In celebrating the beauty of art, the GFI Gallery in Park Drive opened two exhibitions on Thursday night to highlight the works of artists from across the country.
The opening of the annual Creative Block, coincided with the Regional Ceramics Exhibition, which honoured ceramicists in three categories.
CEO of the Spier Arts Trust, which spearheads the Creative Block, Mirna Wessels, said the project was hosted at various venues across SA and was a safe space for artists to exhibit their talent.
“It is amazing to see how relationships are built and maintained over the years,” Wessels said.
Each year, artists who take part in the project are handed a black block for them to transform in the medium of their choice for presentation and critique.
If an artwork is accepted by the curator the artist is paid immediately, according to the number and size of the block, which is then showcases at venues in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha.
Each block carries a short biography on the artist at the back.
Wessels also paid homage to founder of the Spier Arts Trust, billionaire businessman Richard “Dick” Enthoven, who died last week.
GFI Gallery manager Anna Stewart said it was a wonderful endeavour to bring the two exhibitions together.
Potter and one of the founding members of Ceramics SA, Donve Branch, said the ceramicists had been challenged by load-shedding recently because it could take up to 10 to 12 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply to achieve the perfect piece.
“These are a bunch of brave people trying to defeat the odds,” Branch said.
Founded in 1972, Ceramics SA is the official representative body of potters in Southern Africa.
Its objective is to promote ceramics in Southern Africa by improving the work being produced and to foster an interest in ceramics by the public.
Branch congratulated all the ceramicists whose work will be exhibited until February 4 and handed out awards in various categories, including student, merit and excellence awards.
Sonwabiso Ngcai, who received the excellence award for his work titled, Nkomoni na II, an isiXhosa phrase which loosely translates to “how will it turn out?”, said he was surprised by the recognition.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be recognised for your work,” Ngcai said.
Both exhibitions are open to the public free of charge from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.
The GFI Gallery will be closed for the festive season from December 23 to January 9.
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