NEWSLETTER!! February/March 2010 (No.3)
Editorial
An overture is supposed to contain a preview of the opera: bits of this tune or that aria so that one’s appetite is whetted. Well I can tell you we have quite a show lined up for you. There are exciting things coming up this year: a number of workshops, competitions and art classes. But, by far the most exciting has got to be the very possibility of our own ART GALLERY !!
Art is a very personal thing, whether as an artist or as a viewer. Art is subjective , that’s why it is so difficult to be completely fair when awarding points in an art competition. But in the end, we like what we like. If it grows on us so much the better. Sometimes our likes change and “maturity” plays a role , however we all love to view/experience art so much better if there is an ART GALLERY nearby where we can browse and exhibit and meet other artists: where we can simply ART!
The WILD FIG GALLERY could, hopefully, be a reality and we may soon have our own center of focus with the right colour combination, composition, transparency, integration and harmony. Somewhere to hold workshops, exhibitions, meetings and simply getting together with other art lovers. On the other hand, we are also inquiring the use of the art gallery at Casterbridge. Maybe a better option, with more feet in and out. In an established center, with shopping attractions all around. At the end of the day, I guess, it will be which is the most financially attractive site. But, all of this does not come without commitment not only the committee but also each and every member, so we invite you to all become involved !WEBSITE : http://www.lowveldart.co.za/
Technology demands that we keep up to date: so, we now have our own website, thanks to the hard work of Odette Espach. She has spent many, many hours putting this together. This will enable anyone anywhere to view our art and then to buy what pleases him/her. Sort of Gallery-of-the-air that has no bounds. While only in its infancy, we will put a diary on it, suitably updated of what’s happening, and, of course, a means of exhibiting our art. Members will be able to:
- 1. Submit 6 (six) photographs of work to: gallery@lowveld art.co.za; This will be published on the website . Plse send good quality pics but resized (Work will be subjected to scrutiny by small panel as we would like this website to be of good taste and no explicit or vulgar work will be published)
- a suitable CV or profile (one page max) plus a photograph should be sent to Odette Espach at info@odetteespach.co.za for inclusion with the art on the web.
- 2. Send pictures of paintings to: critics@lowveldart.co.za for an objective/constructive crit by three well known local artists -
The cost of all this will probably be a charge of R300.00 per year, including the first set-up fee.
As a marketing tool what could be easier and have such a wide spread audience?!
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DIARY: WORKSHOPS and EXHIBITIONS: * February: St Valentine’s Day Exhibition at MICA with cheese and win on Saturday 13th, set up by 09.00 and go through to 13.00: contact Sarah Koster at 013-755 4843 or e-mail: sarahk@nelspruitmica.co.sa.
* February 16th: WSSA (in JHB): Submit photos on disc for the OPEN.
* February 27th, for one week only: “Recollections of a Dendrogenealogist”, ie.TREES, by
Leigh Voigt at Casterbridge Gallery.
* March 4 & 5 Portraits in Pastel: Workshop by Odette Powell, at This and That. R1000 for the two days, 09.00 to 16.00. Contact no.: 013-752 5689.
* March 7th –10th : Artist Retreat at Sandvlei, in the KNP, with Bill Ashton: course booked up but not yet paid up, so if you’re keen, contact Sarah Koster, at Mica. Cost, inclusive of everything, for the three days is R4500! Sarah hopes to organize more of these KNP trips, even to having them as day trips, with artists going out to a quiet spot and spending the day painting and even walks. (See above for contact details.) * March 13th: PPC Cement course, a follow up on the most interesting and fun-filled course held last year. The course will probably be held in White River or Hazyview: contact Nandi at Pretoria
Association of Arts 012 3463100 or Ilona Petzer: 0828936718 . Cost R 60.00
. March 19th – april 7th :Solo exhibition by Ilona Petzer at Association of Arts, Mackie
Street Pretoria. We wish her all the best !
· Also in March: the Hazel Soan workshop presented by the WSSA: contact Colleen Dreyer for details, though the course is already full they do have a waiting list.
Colleen at 013 741 2277 or 083 461 1666.
· April 1st is last day of submission to Mica for Art competition: Two categories one for new
signatures and one for established artists. Judges will choose top 25 in each category and customers will vote for top 5. (Theme : South Africa : year of excellence)
Prize to value of R10 000 will be awarded
* April 1,2 & 3: Louis Audie at Ambience Inn, White River, acrylic and oil painting techniques;
April 5,6 & 7: Louis Audie at Ambience Inn, White River, acrylic and oil painting techniques
Contact Daleen Mulder 082 341 5522 or Hannes Scholtz 082 821 5060.
* May 12: a one week EXHIBITION by Stef Botha on CHIMPS in very different poses!! At This and That, Nelspruit. (See above tel.details.
* May 14 & 15: Ina Moolman (Gauteng) presents a course in Mosaics: “Create a journey mirror”,
Please contact Daleen Mulder (above) for details of cost and venue.
