During lockdown, we produced a series of virtual tours of exhibitions to showcase our lockdown exhibitions. We have made virtual tours of exhibitions this year as well.
THROUGH OUR EYES
Celebrating 25 years : Journey to South Africa / Journey to America
There are 31 local Eastern Cape artists who participated in the Through Our Eyes: Journey to America exhibition, whose artworks have travelled to the USA.
The through our eyes exhibition opened on the 23 October 2021 at the Ritz Theatre and Museum in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. The exhibition will close on 30 April 2022.
The Through Our Eyes is an annual exhibition coordinated by the RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. In 2018, this annual exhibition turned 25 and local Jacksonville artists were invited to make works in response to the theme "Journey to South Africa: Struggle & Resistance”.
This artwork exchange was part of the International Partnership between the cities of Nelson Mandela Bay and Jacksonville, USA. The Journey to South Africa: Struggle & Resistance exhibition was on show from 4 December 2019 until 25 March 2020, at the NMM Art Museum in South Africa.
Through Our Eyes: Journey to America - Local Eastern Cape Artists were invited to participate and respond to the artworks of Jacksonville. The selectors selected 33 artists works to be included in the exhibition and 42 artworks were chosen for the South African leg of the exhibition. The Through Our Eyes: Journey to America exhibition was on display at the NMM Art Museum from 14 November 2019 to 31 December 2019.
Due to delays caused by the COVID pandemic, the American exhibition did not return and the South African exhibition was unable to travel to Jacksonville.
The separate shows were on display as one exhibition from 12 December 2020 until the 26 March 2021. The rehanging allowed for dialogue between the two groups of works and created a dynamic exhibition.
CELEBRATING EASTERN CAPE ART
The exhibition showcased selected works by artists who worked and lived (or have worked and lived) in the Eastern Cape and have made a significant contribution to the art of the region. In 2020 the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality through the Red Location Art Gallery and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum invited Eastern Cape artists to submit work for consideration to the Art Collection of the City. A first round of selections took place in May 2021 for selected artists to be included in the exhibition. The works to be purchased for the collection was announced on 24 September 2021.
The exhibitors were: Angie Franke Weisswange, Bretten - Anne Moolman, Bev De Lange, Billie McNaughton, Christine Dixie, Dolla Sapeta, Dorothy Barnes, Greg Kerr, Steven Carter (Joff), Jonathan van der Walt, Kader Abdulla, Khaya Ngcangca, Lez Dor, Lookout Sibanda, Lukho Dyongo, Marc Pradervand, Michael Barry, Mtha Poni, Natasha Bezuidenhout, Sakumzi Nyendwana, Shamin Chibba, Sibusiso Magilindane, Siyavuya Ralo, Sonwabiso Ngcai, Tim Hopwood, Trevor Melville, Wezile Mgibe and Zolani Siphungela.
SKETCHBOOK 3D: CERAMICS
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality through the Red Location Art Gallery and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum invited artists to apply to be part of the Sketchbook ceramics programme. Four selected artists attended an 8-week training programme. Participating artists were: Mzwamadoda Yaya, Ayanda Nkomo, Nomathkazi Skade and Ngqiqo Ruxwana.
MAKING MEANING
On 18th May, Museums around the world celebrated International Museums Day. The theme for 2021 is "The future of Museums: Recover and Re-imagine'. The Art Museum used this theme to reflect through selected works from the collection on how art can be a source of hope and resilience.
The artworks were complimented by the virtual exhibition and lecture, SOUTH AFRICAN CAVES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN HUMANS on loan from the Nelson Mandela University Archives and Exhibition Center
PASSAGE
Selected works from the Art Museum's permanent collection, take the viewer on unique journeys through the past and present, both real and imaginary.
Keith Dietrich retraces colonial and precolonial trade routes through the giant watercolor paintings while Andrietta Wentzel’s twelve sculptural totems invite us all to take the journey of the hero.
Natasha Bezuidenhout’s large-scale ceramic installation is a memory of a life-changing journey made during her childhood while Berni Searle’s video brings attention to the plight of African refugees who risked their lives to get to the Canary Islands in the hope of a better life in Europe.
LITHUBA LAKHO
click here to view the Virtual exhibition
This top Eastern Cape craft exhibition and competition, supports the development of top export quality craft from a diverse range of disciplines. This competition and exhibition is designed to promote excellence in our local craft market.
98 crafters and 349 items were selected from around the Eastern Cape to be included on the exhibition.
The four top winners for the 2020 Lithuba Lakho craft competition in the categories: Homeware, Contemporary Accessories, Apparel and Traditional Accessories are Ludwe Mgolombane (Bumba Art) for his for his ceramic bust titled, WakwaNtu; Peliswa Matinjwa for a set of micro crochet shoes titled, Purple Fusion; Lulama Makha (GREENVILLE TRADING 155 trading as LM THE JUNIOR) ) for his formal Jacket and pants and Nwabisa Mnqumevu for her Black And White Beaded Necklace And Earrings
Special mentions were given to Lisa Walker for her ceramic work titled Protea Jar, Nolindo Siyo for a traditional beaded vest, Judy Savage for her crochet blanket, Adria van Rooyen from Seventy-four for a leather bag, Zamithemba Jolinkomo for a traditional headband and from Blaque Butterfly Holdings for the SA Flag dress.
This project is sponsored by the Eastern Cape Development Agency, Department Small Business Development and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
LIFE IN THE TIME OF COVID
click here to view the virtual exhibition
The exhibition was made up of
three components:
IMAGING THE VOICE: A PHOTO
AND POEM PROJECT BY HELENVALE POETS
The project was
funded through the Nelson Mandela Bay Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture small
grant programme and combines poetry and photography. Poet, mentor and project
leader, Brian Walter, assisted the group by collating over 100 poems and images
into a poetry book and visual exhibition. The poems reflected the experiences of
19 young people living in Helenvale. The poems described the impact of the COVID
pandemic, reflected on life in the Helenvale community and celebrated the
beauty found around us. Contributors, Leonie Williams, Shenesia
Booysen and Charné Williams were team leaders and assisted the younger members
of the group.
SKETCHBOOK:
LIFE IN THE LIFE OF COVID
The Friends of
the Art Museum in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum
sponsored art journals to art groups. Learners in
these groups used their journals to draw and reflect on life during the
COVID pandemic. The groups visited the Art
Museum to produce large scale sketches. The four
participating groups were: Hand in Hand Studio; Artworks for Youth; Iz’koli Art;
Raw Native Kreatives.
WISHING TREE: An
interactive exhibit, Visitors to the exhibition
were invited to write on a piece of paper and add messages of hope to our
wishing tree.
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