VISUAL ARTS

CHICKEN MAN

The "Chicken Man" Mkhize Memorial Exhibition at the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg shows an interesting range of the offbeat work created by this artist who died last year.

Although it is a small exhibition which has only been drawn from the collections of the major local municipal art galleries, the co-ordinators were surprised at the number of works that were available.

"It just makes you wonder how much of Chickenman's work is out there," said Kobus Moolman of the Tatham, "and if we threw the net out much wider - what a marvellous exhibition we would have!"

The exhibition ends on April 7.

MICHELLE COETZEE

Artist Michelle Coetzee is completing her masters degree in fine art at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg. An exhibition of her work is running at the Upstairs Gallery at the BAT Centre until April 9 and features paintings, drawings and monoprints which form part of the work submitted for her degree. The exhibition focuses on her interpretations of male and female symbols.

USCAA MEETINGS

The Upper South Coast Art Association holds meetings on the first Tuesday of the month at 19h00 in the Activities Room of the Amanzimtoti Library (April 2). Ring Hendriett Wolmarans: 96-2029.

ALASTAIR WHITTON

Recollection is an exhibition of photographs by Alastair Whitton running at the Durban Centre for Photography at the BAT Centre until April 14.
pics/whitton

"The Jeremiah Incision", a work of plaster,
wax, steel, PVC and Linen

The exhibition is a series of black and white photographic images of sculptures created by Whitton in 1993 and 1994 and entitled The Jeremiah Incision and Conversations With Thomas.

POST-GRADUATE

Scottish-born Alastair is currently completing his post graduate studies in fine art at Natal Technikon, where he obtained a National Diploma in Fine Arts with seven distinctions.

He was a student of Andries Botha and Jeremy Wafer and won awards at the Natal Youth Arts Festival in 1994 and the Volkskas Atelier Award in the same year. He went on to win the Emma Smith scholarship and spent the autumn of 1995 as an exchange student studying at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland.

BRONWEN FINDLAY

The Elizabeth Gordon Gallery is holding a solo exhibition by Bronwen Findlay from April 29. Featured will be a continuation of her still life theme focusing on domestic objects such as crockery.

EARTHBOUND

Three artists exhibit around a theme of the earth, a sense of place and the importance of man's place in nature in Earthbound at Anthea Martin Gallery.

Dawn Garfath, who lives in Botswana, has photographed, drawn and painted her surroundings and so documented her reaction to her environment. She will be constructing an installation with her found and made objects depicting her sense of place.

Pietermaritzburg sculptors David Gush and Jaap Jacobs use materials such as sand, concrete, metal to express their reaction to the environment.

Christina Auerbach, a philosopher with a particular interest in environmental issues, will open the exhibition.

The exhibition opens at 18h00 on April 12 and remains on show until April 27.

PARK ART

An art exhibition will be held in the Durban Botanical Gardens from 10h30 to 15h30 onn April 7), weather permitting, with part proceeds to the Botanic Gardens Trust. Interested artists to phone Jenny Toms-McDonald on 266-0943 or 701- 4697.

If it's raining on the day, the event will be postponed to the following Sunday.

VUKA!

At the African Art Centre in Guildhall Arcade there's the Vuka! - Wake Up exhibition until April 20.

One of the superb headrests on show

This is a collection of antique traditional headrests, headdresses, utensils and beadwork collected from KwaZulu-Natal (a collector's dream).

BEREA ARTISTS AT HOME

The Berea Artists at Home invite visitors to participating studios throughout the week by appointment.

Artists are: ceramist Rodney Blumenfeld (28-6863); graphic artist Clara Cerrai (21-3767); Rob and Jacky Fletcher who do marbling and quilting (23-5265); sculptor Hannah Lurie (28-1926); stained glass artist Graham Todd (23-9928); and watercolourist Martin Burnett (21-0322). Caroline Smithyman, founder of the organisation, is not participating in Berea Artists at Home at present.

Contact any member for details. Leaflets at Durban Arts, Durban Unlimited and Visuals Musgrave Centre.

NORTHERN MEANDER

The Durban North/Umhlanga Meander takes place on the last Sunday of every month (April 28). Maps from Umhlanga Publicity or Durban Arts offices.

Contact HelŠne Griffiths on 52-6732.

IN MEMORIAM

D'ARTS is sad to report the death of Beryl Brink, owner of Grassroots Gallery in Westville, after a long and painful illness which she bore with courage and strength.

Both established potters in their own right, Beryl and Sue Greenberg (now owner of the Bayside Gallery at the BAT Centre) took over Grassroots Gallery 12 years ago with the aim of promoting local art at grassroots level.

Beryl was well-respected by artists and clients alike. She was always extremely supportive of up-and-coming artists.

Grassroots Gallery was closed at the end of March but Beryl's lasting influence on the Durban visual arts scene will remain. We'll really miss her.

DURBAN ART GALLERY

DAG events for April in the Educentre are as follows:

Apr 1-3: A wire weaving workshop for adults conducted by Elliot Mkhize. Booking is essential. Cost is R25.

Apr 10-May 9: DASART Exhibition

Apr 11: Guided tour of DASART exhibition.

Apr 15, 22 & 29: Teenagers' Monday afternoon art classes. Tie and dye Workshops.

Apr 18 (13h00): Talk on sculptor Josephine Geza by Glenda Mentis.

Apr 25: 13h00. The film, Aboriginal Art, celebrates the traditions of aboriginal art.

Enquiries to Pat Khoza on 300-6234.

HELMETS & NEWS

Helmets and Newspapers is an exhibition of handpainted helmets from rallies and newspaper cuttings from the Sowetan City press and New Nation from the late 1980's until the present day.

Created by Difa Nkosi and Alan Nkanbinde, Helmets and Newspapers is on show at the Democratic Gallery of the BAT Centre until April 19.

For further information phone 32-04 during office hours.

DASART

An impressive exhibition by the DASART artists co-operative from Pietermaritzburg opens at the Durban Art Gallery on April 10 to run until May 9.

The works are forceful and confrontational, often made from unorthodox materials ranging from bitumen or cardboard to enamel, grass or flat and corrugated metals.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE

Technikon Natal Art Gallery will be closed temporarily during April and May owing to the relocation of the venue. In June the new gallery will open upstairs in the Cecil Renaud Foyer of the library building. During the latter half of the year there will be a full exhibition programme and it is hoped that the public will continue to support the gallery as well as they have in the past.

WRAPPED UP

The NSA celebrates the demise of their Overport address before moving into the new gallery premises in Bulwer Park by holding a fun exhibition titled Wrapped Up. It is open to all artists who have been invited to interpret the theme on all levels, with the accent on originality.

Wrapped Up runs from April 9 to 20.

DEMOCRATIC ART

A new exhibition space has been created at the BAT Centre. The Democratic Gallery is one of the small studio spaces facing the central courtyard. It has been earmarked for up-and-coming artists who want smaller exhibitions perhaps in preparation for solo or joint exhibitions at a future time.

LINO PRINTING

A course in lino printing is being held on April 18 at Your Family Cookery and Craft School in Morningside. Those who would like to learn how to decorate a pillow case or cushion cover by lino printing should phone Joan on 23-0607 to book. The cost of R35 includes tea.

ART BY THE SEA

The open-air art exhibition Art by the Sea will be held on April 7 and 21 at the Old Pavilion Site, Snell Parade. Proceeds to Durban Child Welfare Society.

ART ALFRESCO

Art Alfresco will be held at the Old Pavilion site on the Snell Parade on April 14 and 28. Proceeds go to the National Cancer Association.
Phone John Whiting on 86-5615.