Kaleidoscopic lights -11 December 2009

Never a dull moment in our swinging art destination; if the selection of paintings in our many, many galleries does not grab you, what about a light show or a jazz cabaret?

Izibini Life Lounge

The lounge, home to strongly individual hand-made metal work, mirrors, furniture, chandeliers and art, is going even further out with a light show. Lara Light- Kaleidoscope is on Wednesday 16th December 21h00-23h00 but get there a bit earlier. The address is 56, 10th Street, Voëlklip, the cover charge is twenty bucks and you can call Yolanda on 084 830 6640 for details.

Stanford Galleries summer exhibition

Opening on Thursday 17th December with its Summer show, this feisty country gallery has focussed on the Overberg art community which it favours as one of the fastest-growing and increasingly interesting creative regions in the South African art world. Selected for this exhibition among others are Joshua Miles, Sally Dove, Niël Jonker, Nikki Miles, Weyers du Toit, Sara Abbott and Kevin Fraser.

Much has been said of the synergy between artists and dealers that helps to energise their work and distribute it to the advantage of both – one has only to see or recall dramatic events in the history of the great auction houses and dealers of the world.

Says Stanford Galleries Art Director Jill Younghusband: “It's a synergy that combines expanding talent and so much of the elements of faith and communication between artists and their agents. We have always been intrigued by a special kind of roaming restlessness among artists and they way they continually tap into the unique grandeur of nature in this part of the world. It has turned us into restless roamers too as we have scouted for them and tracked them down in their lairs in places like Baardskeerdersbos and Wolvengat and have invested in them. It has proved to be investment that has paid off– I think for all concerned.”

Johans Borman Gallery art auction

Three attractive paintings by well-known artists Hussein Salim, Hennie Niemann Jnr and Walter Meyer, are being auctioned on-line in aid of The Bridge project for The Homestead in Khayelitsha. You can see the works on www.johansborman.co.za (the prices will be continuously up-dated) and e-mail your bid to art@johansborman.co.za before noon on Friday 11 December. Successful bids are a donation to the NPO and so are fully tax-deductable and the pictures will be shipped to the bidder at no charge. Sounds like a great fundraiser.

Hugo Maritz at Rossouw

This accomplished local artist, some of whose works are available at Rossouw Modern on Harbour Road, is opening at their gallery at Groot Constantia Wine Estate on Friday 18th December 18h30 for 19h00. The powerful paintings, acrylic on canvas, are large scale and certainly worth a visit.

Hugo Maritz - oils - at Rossouw Modern

Keep your news and views coming to me at niblos@telkomsa.net.

SNIPPETS

• Volmoed in the Hemel en Aarde Valley is showing art produced at its workshop this week – Friday 11 December from 18h00 and Saturday 09h00-17h00.
• Piazza Fine Art is hosting a Jazz Cabaret with Pianoman Ben on Tuesday15th from 19h00 –Call 028 3131672.
• Strauss & Co released the results of their first year’s art auctioneering in Johannesburg and Cape Town. R100million, which exceeds any other SA auction house and does show that art can resist recessions. The magic of Stephan Welz and his hand-picked team is clearly working.
• Kleinmond: Nine artists have formed a group to exhibit their artwork in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere at the Laerskool Kleinmond, situated on the Main Road, from 12 to 20 Dec 2009 , 10h00 to 19h00. Free and ample parking is provided. “Not a craft market” they emphasise. The pieces, in leather, wood, ceramic and fabric as well as paintings, are reasonably priced.
• Do not forget the Harbour Road Street Party – Monday 21st December. You can see the Hugo Maritz works at Rossouw – Fisherman’s Gallery - that evening.

Countdown to Christmas - 27 November 2009

Only one more ArtsPage until Christmas! Well, two if you count the edition datelined 25 December itself. It will come out on Thursday 24th and will be a round-up of all our artspots from Betty’s Bay to Gansbaai, including Greyton and even Villiersdorp. This appears twice a year to remind locals and visitors alike of all the art that is available, a grand help-yourself buffet of goodies, something for everyone.

