Final days for the donkeys

Art portfolio- my work

It is the final week to see True Fall, a group exhibition at Gallery Grande Provence.

for those of you who cannot make it to Franschoek, here is an installation view courtesy of the gallery

alternatively please pop in and say hi to “The donkeys grew ears”

Little did I know while I was working on this piece that donkeys will be in the news this months due to the “illegal donkey skin trade” and I quote:

“International organisation The Donkey Sanctuary said donkeys have become the most trafficked animal in the world, with more than two million slaughtered for their skins every year.”

https://www.news24.com/witness/news/kzn/donkeys-named-one-of-the-most-trafficked-animals-in-the-world-20220518

I don’t want to end this post on such a sad note, so I thought I will share some of the lyrics from a song we used to sing when I was little:

O die donkie, ja die donkie
Die donkie is ‘n wonderlike ding
Die donkie is ‘n bielie hy’s ‘n boetie van ‘n muil
Sien die een die ander dan begin hy sommer huil ja die donkie

O die donkie
Die donkie is ‘n wonderlike ding
Hy rol in die sand en hy vreet ‘n koerant o die donkie is ‘n wonderlike ding

song by Chris Blignaut

to translate:

  • Oh the donkey, yes the donkey
  • The donkey is a wonderful thing
  • The donkey is a bitch he is a brother of a mule
  • See each other then he just starts crying yes the donkey
  • Oh the donkey
  • The donkey is a wonderful thing
  • He rolls in the sand and he eats a newspaper oh the donkey is a wonderful thing

So yes, I feel like eating the newspaper report to wipe out the sad news about the donkeys.

Anyway for more details about this work feel free to contact the gallery at Grande Provence

Take care and keep well. xxx

Angels – group exhibition

Art portfolio- my work, Studio news/blog

Altered pages, with embroidered rubber 2017

Dear friends,

“Angels” a group exhibition at the gallery of Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate opens today at 12 o’clock and you are invited if you are in the area:

 

I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels… – lyrics from the song: I have a dream by ABBA

The work “Exit to exist” will also be hanging out with the Angles at the gallery.

Also do pop in for a glass of Angels Tears, if you are in the area, The Wine Estate will be launching their “Angels Tears” wine in conjunction with the exhibition.

 

Spring/Summer studio newsletter

Art portfolio- my work, Studio news

Pincushion (Leucospermum) Cotton thread and rubber 77 x 75 cm

Dear Friends,

It is September already, and Spring is in the air!

I am happy to tell you that my work arrived safe and sound in Australia. “Incognito” my first solo exhibition at MContemporary gallery in Sydney opens on the 23rd of September 2017.  I will not be able to attend the opening, but if you have friends or family in that area, please spread the word.

For this upcoming solo exhibition, Incognito, I am inspired by flowers with interesting common names. By combining flowers with self-portraits and animal skulls I wanted to create masks, concealing the true identity.

Black-eyed Susan 60 x 30 x 25 cm

You are welcome to visit the gallery’s page (here) to get a preview of the work for this show, but I will also post images here during the course of this month…

In the meanwhile I am busy preparing for another solo exhibition titled : “Come hell or high water” which will open on the 5th of October 2017 at Lizamore and Associates gallery in Johannesburg.

Come hell or high water – cotton thread, felt and rubber 63 x 102 cm

but more about this at a later stage.

In early November the gallery Knysna Fine Art turns 20! They will be hosting an extraordinary group exhibition to celebrate this milestone. I am thrilled and honoured to take part in this exhibition since this gallery was the first to give me a show back in 2003!

 

And then the final news-snippet for today:

I am looking forward to participate in a group exhibition at Grande Provence in collaboration with the wine estate around their range of Angel Tears wine in December this year.

On that note, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, enjoy the sunny days, and if you are more North, I hope you experience a lovely Autumn/Winter.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go blow up some balloons since my little boy is celebrating his 7th birthday today xxx

“Sir” Stephan is 7!