· May 28, 29 & 30: Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning UPLANDS Art Festival: for details contact Sally Bakken at Uplands School, White River or 083 297 1660, e-mail GT500@iburst.co.za.
3 * Then later in the year there are:
- Portrait workshop by Heidi Beyers (Gauteng) 4 days in August (Daleen Mulder);
- Submissions for the Eisteddfod for adult artists (Odette Espach);
- In August Ilona Petzer and Yvonne Ankerman will tell us all about their two months art experience in Paris, plus a workshop on marketing and etching;
- September sees the Eisteddfod at the Civic Centre, Nelspruit; LAA has been invited to exhibit work during Gala evenings
- Innibos takes place in September this year, after the World Cup, with the art being exhibited at the Mercure Hotel, Nelspruit.
- Talk by Tabita Sales on her thesis ( art)
- Woodturning workshop by Butch Smuts ART CLASSES These are ongoing at: - This and That on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays : Odette Powell, Heila van der Merwe and Yvonne Ankerman - and Mica on Weekdays and Saturdays: contact Sarah Koster.
GALLERYAnd now a little about the Potential Gallery!Firstly, the WILD FIG spot: There is an old General Dealer’s shop/building on the Vergenoeg road just next to da Loose Mongoose. The developers of the Wild Fig Country Estate bought this building as part of the whole estate property. After an impassioned appeal through the Lowvelder by Ilona Petzer some time ago, Susanna Oosthuizen, from Wild Fig, contacted us offering this building. We took a look! First impressions were “Urgh” but then we saw past the peeling paint and broken windows and, Wow, the possibilities struck us. Here is a large exhibition area, a place for workshops, an office, a tea garden outside and plenty of parking, with water and electricity right here.And it is situated on the Rocky Drift to the KMI Airport road, with the likes of Bosch Pottery Studio and the Eloffs on the same road. Can you see the start of an Artists’ Meander to compete with the Midlands? It will not too be far from Nelspruit and will give folk in White River (at last) something to boast about.
We made a proposal and the developers made their offer. They are prepared to let us the “gallery” rent free for 7 years, provided we fix it up. We are now doing our homework and are looking at some of the more important details plus a more realistic costing than our first cost try.
If we succeed, then we will need some R150 to 200,000 to cover building material, paints, lighting, security, etc. etc. plus the labour. We will, of course, be making all sorts of appeals for help, be it with second hand building material and paint, plus heaps of that stuff called “sweat equity”, or elbow grease! Rest assured, if it’s all OK, you’ll be the first to know!
Secondly, the existing Gallery at CASTERBRIDGE:
There is an art gallery at Casterbridge, just outside White River on the Hazyview road We have approached the owners of the complex about allowing us take over so that we can have on-going exhibitions and workshops there. Of course, we would have to pay a rental , generating the income would thus be important
The main argument in favour of this venue is that it is in a diverse and a thriving shopping center, so there are many more feet every day. Security is better; located next to a hotel and restaurant.
Either way, your committee is doing all we can to make the gallery dream come true!!
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DO YOU RECOGNISE THIS from the last News Letter? Well, it still applies!!For us to achieve anything of consequence we need a strong base. You have received this Newsletter because you are a member, but there are many artists out there who are not yet members. Please encourage them to contact Sarah Koster, at Mica, or Ilona, Annemarie or Rob for membership application forms.(membership forms will also be published on the website) The cost of R150 per year(this year’s fee is now due)
JJJThe Crit If you’re not satisfied with your work, you’re in good company. Turner and Matisse used to sneak into museums and exhibitions with their paints to touch up their paintings (and give the guards fits). Maybe they’re masochists, but maybe painters willingly submit their work to (often harsh) criticism in classes and workshops. Most painters probably don’t get as much out of the crit as they could. They pay too much attention to the instructor’s comments about their paintings and then turn a deaf ear to his comments about everyone else’s work. Think of the crit as an opportunity to visit a museum or exhibition with your instructor as a knowledgeable tour guide. The crit is your opportunity to study and learn from many different paintings. Painters usually do not submit unfinished work to the crit, could that be a mistake?. Not only is your ego less fragile when the work is unfinished, but also you’re more likely to consider the instructor’s comments in finishing the piece. Never make the changes an instructor suggests unless you agree with him. It is, after all, your painting. Some things are better the first time, but painting is not among them. Your next painting will be better than your previous painting – guaranteed! JJJ ** If you don’t like it, it will be for one of three reasons: - bad shapes - not enough entertainment - beaten to death. (Edgar Whitney)Remember:
website ; http://www.lowveldart.co.za/ our blog site : http:// associationartslowveld.blogspot.comour e-mail : lowveldasart@yahoo.com
E mail for pics on web : gallery@lowveld art.co.za
Email for crits: : critics@lowveldart.co.za postal address : P O Box 18132, Nelspruit, 1200Editor (Rob) : tel. 013-750 0700, 082 753 6019 Have fun painting, creating and sharing by selling those products of God-given talents.
Greetings, Rob McQueen (The artist in me looks from outside!)