Piazza Gallery

No apologies for mentioning again the newest of our galleries, the amazing space on the 2nd Floor of the Village Square next to Ocean Basket. They sensibly asked me to do the opening on Tuesday and, by the time you read this, town will be buzzing with the news of this artspot and cultural hub. The concept is to appeal not just to aficionado art lovers but to everyone who has ever taken an interest in a painting – and is that not all of us? Art is not a mysterious arcane philosophy, it’s a part of life and owner Deirdre Loxton wants Hermanusites to pop in, browse, maybe have a coffee. Chill out in the spacious gallery that she has designed in association with Pieter Vermaak, approachable and knowledgable artist and art teacher now based in Onrus.

Gallery 43

Yes, another gallery! Martin Benzien is showing affordable oils in his unpretentious gallery which opened a month ago on the R43 at Bot River, in the Salandra complex.
A good representation of paintings by Don Benzien, Martin’s father, and works by other family members are also among the colourful canvasses arranged in the gallery and on the lawn outside. Martin likes the idea of a laid-back market atmosphere where families can wander, icecream in hand – verboten at more formal art places. ArtsPage welcomes this venture which adds to the range of art in our area.

But is it art?

The Spier Biennial is coming up again in March next year and it will be intriguing to see how much, or how little, painting is represented. The DVDs and the conceptual works produced in great quantities by our art academies are certainly in tune with the times. Damien Hirst scored a ₤50 million hit with his diamond-studded skull and he is just one of the Young British Artists group that has emerged in the past decade. But even Mr Hirst has again taken up painting with his own paintbrush on canvas; in his current exhibition “No Love Lost” in the revamped home of the Wallace Collection in London, he is actually showing paintings. The fact that Hirst paid for the sumptuous silk wallpaper may have helped the trustees to welcome his art – or perhaps they reckoned that a big name would bring in a fresh crop of visitors to look at the Collection’s old masters whose technique and talent has stood the test of time.

SA Art Times

I like this monthly paper. It is packed with information on art throughout the country but it is produced in Cape Town which immediately makes it somehow better. Sometimes it is packed with typographical errors, too, but it is freewhich can only be good; visit some of the galleries here and you can pick up a copy. You may even see some of my news of Hermanus and surroundings as we are recognized as an art destination and their readers want to know what is happening here. In the November issue is a new insert called Artlife (website www.artlife.co.za) and this is described as “being written by artists for artists.” I hope that our local art people will take up the challenge and submit articles, support with advertising and help make this venture fly.

Till next time, send me your news and views - niblos@telkomsa.net.

Amazing Space!

ArtsPage, always first with the news, is delighted to draw your attention to a new gallery in town. It is the Piazza Gallery, on the 2nd Floor of the Village Square Piazza, same level as the upper deck of the new Ocean Basket and is the newest project of artist and businesswoman Deirdre Loxton. Pieter Vermaak, whose art school in Onrus has featured on this page, is the artistic consultant and, knowing his experienced eye, the gallery will always have something intriguing on its walls. Charles Lowings has been appointed as manager and they will show contemporary art, sourcing locally and from all over South Africa.

Pieter Vermaak and Deirdre Loxton

Another gallery?

Are we not “over-galleried”? Do we need another one? Is the art cake to be divided yet again? These naughty thoughts must be banished right now. Hermanus is an art destination and the more galleries we have, the better. Hooray for the Loxtons in their new venture and may they be followed by many more. It was Francois Grobbelaar of Walker Bay Art Gallery who boldly said he would be happy if the whole Main Road were art galleries and he was right. Almost all the gallerists will tell you that the majority of buyers are not locals; they may be holidaymakers from points North or, more likely, overseas visitors who are impressed by the variety and sheer good value of the art offerings here.

