It may be a brand new year, but some things will remain the same at Gqeberha’s GFI Art Gallery in Park Drive.
As the gallery ushers in the new year, art lovers who missed two of 2021’s art exhibitions — Creative Block 2021 and Eastern Cape Regional Ceramics — have until Wednesday to visit the gallery for a viewing.
The national Creative Block exhibition highlights the resilience and imagination of the artistic soul by displaying art pieces by more than 250 artists.
Each unique Creative Block artwork represents the artists’ individual stories, subject matter, and style.
“Colourful, contrasting and ever-evolving, the Creative Block collection is the result of a one-of-a-kind initiative,” gallery manager Anna Stewart said.
“It’s when [the art pieces] are displayed together that they create something magical — a rich and striking expression of SA culture.”
The exhibition launched virtually in December and will close on January 18.
Of the 250 exhibiting artists from across SA, , nine are from Gqeberha.
The exhibition also includes a sneak peek at an upcoming exhibition from a collaboration between Nando’s and the Spier Arts Trust.
Annually, Nando’s collaborates with the Spier Arts Trust to run Nando’s Creative Exchange programme (NCX), established in 2011.
It recognises emerging Southern African fine artists who demonstrate exceptional ability.
The programme offers selected visual artists exhibition and mentorship opportunities, with art materials sponsorship and an opportunity to have work translated in a different medium in collaboration with Spier Artisan Studios.
All of this was aimed at developing artists’ professional practice, Stewart said.
The artists selected for the 2021 NCX were Adrian Owen, Eric Rantisi, Llise Dodd and Mongezi Ncombo.
Together, and with the help of their mentor, Bretten-Anne Moolman, they created a group exhibition titled “Life — we get the picture”, which was showcased at the AVA Gallery in Cape Town and will be open for public viewing at the GFI Art Gallery in Gqeberha from January 28.
Leading up to the exhibition, a showcase of some of the artworks was launched on December 2 with the Creative Block exhibition.
While counting down to the NCX, the public can view the Eastern Cape Regional Ceramics exhibition, which also closes on Wednesday.
Founded in 1972, Ceramics Southern Africa is the official representative body of potters in Southern Africa.
The objective of the association is to promote ceramics in Southern Africa by improving the work being produced and to foster an interest in ceramics by the public.
This is done by presenting workshops and organising exhibitions regionally and nationally.
Further, Ceramics Southern Africa seeks is to maintain a representative forum for the encouragement and fostering of the art and craft of ceramics in Southern Africa.
The field encompasses all relevant processes that add value to clay.
The GFI Gallery is open from 10am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.
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