for villagers to see their world and to address social ills, such as drugs, gender-based violence and animal welfare.
“The enthusiasm has been contagious. Students from a film school in Cape Town are also preparing a documentary on the project. There’s just been no negative reactions and we’re looking forward to what this project will bring in the months to come.”
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