Accessible paintings

Quality is vital of course. But quality is something that people often have to learn to appreciate and a stroll through our galleries is one way of educating the eye. Taste in art is as wide as our glorious bay and our artspots can offer something for everyone. If you are hesitant to enter the premises of the purveyors of high art, you will still see plenty of accessible paintings, ceramics and sculpture on offer elsewhere. Remember Johan De Vries (1945-2002) who used to flog his graphic works for a couple of hundred rand at Lemms Corner? Some looked down on them as naïve. Now you will be lucky if you can find them and the price will be in the thousands. (Tip: Rossouw Modern still has a small collection.) The individual Cubist look and everyday subject matter of De Vries’s work has been copied after his death– surely the sincerest form of flattery.

Johan de Vries - "Die Laaste Avondmaal"

Piazza Gallery

Back to Hermanus’s latest gallery; the design is SoHo loft style, sparsely furnished and high-ceilinged, with one hundred metres of wall space that no other local gallery can match. The doors are open now, though the official launch (by invitation only) is still a few weeks away. There is a lift to the second floor if you don’t do stairs – as well as easy access from the restaurant. The space looks great for making art of all kinds; recitals, concerts and, who knows, even a spot of jazz and a glass of bubbly could make this into a social hub that is slick, modern and right there where the action is.

SNIPPETS

• Pure South’s “Meet the Artist” evening last week introduced Hennie Meyer to Hermanus. He told us, most entertainingly, how he came to ceramics (sanctions in his Australian exchange student year in the 1980s landed him in the art department of a technical college) and his work is now sold internationally.

• Bellini Gallery is well settled in new premises at 167 Main Road and, as well as cappuccino and art, they offer a booking service for Overstrand Arts/Kunste shows.

• Strauss and Co, the new Cape Town action house, is taking appointments for auction valuations by Stephan Welz on Thursday 19 November. Call 0878068780.

• A creative art workshop at Volmoed in the Hemel en Aarde Valley is scheduled for December 7-11. Contact Alyson 028-3121282 or home 028-3132313. “An opportunity to learn, share and exhibit.”

• Keep your news and views coming to me at niblos@telkomsa.net

Catch up on art - 16 October 2009

The catching-up was for me to do after my holiday break but you, dear reader, may like to hear what has been going on locally and in Cape Town.

Strauss and Co

At the first auction of Strauss and Co at The Vineyard hotel on 8 October in Newlands, Stephan Welz held the hammer and around R38 million changed hands for some irresistible artworks and antiques. Encouraging to know that there is still plenty of cash for items of high quality. As expected, two Irma Sterns made top prices of the evening at R7 million and R5,7 million and the Paul Storr wine coolers that were illustrated in last fortnight’s ArtsPage fetched R1,5m - twice their estimate. An outstanding Meintjes oil “Seun en Boskat” set a new record for this artist at R423 320.

Johannes Meintjes - Oils – “Seun en Boskat” - sold at Strauss and Co auction for R423 000

Stellenbosch

The Spring Art Tour popped up in this pretty town last weekend and was well supported by local galleries and art museums. At the SMAC gallery, I discovered Anton Karstel, on show with paintings and photographic installations 1989-2009. The gallery, itself bright and light-filled, is to be congratulated on a model catalogue to complement and record Karstel’s oeuvre to date. Three well-considered essays as well as the gallery owner’s statement give insight into the deeper resonances in the gripping works on display. Nigel Mullins and Kobus La Grange show current work entitled “Hang in There” at the Dorpstraat Gallery which is now at 10 Church Street.

Hermanus gallery round-up

Abalone Art Gallery: A serious gallery with a changing selection of established artists. In the Courtyard off Harbour Road.

Art Thirst: Leon Müller’s gallery in High Street. Shows Leon’s own works plus Petrus Viljoen and others. Always lots of activity as commissions are filled and they strive to keep up with demand.

