Knysna Fine Art – 20th anniversary

Trent Read and myself, back in 2015 when he opened my exhibition at another gallery

I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to work with Trent Read from the Knysna Fine Art Gallery for more than a decade. So I am feeling very excited and chuffed that my work will be included in a group exhibition (curated by Corlie de Kock) to celebrate the 20th Anniversary and this milestone with this gallery. The exhibition will open on the 9th of November 2017!

So I thought I will compile a ‘throwback-tribute” of some selected exhibitions I’ve had the honour of showcasing at Knysna Fine Art Gallery!

It all started back in 2003, when Trent Read gave me my first gallery show with an exhibition titled: “Siembamba, (the toys are us)”

back then I was experimenting with different mediums for example: plaster of paris and found objects; as well as Polaroids, and charcoal drawings

Trent was always very supportive and patient while I experimented with different mediums. “Cutting edge” followed in 2004: (unfortunately I do not have a lot of photographs from this exhibition):

by then I fell in love with saw-blades and dress-making pattern paper.

Trent has never been afraid of taking risks, and showcasing some daring exhibitions in a small town. Shelf life in 2007 was a very fun and interesting project curated by Belinda Blignaut. It was the first time I undertook the process of a big installation. It basically contained elements of my processes, inspirations, experiments and works from 2002 until 2007

shelf-life, installation view 1

Installation view – shelf life

No strings attached followed in 2009: By then my son was born and I worked mostly with Dress-making Pattern Paper – interesting to look back now and see some experiments with stitching too…

and as you can see…’toys’ have always played a part in my work

as well as altered photographs

and more recently

2016 Implanted Memories:

It has been quite a journey, I’ve also met some amazing artists and collectors along the way! With some I even still have contact today. Thank you to all for the support and encouragement.

And a big thanks to the staff from Knysna Fine Art…it has been a wonderful experience to be able to work with you.

Congratulations!

Two decades is a milestone in any business but to survive as a gallery in a small town is quite special. As in any worthwhile journey there have been difficult times and none more so than the recent fires in Knysna which were an existential threat to the entire community. The reason we have succeeded is twofold – the support, work and friendship of wonderful artists and the same support and friendship from clients from across the country and around the world.

This anniversary exhibition also introduces our new curator, Corlie de Kock, and welcomes her to Knysna.

We would really love you to join us at the celebratory party if possible but do come and see us whenever you are in this wonderful part of the world.

Trent Read 2017

Tying the knot and Forget-me-not

Studio news/blog

“Forget-me-not” (Myositis arvensis) 64 x 51 cm Cotton thread and rubber 2017

Forget-me-not will be hanging out at “Incognito”, my 10th solo, which opens on the 23rd of September 2017….wow…that’s in 3 days guys-

I am feeling excited, happy, anxious, nervous, tired. Also coping with a whole lot of other unidentifiable feelings.

I don’t think that it’s only the upcoming exhibition that makes me feel this way. I don’t know about you, but this time of year it feels like everything, especially mister Time is on a runaway train until the second week in December.

Anyway, while we are on the subject of time and unforgettable days: …

We are celebrating our 15th Wedding anniversary tomorrow. 😀

If I had to sum up our marriage in a couple of words, it will be: playful, fun, happy, supportive and loving.

Or our dear friends that know us well, would probably agree that our marriage can be described like this as well:

“Look for your other half

who walks always next to you

and tends to be what you aren’t”

-Antonio Machado-

Thanks for visiting!

Art portfolio- my work

So “WordPress” send me a notification to tell me it’s my 4th year blogging anniversary! 4th year…wow time flies!

Visiting cards became an indispensable tool of etiquette, with sophisticated rules governing their use. The essential convention was that one person would not expect to see another person in his own home (unless invited or introduced) without first leaving his visiting card for the person at his home. Upon leaving the card, he would not expect to be admitted at first, but might receive a card at his own home in response. This would serve as a signal that a personal visit and meeting at home would be welcome. On the other hand, if no card were forthcoming, or if a card were sent in an envelope, a personal visit was thereby discouraged. (from Wikipedia)

Thank you to Robert Hamblin for a relaxed photo-shoot (I get nervous in front of camera’s 😉 …

check out his site for more amazing photography!

and

Thank you to a local business: Pakketmoles who designed my new ‘visiting card”

and last but not least….

Thank YOU dear visitor for visiting my site! xx

6 and 20

Art portfolio- my work

My little boy, my firstborn is celebrating his 6^th year on this planet today.

A lighthouse. Drawing by my son.

On one hand I wish I can keep/freeze/pause him at this age. This seems like a magical age, where what mommy says is still word. Where Santa Clause and the tooth mouse are still real. Where magic can be found in nature and where the mystery of electricity fascinates his little sponge like mind. He is very curious by nature and wants to know a lot. I learn with him. Besides tractors, volcanoes, dragons and plants (especially hibiscus and bonsai’s) – his latest fascination lies with Lighthouses.

I think it has more to do with the power of the wave’s crashing against a manmade thing and it doesn’t break. He has been testing his strength against the waves this past holiday, and he saw the lighthouse at our harbour in battle with waves at high tide; but his ultimate favourite is this video on YouTube. (I indulge my children and when I see a spark of interest I go on info hunting with them.) I thought it might be a brilliant time to discuss electricity and its uses and luckily they had this great book at the library and we found this lovely project to do:

page from the book called: “Laat dit werk! Elektrisiteit” by Baker and Haslam

I wondered how long his yearning to become a farmer would last, and last week he told me he decided he doesn’t want to be a farmer anymore. He wants to become a lighthouse-keeper.

In the meantime, while he decides, we are off to the local nursery to buy his bonsai (that’s what he wants for his birthday), and I need to get to the library to find some bonsai books (Because this mommy is clueless about little tiny trees…)

What I do know is that the ABSA Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) is celebrating their 20^th anniversary this year and I am super excited to exhibit and be part of their Visual Arts Program. You can view the full program here….

And check out the visual arts program here….I am blessed to be in the company of all these artists

And a little bit more about my exhibition during the festival here………

And on that note I would like to end this post with a song:

(“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”)

Sing along here