Pretoria – 1 Weekend – Exhibiting @ 2 Art galleries
I had a few lovely days away from my normal routine, with a busy art weekend in Gauteng.
With my car full of paintings and my paint “koffertjie” (bag) packed, I arrived in Gauteng on Tuesday.
My artist friend, Elmeri Steyn decided to join.
MAMBONENG:
We stopped and explored Mamboneng in Soweto.
(Maboneng, is a Sesotho word meaning “place of light”)
I found this description on the website and decided to share it as I will not be able to describe what Mamboneng is all about:
“Mamboneng is a collection of old manufacturing buildings retrofitted with steel, glass and concrete. These original buildings fitted with welcoming street facing retail, commercial work spaces and artist studios juxtaposed with additions of more unconventional modern architecture rising upwards – making the neighborhood more dense with additional levels of residential loft apartments and double volume penthouses… This is the making of Maboneng.
The renewal of what is now considered a contemporary urban space filled with the character and the charm of the older buildings that were given a second life, bringing the soul and heart of Johannesburg out though a new community of South Africans who now live, work and play in the city.”
We found that a Tuesday is not the best day to visit and sadly the impact of Covid can be seen in the number of empty shops, but still, we enjoyed the urban feel of the setting and had a drink before I dropped off Ellie at her friends and went to my daughter in Fourways for a 2-day visit.
Wednesday, I spend painting at my daughters’ dining room table while she was at work, evenings we spend around the table, catching up.
Now – off to Pretoria
Art weekend in Gauteng
SHOWROOM ART GALLERY:
Friday and Saturday you will find me behind my easel at Showroom Art Gallery in Olympus Pretoria. Although I was part of a few exhibitions there before, it’s the first time I will visit this beautiful gallery.
JOHAN VAN HEERDEN ART GALLERY:
This contemporary art gallery is best known for its interesting theme exhibitions and the new exhibitions they do each month.
I admire Johann and Miekie for all the work going into the setting up and marketing of new exhibitions this often and they have the ability to get the best artists for each theme exhibition they present.
I don’t want to even think of all the admin around it.
Sunday morning is the opening of “The Hound and The Hare” exhibition at Johann van Heerden Art Gallery.
I love theme exhibitions and I enjoyed creating a few very whimsical works for this event.
(Unfortunately, I cannot share my artworks yet.)
I’m excited to exhibit alongside South African artists I admire like Tori Stowe, Gordon Froud and Loeritha Saayman and I hope to see you there!
