SmART's OUT OF THE BOX Exhibition

The last SmArt exhibition of 2009 , "Out of the Box - A Discovery of Perceptions"presented a few challenges , one of which was the very evident global recession and that of the signing up of artists who were happy to tackle the exhibition theme head on....and then of course always the sourcing of a relevant guest speaker.......

Happily, I'm able to say, the challenges were overcome with a resultant succesful and fresh showing of new and vibrant 'Out of the Box' works, an enthusiastic gathering [albeit it on a smaller scale] on the Opening night and the most wonderful, eloquent and passionate guest speaker, Toni Wilkins of COGS who represented Indlela and Door of Hope.

To top it all..........a wonderful Durban evening....without rain!!!

Leigh-Anne and Walter Hurlimann


Often the concern of an opening Evening is about the crowd pull, the numbers attending the Opening...but one thing I've come to realise over time, is that it's more important to get the serious art lovers and buyers in .......the sales at this exhibition were testimony to this fact!!

Ever faithful and enthusiastic patrons, Carol Watkinson [middle] and Pia Paola

Sharon and Ian Marsh[left], Alan Finlay[middle] and Rick Andries[right]

Artist Syd Sellars with the lovely Mrs Sellars

Artist Kerry Michau [left] with invited guests

Larissa Clinton and fellow guest

The ever smiling, Jeremy Whysall

Fellow artists, Jean Whysall, Sharon Goulding and Louise Roodt

John Starmer with fellow guest Rita Moir

Artist Barbyra Smith with invited guest

Milliner Lynette Douglas' hats were a wonderful and completely out-of-the-box addition to the exhibition as well as the very popular pewter work by Carmad Studios [Carole Hardenburg and Maddy Finlay], which all but for a few pieces, sold out at the opening and the next 3 exhibition days.

Jeanette Edwards' pastel entitled "Cherries" and beautiful beadwork by creator Badumile of Badumi Beads, who has just returned from a very exciting and successful show held in Italy.

Finding that which will be held in the light of ' something out of the ordinary' can be quite testing,to say the least, but with the likes of the talented Wendy Ferguson, painter , potter, creator of all things beautiful as in the ceramic Plinths I and II shown above, set off with Badumile's beaded jewellery, Carmad's beautiful pewter and Lynette's Turquoise wide brim with black trim... needless to say....the oohs and aahs abounded!!

Strawbs Philpott's aptly named oil " Chocolate Box"

Kerry Michau's mini abstracts in watercolours formed the perfect backdrop for the pewter
work, jewellery,hat and Plinths

Who says that a Marilyn Monroe [Ma-hi Ma-ho Red Rose-oil by Mabel Armitage]can't be hung with abstracts[acrylics - Trimelbach I and II by Nora Lemmon], a Rose[oil by Lauren Pascal],Zebra[oil by Louise Roodt] and a Rooster [acrylic by Justin Mashora]??

The inspirational work 'Thanksgiving' - an oil by Syd Sellars

Small oil abstract, 'Imagine' to the left is by Beth Cradock who has now sadly left the shores of KZN for the great Gauteng....an artist , art teacher and bubbly personality who'll be missed!!...her work is hung alongside the ever recognizable strong and assertive style of Cheryl Cawdron - this oil entitled "Fantasy Trees"

More of Badumile's evocative beaded jewellery, a necklace with matching bracelet

A gentle watercolour with strong movement, 'The Wave" to the left, shown by newcomer, Karien Hunter hangs adjacent to Wendy Ferguson's 'Nude' in oil

All 3 works in wood and metal shown here by the incredibly talented, Gift Madziva were sold

An oil strong and bold enough to hang with these pieces, was the oil by Maggie Brauteseth, "Galaxy"

My wall of pride and joy.......'Funky Catz' acrylics on canvas by children of Chelsea Prep, Northway Campus
who attended SmArt Art and Craft Extra Mural activities

The fabulous Rooster in oil by Jean Whysall

Ma-hi Ma-ho in White [an oil by Mabel Armitage, thus titled when her paintings of the famous MM were seen and recognized by a Chinese lady at a laudromat , who proclaimed loudly "ahhhhh Ma-hi Ma-ho......" - suffice to say, the name stuck!!!!....and she sits...hangs boldly between 2 rustic pieces by Gift Madziva

Wendy Ferguson's interesting Paper Collage 'The Mountain' placed beside the all too starkly beautiful, Namib oil [bottom] and colour burst Herero, also an oil by Marlene Dickerson

As always, Corrie Scribante's bold, classic Red Roses [oil] hold their own!!!

