National Arts festival now in PE too!

I can't believe it is May already! That means that it is just over a month until the National Arts Festival begins...hence the feverish work behind the scenes and the silence online! (Well, that and the fact that I have been doing a lot of travelling and photography lately, lol, tons of new albums on facebook if you are interested...)

Dorelle and I were delighted by the positive response, both in sales and comments, to our show at artEC which ran until 8th March. A reminder that the work from that show can be seen on my facebook page. I seem to find it easier to upload pics there than on blogger, so if you would like regular updates on new work, or what is happening in the art world in PE, please 'like' the page.




Some interesting developments and shows have taken place in the last few months since my last update. and the great news is that it is not just in Grahamstown this year. A partnership was announced which means that several Port Elizabeth venues are included in the NAF Programme this year, and PE is officially branded as the Gateway to Grahamstown. You can find details of all the PE shows on the Arts Journey- Nelson Mandela Bay website, and the full NAF Brochure for Grahamstown and PE can be downloaded here.

I will be exhibiting in Grahamstown again this year with Jimmy Ndlovu and Ayanda Mji, and this year we have a 4th partner joining our group, Litha Ncokazi who is a brilliant ceramic artist from East London. We also have a bigger and better venue, in Seminar Room 4 of the Steve Biko Building, which  is right next to the busy Village green., so I am looking forward to a great show.  The festival takes place from Thursday 27th June to Sunday 7th July 2013.

Litha Ncokazi

Ayanda Mji

Jimmy Ndlovu

Sue Hoppe.

In the next few days I'll post pix of some of my new work that you can see at the festival.... but for now, back to the studio :)

almost here, new exhibition

Hi, I have been very (uncharacteristically) quiet lately, not because I want to, but because I have had a bit of a dilemma... I am working flat out for a new exhibition, which opens at the artEC Gallery in Port Elizabeth on 26th Feb (more about that in a moment) and I have a TON of new work, which I have been dying to post here. But it did not seem to be a good idea to preempt the opening by letting the cat out of the bag too soon, and so I have avoided posting any pics. However, I can no longer restrain myself, and as I have over 50 works completed so far, I am sure showing a few won't do any harm :)

I described the idea behind the exhibition in a previous post.

It comprises a very mixed bag in terms of size and media, some huge, some tiny, some groups, some pure painting, some mixed media painting/drawing and photography, collage and some pure photography (well, even that might not be pure in the traditional sense, as much of the work is digitally manipulated in some way.)

boy amongst thorns 300x300mm 3D layered photos behind glass

horns and thorns 1 500x500mm mixed media on canvas ... I had in mind the abuse of women in this country, a "thorny" and painful issue, whilst a man counts his wealth in cattle and they are fiercely protected. Women in rural life in this case suggested by the traditional Xhosa design used on women's clothing, in contrast with the cows protected in a box. One has to ask, which is valued more, women or cows?

Milkshake 1 400x400mm mixed media on canvas. In direct contrast with the 3rd world rural attitude to cattle in the painting above, in 1st world  we are able to have an altogether more frivolous and playful attitude, they are fun or cute or just the next rare steak, rather than life and death and symbols of wealth.

Kiss with Care  digitally altered photograph.  Again thinking of women in the context of protecting what we value, and how many women have had to put up protective barriers due to the rampant abuse in our society.

Basotho Herdsman  photograph  

cows and thorns. 700x950mm painting and photograph on canvas

tree of life-cycle 200x200mm each, 4 photographs on board,

protecting our heritage digitally manipulated photograph: in urban areas the thorny issue of  protecting our  valued property and heritage involves living behind razor wire and fences.


I will be exhibiting with my friend Dorelle Sapere, whose wonderful paintings also deal with protecting what we value, but in a less 'thorny' way than mine :) OK, so now I have given a tiny glimpse of  some of my new work, I take great pleasure in inviting you to the opening, and if you are in Port Elizabeth any time from 26th February to 8th March i would be delighted if you would visit the exhibition! 
 

Forthcoming Exhibition

My group exhibition looms just around the corner.... still frantically trying to complete a few more paintings, and get them dry enough to frame! Will post some of the new ones when I come up for air again.

Between us, we have about 90 pictures, but Bob the photographer also has boxes of old prints that he is going to lay out on tables to sell. I have already got dibbs on some of then, they are fascinating. Pictures of trams going up narrow streets which are now 6 lane main roads, some very interesting harbour and aerial shots etc. All 3 of us are passionate about our historic areas, and it shows in our work.

My daughter K has been doing a lot of research into the area, and is going to write notes on as many of the buildings featured in pictures as possible, so that whoever buys one not only gets a painting, but a sense of the history of the place as well.

In the meantime, here is your personal invitation to the opening!

Anyone in PE who sees this and is interested is very welcome to attend. The exhibition runs from 12th to 23rd February.