ArtsPage 4 February 2010 - High heels and hot competition

Mixed bag to-day, but then art was never homogenous and how boring if everyone shared the same taste. Let us start with the exciting local news.

R50 000 in prizes

An art competition to catch the attention of all has just been announced. Corporate Art Hermanus (Susan Karalis and Aileen Rolfe) are co-ordinating this and the rules and entry forms are available at corporatearthermanus@gmail.com . Entry fee is R100, this is an open competition and all mediums are acceptable. Closing date is 30 April and the final round of judging will be at the Civic Auditorium in Hermanus on 29 May 2010 at an invitation-only gala evening. If you are an artist and you don’t find out about this one right away, you will kick yourself. A great start for the art year!

Spier Contemporary 2010

On the national scene, there is more competition. Imagine one hundred of South Africa’s cutting-edge artists, one hundred and thirty works, displayed in the Edwardian grandeur of Cape Town’s City Hall. Chosen from over 2700 entries, the nation-wide curatorial team has assembled its view of where SA art is to-day. It opens on 14 March and I shall be asking local gallerists for their comment once the show is on view. Not to be missed.

Steven Cohen

South Africa’s own shocker, now well-established in Paris since 2003, was “at home” on 22nd January at the Michael Stevenson Gallery on the Main Road in Woodstock, Cape Town. Friends of the National Gallery were privileged to attend a walk-about with this SA-born artist whose latest work Golgotha was shown at the Pompidou Centre in November. He will be back there in 2011. The piece shows the artist, suited and starkly made-up, walking on elevated skull shoes in busy downtown New York. People ignore his laborious progress. Just another film, they may be thinking. But he is an international figure and his performance works evoke horror, pity, introspection, strong emotions.



Cohen in person is articulate, low-key and totally credible when he says he is not turned on by his bizarre, semi-nude, often transvestite rôles. His costumes are his work and he is “not an exhibitionist, just an ordinary, shy, hung-up guy.” Still athletic at close to fifty, he uses a gymnast’s ability and a dancer’s projection. The mimed sequences of his performance piece in Berlin’s Pariser Platz, which he swept with a giant toothbrush while wearing a tutu and a Star of David, were hugely moving. The piece was shown at the last Spier Biennial. Schoolchildren saw it. They did not giggle.

Not represented in our National Gallery except, appropriately, in the “Dada South?” show currently on till 28th February, Cohen has two rooms at Michael Stevenson for various “props’ such as his iconic high-heeled footwear, some collaged wall hangings, collected objects in vitrines and of course selected videos of his performance pieces. “The bits that didn’t sell,” he jokes. But even these bits flesh out the videos and encapsulate the essential, confrontational art of Steven Cohen.

Beaumont Open Days

Art and wine, marimbas and a water mill, altogether a glorious weekend at the Compagnes Drift home of Beaumont Wines at Bot River. My picture shows Geta Finlayson, herself an artist in precious metals in Harbour Road, against Jayne Beaumont’s triptych in oils of the sweeping Overberg canola and wheat fields. Raku pots and celadon glazed tableware by John the Potter and Ariane Beaumont’s bijou pendants added to the enjoyment. If you couldn’t make it, at least you can savour the wines.

Shelley at Bellini

Coming soon to a gallery near you, Shelley Adams… opening 19th February at Bellini in the Main Road. Expect something substantial from this accomplished artist, teacher and well-known Hermanus art figure.

As always, I welcome your news and views at niblos@telkomsa.net.

Gallery Round-up - 25 December 2009

It is time to dazzle visitors and residents alike with the range of artspots in and around Hermanus. If you know of another place with so many galleries, let me hear about it – we certainly have more than Clarens in the Free State and, though we cannot offer the institutional collections of Stellenbosch, the sheer range of art on offer means no tourist need go home without selecting a work. Our price structure is so much less than overseas and Postnet will pack and dispatch home to remind you of a great holiday in this glorious part of the Cape.

A welcome to a new compact artspot upstairs in the Village Square- Francois Du Toit introduced me to the work of Liesel Kershoff, a lady whose photographic studies, mostly scenes of nature, are arresting, beautifully executed and repay a visit.

In wishing you an excellent Season and an art-filled 2010, let me remind you of the next Baardskeerdersbos Art Route on the weekend 9/10 January. Clare Menck and local regulars will be on show. Call 028 3819636 or see the map at www.baardskeerdersbosartroute.com.




HERMANUS

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. Good selection of local artists. A Cappuccino Bar adds a buzz and makes the gallery one of the most accessible for those who are a bit intimidated by gallery “mystique”- the garden is a further attraction.
Gallerie Boussac: Deirdre Winer is 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 offer excellent coffee and cake while you browse.
Liesel Kershoff Gallery: Upstairs in the Village Square, photographic art beautifully presented, some in limited editions. Landscapes as you never saw them before.
Mila Mosaic Boutique: Now moved to the chic arcade known as High Street Close. Craft glass, mosaic and artworks. (See also Gallerie Boussac 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 sources some well-chosen art and may also be heard at the piano.
Overberg Art: Aberdeen St, SA artists and Swazi glass, and also photographic works by MC Botha . The illustration shows his “Black Oystercatchers” an arresting image printed on canvas and available on order in various sizes.
The Philip Harper Galleries: In Main Rd, Contemporary and SA Masters, cool and sophisticated.
Pure South: In Main Road. Art ceramics by Hennie Meyer and others, plus some paintings by local artists. Good for gifts. Look out for the tall giraffes at the door.
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 energetic 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 and Contemporary and local artists. The well-lit windows offer a good glimpse of the quality art and sculpture within.
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. Current exhibition “Wild” features the delicate pencil works of Erna and her son Jono – surreal and intriguing. Erna’s ceramic panels, bitten by a wayward kiln, still give a representative taste of her bold African imagery.
Southern Art Ceramics: Glazed art of all descriptions, some practical, some architectural, all beautiful. Check out Sim’s strongly individual ceramics.
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.
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: Newly-opened offshoot of The Onrus Gallery in Van Blommestein Street, providing more wall space for their collection.

Glenda Pope at The Missions House

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
coffee corner, plus country antiques and collectors’ books next door. Summer Show with new faces Weyers Du Toit and Kevin Fraser alongside Niël Jonker, Sara Abbott, Nikki Miles, Joshua Miles (no relation) and others.
Bot River
Gallery 43 in the Salandra complex. Display of works by owner Martin Benzien’s family and others artists in an unpretentious artspace which spreads out onto the lawn.
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… and
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: local art spot 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, a 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. This is in temporary recess but will be up again soon.


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

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.