VISUAL ART

ALLIANCE ART

The Alliance Fran㌢ise is sponsoring an exhibition at the African Art Centre of paintings by Derrick Nxumalo and Ngabulo Hlongwane as well as wood and stone sculpture by Raphael Magwaza.

This sponsorship carries on a tradition or working with the African Art Centre with exhibitions such as Vulamehlo - Open Eyes at the Durban Art Gallery in 1990 and Woodcarvers of Natal held at the Alliance Fran㌢ise in 1992.

Derrick Nxumalo's finely detailed paintings invariably depict landscapes and cityscapes. Architect and trustee of the BAT Centre Paul Mikula, who is also a director of the African Art Centre, joined the late Jo Thorpe, for many years co-ordinator of the African Art Centre, in supporting and recognising Derrick's talent. Paul gave Derrick studio space for six years and encouraged him to reach his now-established position as an artist.

Njabulo Hlongwane is an up-and-coming artist who is visual arts co-ordinator at the BAT Centre. His subject matter is the human figure which is invariably juxta-posed on surreal landscapes.

Sculptor Raphael Magwaza was an early student at the Rorkes Drift Art School (1973) and his work concentrates on the human figure. He has won competitions and was awarded an Anglo-American grant to study in Paris in 1981.

NSA FILM

The next film in the NSA's fund-raising series will be held on September 14 (season ticket holders please note change in date structure) at 19h00 at the Berea Cine Centre. The movie is yet to be confirmed - for details phone Justine Rappaport on 29-3616.

STAN SHEVIL

Stan Shevil, who died at the age of 61 last year, was by profession an accoun-tant. However, during the last years of a life beset by ill-health, Stan Shevil began to paint.

The NSA is holding a retrospective of the work of this remarkable man who in seven years was to create a body of work that has a unique and lyrical sensibility.

His subject matter was his own environ-ment, interiors and portraits of family members. His work has much in common with other Jewish artists such as Wolf Kibel and Chaim Soutine.

The exhibition of Stan Shevil's works runs until September 18.

INTENSIVE IMAGERY

Prints by Technikon Natal printmaking lecturers and students will make up Intensive Imagery, an exhibition which opens at the Intensive Care venue at the BAT Centre on September 21 at 16h30.

CECIL SKOTNES

As one of South Africa's most established artists Cecil Skotnes has been an active educator and arts promoter for almost five decades.

An exhibition on show at the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg encompasses work from 1948 to 1996 and provides an excellent opportunity for students to study his work.

Skotnes was born in East London in 1926. He studied art at the University of the Witwatersrand and in 1956 was appointed cultural officer at the Polly Street Art Centre, the first urban black art school in South Africa.

The exhibition runs until September 14.

For details phone 0331: 42-1804.

BOTARTS

Open air art, that's Botart!

The Botanical Gardens in Pietermaritz-burg aims to raise funds by presenting this art exhibition on the first Sunday of each month, from 09h00 to 16h00.

The cost will be R50 per stand space for the day with artists supplying their own display stands (max. height one metre).

Only five participants will exhibit each month and it is intended that different artists should exhibit each month.

Exhibition space will be close to the gardens restaurant. Fees will be payable at least one week before exhibiting. Artists must bring their own chairs and a small table (if necessary). Parking/entry cards will be issued.

Contact Marie at 44-3585 or Lorraine at 42-1095 (after 16h00).