Bellini Gallery: Now in new premises alongside Philip Harper Galleries in Main Road. The cappuccino bar adds a buzz and makes the gallery one of the more accessible for those who are a bit intimidated by gallery “mystique”- the garden is a further attraction.
Two of “their” artists, Terry Kobus and Ed Bredenkamp, are exhibiting 24-31 October in Melville, Johannesburg in the gallery Upstairs at the Bamboo. The show is called “Hermanus to Here.”

Deirdre Winer Gallery: A newcomer to Hermanus who shows her own work (and some of her teacher’s) in a small but tasteful gallery in High Street Close.
Dave De Beer Wildlife Photography exhibits his brilliantly-observed and captured birds, beasts and cetaceans in a new space next-door to Deirdre Winer in the Close.

Gallery Hermanus: Eyecatching position on Main Road, a busy window entices you into an interior crammed with art that’s easy to enjoy.

Gallery at Hubbards Cupboard: Aberdeen St. Eclectic collection of paintings and decorative objects. Food and fashion, sophistication in a warm, village setting.

Iona Property Gallery: Art and kelims at Victoria Square on Long Street, – Eleanor and St John combine art with their core business, property.

Izibini Life Lounge: “Eclectic” seems too tame for this show of metal sculpture, found objects and way-out artworks. They are at 56, 10th Avenue, Voelklip and serve excellent coffee and cake while you browse.

Mila Mosaic Boutique: Now moved to the chic arcade known as High Street Close. Craft glass, mosaic and artworks (see also Deirdre Winer and Dave De Beer above).

Musa Khaly’s Gallery and Crafts: Village Square, upstairs –ethnic art painted by Musa.

Old Harbour Gallery Warrington Place off Harbour Road, showing selected local and Zimbabwean paintings and sculpture. Owner Margaret Fourie may be heard at the piano, and sources some well-chosen art.

Overberg Art: Aberdeen St, SA artists and Swazi glass, and currently also showing photographic works by MC Botha.

The Philip Harper Galleries: In Main Rd, Contemporary and SA Masters, cool and sophisticated. Trimmed down by the letting of some space to Bellini, Harper still has an uncluttered look in its ground and first floor areas.

Pure South: In Main Road. Art ceramics by award-winning Hennie Meyer and others, plus some paintings by local artists. Hennie will be at the gallery on Friday 6 November from 18h30 so call Liz Coates on 028 3121899 if you would like to meet him over a glass of wine.

Hennie Meyer – "Blocks" at PURE SOUTH

Rossouw Modern: aka the Fisherman’s Gallery. Harbour Road. Plenty of new and established talent here, driven by the passion of owner Joshua Rossouw. Groot Constantia Estate is their Cape Town base and they are also at Greyton.

The Art Shop: Mitchell St. Art supplies plus a chequerboard display of local artists.

The Tay Modern: Long St, devoted to the bold, colourful canvasses of Tay Dall. Her gallery has a branch in Greyton. This hard-working Vermont artist is also represented in galleries around SA as well as overseas.

Walker Bay Art Gallery: In Main Rd., now established as a leading gallery showing SA masters, contemporary and local artists. The well-lit windows offer a good glimpse of the quality art and sculpture within. They are currently having a Spring Exhibition.

4 Art Sake: Royal Centre, behind KFC. A tiny gallery which Cobus Kershoff has filled to the brim with the artworks that he loves.

Hemel en Aarde Shopping Village and nearby

Aeromarine Gallery: Airplanes in Sandbaai – Studies by Derrick Dickens, meticulous art that gladdens the eye of collectors and enthusiasts in a dedicated, revamped gallery. Selected other artists’ works, too.

Hornbill Fine Art: First-floor gallery above a treasure trove of Afrocentric ceramics by Erna and John Dry and their team. New shows regularly appear and the November Exhibition (which actually opens 21 October) features Erna Dry, Jonathon Dry, Petro Steere, Mariette Goosen, Charmé Southey, Nico van Rensburg and Laura van Riet.

