Opening Evening - Wednesday 24th June 2009

It's said that Home is where the Hearth is..............and so in an attempt to embody all the comforts of home with the added element of beautiful artwork........this is the sight our visitors to the Opening Evening beheld as they walked down the driveway............the braziers set aglow by glorious woodfires set the tone on a superb Winter's night in Durban!!

The tables were set....................

The art was hung......

Not always an easy task to photograph the artwork behind glass....the reflection cannot do these pieces any justice.....but most have appeared on separate posts where the work can be viewed...see Emma Robb, Pearl Murray

An antique kitchen cupboard was used to great effect to display oils by Ronnie Huber -Potted Geraniums, Persimmons and Cutlery (SOLD); Ann Maree Harrington's - A Simple Fare and Sharon Goulding's oil - Agnes of uShaka (SOLD)

An Ethnic Mixed collage by Wendy Ferguson, wildlife - Wild Dog & Zebra (oils)by Louise Roodt ,floral Fantasia (oil)by Janet Gray and portrait Leonardo's Muse (oil)(SOLD) - and large mixed metal and wood Floral piece by Gift Madziva (SOLD) were hung together to create a mini African Renaissance ...

An oil by Corrie Scribante in the traditional Old Masters style - White Roses - looked fabulous against the dark backdrop!!

So too, the works above - back wall - the mixed piece, top left - Point Road/Mahatma Gandhi facade drew many an ooh and an aah. Below that is the peaceful Ashore, an oil by Barbyra Smith. Top Right is an acrylic, Geranium III (SOLD) by Wendy Ferguson and bottom, Harbour (Wilson's Wharf) - an oil by Les Foyn

Adjacent wall - Bev Letard's striking Koi I & II in acrylic inks, as well as Guilia's colourful, contemporary Poppies Aglow 7,8 & 9...also acrylic ink. Below - Poppies, a strong , confident piece in oil by Colleen Barker...and just to the right of that is Emma Robb's - Something of Value.

A study scene was set with the hanging of John Donno's two watercolours.....an interesting theme piece of Stonehenge - a view through the forest entitled Salisbury (top) - and the very peaceful , softly hued Crouch End (bottom).

Hung alongside, are the captivating photographs by Emil von Maltitz - Tintern Abbey, Madonna (somewhere between Mbunbini Abbey and Fangs Pass) and Sunrise over Amphitheatre -see Emil's post made pre Exhibition

Pewter boxes and candle by Carmad Studio and The Porthole - a sculpture by Stan Ferguson, complete the picture.

Another collection that worked well together -Wrapped - an abstract acrylic ink by Guilia hung above the dramatic, Red Sky at Night -Shepherds' Delight by Colleen Barker and the very happy portrait of Mother and Child, Going to Market by Mabel Armitage

Joelle Gibson - of iThemba Lethu (I Have a destiny) delivers her speech...touching hearts and minds with the harsh reality of abandoned or orphaned children as a result of HIV/AIDS and whose lives this non profit organisation sets out to touch, change and bring hope to by facilitating adoption into suitable families.

Book Launch -Palette of a Pondering Poet - an exciting and new happening for a SmART opening evening. Here poet, Allen Foyn delivers
his first reading of the evening

A good time was had by all!!!

Walter Hurlimann and Jeremy Whysall share a funny moment!!!

Ever faithful patrons of the Arts...Vaughan Spaull, Ian & Sharon Marsh

Poet, Allen Foyn ; guest speaker, Joelle Gibson and Exhibitor, Vanessa Hurlimann

Top photo - Guests Michael and Toni Wilkins bump into a friend...small place this Durban...
Above - Louise Roodt (artist) in conversation with one of the guests.

Bottom - in the foreground - Joelle Gibson chats to a guest about iThemba Lethu