VISUAL ARTS

GARRET ARTISTS


The Garret Artists comprises a group of people who meet regularly in Westville for drawing classes with local artist Jeanette Gilks



An exhibition of the work that Garret Artists have done over the past year will be held at St Mary's DSG in Kloof from March 1 to 15



The emphasis is usually on quick drawing, something done with a non-dominant hand or `blind' drawing where the artist looks at the object and not at the paper, a way of expanding one's conception of what constitutes drawing.

TIME
Most drawings reflect the time taken to complete the work. This is important because an artist could get a quick sudden spontaneity that a longer drawing might not achieve



For more information contact Jeanette Gilks on 768-12215




WRAPPED UP
The NSA is celebrating the demise of their Overport address with a fun exhibition aptly titled Wrapped Up. It opens on April 9 and is open to all artists encouraging them to be creative, innovative and original in their interpretation of the theme which could ranged from `cloaked' or `cocooned' to `muffled' or `shrouded'! This will be the final show before the move to the NSA's new Bulwer Road Gallery, which is planned for May 11



To participate phone the NSA on 207 3676. There will be a R40 hanging fee for all works accepted.Works must be in by no later than 12h00 on April 6. Work must be properly framed and available for sale (the gallery takes 25% and VAT on its commission.)
RECENT AQUISITIONS
The Technikon Natal Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition entitled Recent Acquisitions until March 8. On view are variety of artworks (paintings, prints, sculpture, mixed media works and hand-made books) purchased during the past 18 months for the Technikon permanent collection. Selected for their significance and high technical and aesthetic standard, the exhibits give an indication of the creative diversity in contemporary South African art and also the profound changes taking place in present-day society



The Gallery is open Mondays to Thursdays 08h30 to 16h00 and Fridays 08h30 to 12h00




"CHICKENMAN" ART
Lovers of the off-beat, idiosyncratic humour of popular Pietermaritzburg artist Fanozi "Chickenman" Mkhize can view a memorial exhibition of his delightful work at the Tatham Art Gallery until March 31



Examples of Chickenman's works

"Chickenman", who became an unofficial artist-in-residence at the Gallery, sold his cow-hide and wire animals and his famous version of street signs to avid collectors from this country and overseas



He died in March last year. To assist his family a firm of local auctioneers have agreed to auction the remaining signs from his estate at their special sale on March 25. These are the last available works by "Chickenman"



Interested buyers can leave a commission bid by contacting David Cannon on (0331) 43-3364



The exhibition is on view from Tuesday to Sunday, between 10h00 and 18h00. Entrance is free

HANS MUNCH
BAT ART GALLERY
Johann Jakob (Hans) Munch' can be viewed in the BAT Centre's Upstairs Gallery until March 3



Munch has studied under John Roome, Barry Truter and Jan Jordaan at Technikon Natal's fine art department. His work includes portraits, wildlife, landscapes and abstracts mainly in oil on canvas, but also acrylic, watercolour, pastel and other media



The Upstairs Gallery is situated on the mezzanine level of the BAT Centre in the Small Craft Harbour and is open daily (10h00-19h00)

JABULISA
Jabulisa - the Art of KwaZulu Natal, which opens at the Durban Art Gallery on March 13, is the exhibition to represent the region at the 1996 Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown (July 4 to 14). It will feature the best of the works selected by all five regional galleries using as their basis the current KZN Arts Biennale 6. The galleries in question are the Empangeni, Margate, Durban, Tatham in Pietermaritzburg and the Carnegie in Newcastle



There has been an unprecedented amount of entries received for this exhibition and it is believed that the final selection will prove to be both representative and exciting



If there are gaps in certain sections such as local jewellery, selected artists will be invited to present works for exhibition



The exhibition at the Durban Art Gallery closes on April 1.
There is a free walkabout on March 23 at 13h00
ART ALFRESCO
Art Alfresco will be held at the Old Pavilion site on the Snell Parade

TATHAM WALKABOUTS
On March 2 at 10h30 the director of the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg, Brendan Bell, will conduct a walkabout of the KwaZulu-Natal Biennale 6 exhibition at the gallery



On March 7 at 13h10 Christina Jikelo, former curator of the De Beers Centenary Art Gallery at the University of Fort Hare, will also conduct a walkabout of the Biennale. Both walkabouts are free



The Tatham Art Gallery is in Commercial Road, Pietermaritzburg, opposite the City Hall. Phone: (0331) 42-1804
ARTIST OF THE MONTH
The African Art Centre's Artist of the month is Philemon Sangweni who makes delightful sculptures in indigenous woods depicting birds and animals. He lives near Empangeni and is inspired by the animals, birds and people of his en vironment. Fat frogs, elegant birds turning and twisting their necks as well as snakes eating birds are all part of his fantastic world

TERENCE PATRICK
Running at the NSA Gallery in Overport City until March 9 is an exhibition by Natal artist Terence Patrick which covers the last 10 years. He describes his work, which he calls moral allegories, as eurocentric or ana chronistic. He also acknowledges the direct influences of Hogarth, Stanley Spencer, Daumier and Lucien Freud

VUKA! - WAKE UP!
The African Art Centre is exhibiting what is described as an outstanding collection of very old traditional headrests, beadwork, headdresses and household utensils. These include meat trays, spoons, milking pails and clay beer pots. Titled Vuka! - Wake Up!, the exhibition will be opened on March 28 at 17h30 by international bead expert Marilee Wood. The exhibition - "a collector's dream and the chance to own a piece of history" - closes on April 20



The age of the pieces ranges from 30 to 100 years. They have been collected from the KZN province, the complex patterns having been handed down through generations in some cases. Some of the oldest headrests come from the Weenen area where such items are still used, many incorporating the traditional patterns in old beadwork. Some families are reluctant to part with their old pieces as they do not want to offend the spirits of their ancestors



The African Art Centre is situated at 8 Guildhall Arcade in Gardiner Street



STORY CLASSES
Artists' suppliers PW Story will hold three courses this month in Morningside: March 8: Oil Painting Course with Diamond Bozas, March 14: Stencil a Set of Biscuit Tins; and March 28: Easy Decoupage



Kits are available. To book for these courses, phone Joan on 23-0607



AFRICA GALLERY
Featured artist this month at the Africa Gallery in Umhlanga Rocks is Isabel le Roux. Initially qualifying as an art teacher, Isabel le Roux has devoted herself to full-time painting since 1973



Since her first solo exhibition in 1974, she has exhibited widely and her work is represented in several collections including those of numerous financial institutions, local authorities and South African Airways, to name a few



Isabel believes in continual develop-ment and her work reflects a wide range of interests such as still life, flower studies, street scenes and landscapes. She uses oil paints and pastels, watercolours and acrylics as well as mixed media



Africa Gallery, which is situated in Shop 5 of the Granada Centre, offers Durban Arts members 10% discount on framing (except block mounting)



DAG EXHIBITIONS
The Durban Art Gallery is hosting two exhibitions this month: Jane Alexander - 1995 Standard Bank Young Artist award winner - which closes on March 6



Jabulisa - The Art of KwaZulu-Natal runs from March 13, with an opening at 18h00, to April 1. There will be a walkabout of the exhibition on March 20 at 13h00



The Durban Art Gallery is situated on the 2nd Floor of the City Hall (entrance in Smith Street). Phone: 300-6234