Southern Art Ceramics: Glazed art of all descriptions, some practical, some architectural, all beautiful.
Sandbaai Stationery and Art: Art supplies and art, now moved to new premises down Sandbaai main road next to Specsavers. Still some wallspace for local artists!

Sylvia Smith Gallery: Long-established watercolourist showcasing her own works and those of local artists, plus ceramics and textile art. Mornings only in the quiet season.

Village Art Gallery: Brian Robertson at his easel. Invited artists share the space but the framing section has been discontinued.

Whale Rock Auctioneers: in Adam Street, Hermanus Business Park, (behind CTM) Derrick Benzien has an art and auction showroom and provides evaluations.

ONRUS

Antoinette Ohlenschläger’s Studio in van Blommestein Road is showing her vibrant works.

Galerie Gregoire: Old Main Road. A museum dedicated to Gregoire Boonzaier where you can see a centenary selection of work of the late great Gregoire, some for sale and some loaned.

Mission’s House Gallery: De Villiers St. Artist, art teacher and long-time gallerist Glenda Pope owns this historic farmhouse which she has recently expanded. Contemporary works and framing, too.

The Onrus Gallery: Derrick Benzien and well-known local artist Hennie Niemann Snr, own this prominent gallery on Lagoon Drive. It has established itself as a serious player in the SA Master and Contemporary scene.

The Gallery: in Van Blommestein Street. Offshoot of The Onrus Gallery, providing more wall space for their collection.

COUNTRY

Stanford

Stanford Galleries: This village is firmly on the art map with an extended and well-stocked gallery which still finds space for a leisurely bistro coffee corner, plus country antiques and collectors’ books next door.

Kleinmond

Harbour Road Gallery: local artists have found a home down this bohemian road where antiquey-crafty shops and taverna restaurants happily co-exist with light industrial businesses.

Betty’s Bay

John The Potter’s Studio – art and everyday ceramics, raku, too…

Michaelis Art, previously ArtWorks Gallery, now run by John Michaelis , are both to be found on the long stretch of main road

Villiersdorp

Elliott Art Studios – art courses regularly and artwork for sale in Dale and Mel Elliott’s smart art centre.

Le Gallerie: unpretentious local art gallery and coffee shop in the main road.

Greyton

Rossouw Modern, a branch of the vibrant Hermanus gallery is established here.

Scarlett, a gallery showing contemporary artists; plus some designer jewellery.

The Tay Modern, the branch of Tay Dall’s Hermanus gallery.

And don’t forget the (Hermanus-originated) Art Market, on the web at www.theartmarket.co.za, an internet site to explore for purchases and sales.

If you run a full-time artplace in the Overberg and are not listed, do send me details niblos@telkomsa.net.

SA’s best amateur photography - 2 October 2009

Nobody these days disputes that photography is an art medium and one that, with the advent of the digital camera, is becoming increasingly popular. Our well-supported and vibrant Hermanus Photographic Society has been invited to host the 2009 national congress of the Photographic Society of South Africa. I caught up with Max Leipold, one of the members of the organising committee, for a chat.

PC - Congratulations on securing this event for Hermanus. It will take place during the week starting October 12. Is that to coincide with the height of the whale season?

ML – It’s a privilege to host an event which should draw about 120 active photographers to our town and, yes, the date was chosen to offer delegates maximum photographic opportunities. Naturally, the whales feature highly on this list but by no means exclusively. In October, the wheatfields have been freshly harvested and the contour lines lend a third dimension to an image; the fynbos is at its best before the onset of the summer heat and then there are the great whites just to the east of us and a penguin colony on the west, bird life galore on either of the lagoons……….in fact, more photo opportunities than time available ! Hermanus is an excellent choice of venue.

PC – Tell me about the photographic club.

ML – The club, originally the Walker Bay Photo Society, was founded by Dinkie Marais and some 18 members in April 1997. Today it has 126 members -- a testimony to the exponential increase in interest in photography. This is largely due to the introduction of digital technology whereby anyone with a cellphone camera is able to take photographs.

