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.