Justin Mashora's move away from painting cups and bowls to canvasses met with much approval, shown here - his Nguni and Masai Women, in acrylics.

Justin also painted several acrylic bookmarks which sold really well especially given the time of year when many were on the lookout for unusual gifts....what better than an original??

Visitors to the exhibition were met with an array of warm, nature-inspired colours at the front door in the form of an oil by Jean Whysall ' Cape Farm Scene'[top]; Lola - an oil by Sharon Goulding [middle]; an intriguing bead gong entitled 'Old Zululand' by sculptor Stan Ferguson and the striking 'Zebra' oil by Ronnie Huber, accompanied by 3 small pewter planters with cacti by Carmad Studios.

2 more pieces by Syd Sellars...the attention to detail and the fine finish make it hard to believe that they are oils.....Golden Nude [top] and Bronze Lady [bottom]

Marlene Dickerson's Umhlanga Seascape...a powerful,stand alone work in oil stands on an easel just ahead of Louise Roodt's captivating portrait in oils with a sepia palette, Enthralled
and Beth Cradock's acrylic Flower Power

A corner with Pizazz....milliner Lynette Douglas' bold Purple Christmas Cocktail hat compliments Gift Madziva's metal work Saxophone

On the left, the fine art of Ronnie Huber, an oil 'Ceramic Plate with Pomegranates' ...testimony to Ronnie's ability to paint diverse styles and subjects, always producing sought after works of art ....
Centrally placed is the diptych 'Harbour Wall - Gulls' an acrylic in calm,subtle shades of greys and blues by Wendy Ferguson.

This is flanked by another of Wendy's creative pieces, a paper
collage entitled, Avenue...

Dayzee Dolomite.....yip...what's in a name after all???.....except that it fits the bill of all things photographed by this first time exhibitor.....Rust I and II are striking pieces, photos able to hold their own hung adjacently to that of Marlene Dickerson's majestic oil, Zebra

As always...the one to draw attention simply by choice of subject matter, Sharon Goulding did it again.....Sipho, an oil of a young boy.... set apart by fine detail and captured character

Gift's African Pot and Torso provide the backdrop for more pewter by Carmad Studio and very snazzy striped and spotted caps by Lynette Douglas

Hungarian Rosepink felt was used by Lynette to produce the very lovely, stylish hat placed
here next to Brenda Andries' colourful piece in oil, Figs....this was Brenda's first showing.

Left of the photo is Jeanette Edwards' oil Freedom,Living on the Edge
Below that is Stan Ferguson's wonderful creation of brass and copper pipes entitled Mardi Gras...you could almost hear the music.....

Adjacent wall, left - Cheryl Cawdron's striking oils On the Slope, again hung next to the bold work of Beth Craddock, an oil entitled Black Magic...does the name Tretchikoff ring a bell here??...as well as the small floral oil above, Happiness

The gorgeous oils of the 2 ostrich......When Harry met Sally are by none other than the effervescent, Sharon Goulding

Ma- Hi Ma- Ho does her thing again...this time in a Red Dress and compliments the beautiful Roses painted especially with the theme in mind, by Jean Whysall and the oil of the seemingly endless Road to Nowhere by Beth Cradock.

Something well worth mentioning is that for the second time on a Smart exhibition, a painting was bought as a surprise gift by a husband for his wife as an anniversary present...this time it was Jean's Roses...the art must bring out the romantic in men!!!...

Just to the left of the photo, under the white twigs are the detailed pen on paper works, Blue Mood by
Cherise Daniel-Griffiths...a newcomer to SmArt exhibitions

One of my favourite walls, the monochromatic works created a striking show .

To the extreme left and down are Stan Ferguson's contemporary, abstract pieces "White Boxes"
Central to the picture and creating the desired dramatic effect are the well known artist, Kerry Michau's beautifully framed mixed media, Seated Lady and Lady in Waiting II....

Below are 2 pencil sketches by the talented young artist, Charne Donaldson, Hidden [left - SOLD] and Jeremy Chews [right - Giraffe]

To the right and at the top is an interesting piece with depth by Charne, Beaded Lady [tracing paper, charcoal and beads]...and below that is a framed ink on paper work by another newcomer, Janine Steenhuisen, entitled ' A Spray of Flowers'

To draw this Out of the Box post to a close...another look at the work of the artists of tomorrow......just love it!!!