The Hermanus Photographic Society helps those interested in improving their photo skills. There is a huge difference between point-and-shoot technique and a photo which can hold its own in an art gallery. Whilst not everyone aspires to this pinnacle, most of our members do want to improve their end result. That is our main focus and anyone is welcome to attend our meetings on a try-before-buy basis by calling the Club Chairperson (Ronnie Hazell) on 028 3123212

PC – And the forthcoming congress?

ML – A congress in Hermanus is a fairly rare event -this is only the second in 12 years. It provides a forum for over a hundred of South Africa’s most experienced amateur photographers to exchange ideas about techniques, locations, equipment etc. Congress provides a showcase for some of the best in SA amateur photography and local photo opportunities.

The early mornings and late afternoons provide the right light conditions for these opportunities; the rest of the mornings are filled with lectures by a number of foremost names in photography; the afternoons are dedicated to workshops – hands on education on PhotoShop; Audio Visual presentations; macro photography; visual art techniques and many more.

After dinner, delegates will be entertained with stunning audio visuals but not too late to bed as the following morning is another early rise!

PC – You mention ‘foremost photographers’. Are you able to name some?

ML – Amongst them are…
• Dianne Skinner – one of Canada’s leading visual arts photographers.
• George Hallett has worked in Europe for three decades photographing the positive aspects of people’s lives. He returned to South Africa in 1994 to photograph the first democratic elections, and subsequently the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process.
• Peter and Beverley Pickford, the renowned wildlife photographers whose many books have sold extensively both in SA and abroad, will share some of their passion for wildlife photography.
• Charles Biggs has been involved in photography for 30 years plus. Lectures at the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography and will discuss his personal vision on the photography of people.
• Rob Mills, “The Man in the Sensible Pants” as he describes his Journey from Engineer to Artist, will also give a workshop on Digital Stitching for Panoramas


PC – Is the Congress open to people who are not members of your club?

ML - Yes it is. However, due to good marketing and a varied program of lectures and interesting workshops, we are now fully booked with more than 180 delegates for the morning lectures. But anybody interested can contact Dinkie Marais (028 – 312 3357 or e-mail; dinkiem@xsinet.co.za) and enquire whether some of the afternoon workshops still have openings. The public is most welcome to view the print exhibition in the foyer of the Municipal Auditorium during our congress.

Spring at Baardskeerdersbos - 25th September

Visitors to our Whale Festival will know that we have more than just those gentle giants. You have come, of course, to enjoy the wine, the fynbos and especially the art for which the Overstrand is famous. So we have listed all the local artspots to visit; and if you are ready to venture a bit further afield, one not to miss is a rather special spring art route this weekend. On Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September, the rural community of Baardskeerdersbos hosts its famous Art Route for the fifth time, having firmly established themselves as “the freshest inclusion to the national art scene.”

“No ordinary art route,” they proudly say. The event takes place only three times a year. Every Autumn, Spring, and Christmas the artists of the south host what they claim has become the “Premier Fine Art Event of the Overberg”. Expect to see painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, ceramics, and land art while meeting the artists in their homes and studios. Each artist presents a professional exhibition containing their most recent work, providing the visitor with a premier peek prior to the work being released to galleries.

NIEL JONKER – oil on panel –LANDSCAPE done in situ. On view at B’bos Spring Art Route

Visiting artists

The core group of a dozen solo artists is now being joined by visiting artists wanting to share in this unique event that is neither festival nor your average gallery opening. This spring sees the inclusion of highly collectable Hanneke Benade’s pastel portraits in the gallery venue opposite the village winkel. Hanneke’s work has won some prestigious awards and is included in major collections. Since matriculating with a distinction in graphic art, she has studied printmaking at Pretoria University and has had a three month spell in 2000 at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris. Her soft pastels are described as quiet and pensive figurative works, depicted with exquisitely delicate formal skill.

Renowned locals

You will want to see the regular, and renowned, locals such as Niel Jonker (painting and sculpture), Kali and Daniel Griffin (textiles and ceramics), Amanda Jephson (painting), Claudette Barnes (painting), Colleeen Emminis (painting), Victor Breach (photography and metal work), Aletta Groenewald (painting), Andree Bonthuys (land art and sculpture), Hendrik Rabie (ceramics), Gillian Eyre (painting), PD Coetzer (furniture), and Joshua Miles (painting and printmaking).

Collectors of art meet the artists in their milieu, sharing in their processes and inspirations, sometimes sneaking in ahead of the crowds on the Friday. While those in the know take advantage of the affordable prices for quality art, day-trippers enjoy the outing with wine, conversation and laughter in the most outstanding of rural Cape destinations. Kids mill about, friendly dogs scamper and one feels part of the buzzing artistic community. Three venues will be serving food and you can look forward to savouring a complimentary glass or two at any of the artists’ home venues.

Baardskeerdersbos, “the last of the true Cape villages”, is undoubtedly worth a visit ; a stunning rural setting, with historic buildings, village characters, genuine functional smallholdings and country hospitality. Access from Stanford is via Grootbos or Pearly Beach, or from Bredasdorp via Elim.
For more information, call 028-3819636 / 083 444 2613, or simply take the road toward Gansbaai and look out for the silver signs. Oh, and tell them you read about it on the ArtsPages…

SNIPPETS

• Richard Smith, one of our leading artists and living right here in Onrus, has just finished a solo show at the iArt Gallery in Cape Town. He will be the subject of one of my Sketches shortly.

• Bellini Gallery has opened up on Main Road, next to the Harper gallery. They have traded their sea view for a central location with more wall space and a delightful garden where the Cappuccino Bar will certainly flourish.

• Sandbaai Stationery and Art is at new premises half-way down the Sandbaai main road next door to Specsavers. Louis assures me there is still place for paintings on his walls.

• Next weekend 4/5 October, a trip to Stellenbosch will be worthwhile – several special exhibitions are on – see www.springarttour.co.za

• Strauss and Co, the new art auction house under direction of Stephan Welz, entertained me at its Cape Town premises at The Oval, near Cavendish Square last week. Wine was served in a magnificent pair of George 111 wine coolers by Paul Storr. (Est R600-800 000). Their inaugural sale is at The Vineyard, conveniently close to their offices, on 8 October and, judging by the items I saw, it is set to be every bit as successful as their Johannesburg launch in March. www.straussart.co.za.

• Keep your news and views coming to niblos@telkomsa.net.

Reaching out for Art - September 4, 2009

It is easy to buy art; especially here in Hermanus. We have twenty-six galleries and art spaces between here and Onrus and more are opening by the day- or so it seems. At our Whale Festival you will usually find an informal display of the works of our many local artists and painters-for-pleasure. Art routes in the country are becoming popular. Collectors and dealers peruse the glossy catalogues of the big auction houses with their regular sales of desirable works. (Sometimes the photography is so good that the work itself is rather a let-down.)

Selling

But what about the time when you want to dispose of art? There are a number of options. Take advice from your favourite gallery – If a piece is by a known South African artist, the gallery may wish to acquire it for stock or perhaps accept it on consignment to sell. Commission is negotiable. The newly-established WhaleRock Auctioneers who advertise on the ArtsPage, have regular sales, the next one on 10th October and they are local , no great traveling involved. They deal in the South African Masters but may also accept works from lesser names which houses like Stephan Welz/Sotheby’s, Christies, Bonhams and Strauss and Co will not handle.

New internet site

Then there is the internet; more and more people are becoming comfortable with trading on the net. There are the better-known websites like e-bay and gumtree which can be quite addictive. And now, based in Hermanus, Jason Children and his partners have yesterday launched a website www.theartmarket.co.za which they describe as South Africa’s first on-line selling and auction site dedicated purely to art.

From left to right: Steven Dayson, Jason Children, Roslynn Shaw



Jason says “The site will allow artists, galleries and art enthusiasts to reach a broader market when selling or auctioning their art. By reaching a larger target audience, prospective sellers increase their chances of a sale. Sellers also create excitement by utilising the auction option within the site, which in turn creates a platform for faster sales.

Art buyers will have a site dedicated to art allowing them to browse, bid on or buy art from many different categories. Forums within the site will create communication between users and rating systems for buyers and sellers will effectively mean that users of the site will police themselves.”

Focus on art

When I asked Jason what the advantages of his site were, compared to long-established international sites, he pointed out the focus on art – one does not have to plow through a million other items that are on offer if it is specifically art you are looking for. And we locals have the additional advantage of seeing the developer of the site face–to-face. It is a home-grown product that has every possibility of taking off like a rocket into the webosphere.

I have tried the registration process (one has to register before one can buy or sell) and it was not too daunting. Certainly there are nine pages of Terms and Conditions and a further two-page Privacy Policy that you should look at, but I know from personal experience how adept ArtsPagers are at speed-reading.

The site is well presented and easy to navigate. Thumbnail pictures of the art are offered under many categories and a mouse click brings up the detail. Items may have a “Buy now” price quoted, as well as being up for auction bids for a period that the seller nominates.

Go-between

The Artmarket website acts only as a go-between. The actual payment and delivery of the item is arranged between buyer and seller. Credit card details are made available to the seller once a sale is confirmed. At the same time the Artmarket will debit its agreed commission to the seller. This is pitched at an attractive level and no charge is made until a work is actually sold. Traders are required to rate the service they experience with each other so regular users should soon build up a reputation for sound dealing practice. Ratings are disclosed on the site.

Some local galleries are already using the site and when the time comes that I must make space for fresh acquisitions, I too will try it. Most works of art that one buys are for keeps but there is from time to time the mistake needs to find a new home, or a cash crisis that means the inherited Gregoire has to go. Why not offer it on The Artmarket and try your luck?

And keep your news and views coming to niblos@telkomsa.net.

SKETCH - SHEILA NOWERS

Sheila Nowers

Vermont-based Sheila Nowers lives in a comfortable and rather imposing house she designed and built. “When I have time on my hands, I like nothing better than to design houses. I must have done hundreds!” Though few of them have been realized in bricks and mortar, it is easy to understand that this accomplished artist relishes the detail which goes into architecture. The first thing that strikes one in Sheila’s work is the detail. She works in gouache/water colours to a small scale , 15x13 mm is a typical size (“not miniatures, really, they are a different art form”) and with an incredible eye for minutiae – the cat curling its tail around a leg or looking, as cats disconcertingly do, directly at you. There’s wry humour there, too; or perhaps whimsy, as past gallerist Karen McKerron puts it.

Her training was in graphics and she took her BA at UCT (Michaelis). Textile design in London followed, then illustration, mainly freelancing in magazines back in South Africa. The Eighties saw her making her mark with postage stamp design – some thirty commemorative issues of South African stamps. Solo exhibitions at Karen McKerron Contemporary Art in Johannesburg, Everard Read Gallery in Johannesburg and Cape Town, The Lookout Gallery in Plettenburg Bay; and her works are in the SA National Gallery and other leading public and private collections.

Portrait of ERIC GALLO by Sheila Nowers

Sheila works four to five hours a day most days, no retirement in sight; her work has great charm in its apparent straightforwardness. The size is not an affectation or something she has chosen. To work on a larger scale becomes forced. “For me, my works take on the proportions of the Sistine Chapel ceiling” she says with a chuckle. “Mostly portraits these days and often commissioned works.” She describes herself as gregarious and has an admitted reputation as a conversationalist of note. Yet others have commented on her keeping a low profile. Time for a show in Hermanus, Ms Nowers. We need a chance to view (and acquire) your gems and share your conversations.