From the Director's Desk
Will 2012 be any less strenuous than 2011? Probably not, so here’s wishing you all health, strength, and stamina.
Some sad news. Well known KwaZulu-Natal bead worker, Eunice Cele, died on 24 November last year. Eunice had a very long association with the Gallery, and worked particularly closely with Bryony Clark in developing a range of beaded jewellery designed by Andrew Verster for our shop. The quality of Eunice’s beading is truly exceptional, and we are fortunate to have examples in our permanent collection. Hamba Kahle, Ma.
The Friends of the Tatham Art Gallery (FOTAG) play an increasingly significant role in helping to raise funds for acquisitions to the permanent collection. Our Municipality’s financial situation has not improved to the extent that funds can be diverted from issues of basic service provision. FOTAG is steadily building up an acquisitions fund through various projects. One of these is the Fabulous Picture Show, an auction of small works donated by regional artists. The third annual Show was held at the end of November last year and grossed R60,906.00.
I offered my contributions, and reproduce one of them here because I think you’ll be interested, and might enjoy it. Dare I throw out a challenge to fellow museologists to consider a joint exhibition?
The entire FOTAG committee is to be congratulated for their efforts on behalf of the Gallery. Thanks go to Debbie Whelan who has stood down as Chair, and to Michelle Rall, Vice-Chair, who has decided to move on.
Plans for this year include a staff training and development programme under the guidance of our resident “Granny” (Ouma). I have been increasingly concerned about the knowledge, skills and experience of younger museum practitioners who will assume roles as custodians of our heritage. Museum work at management level is multi-faceted. It requires in-depth knowledge of collections and all aspects of the museum’s functioning.
In addition, management and administrative skills are essential to success for the individual and the institution. Technological advances impact on the very nature of museums and their function in society. My concern is that the central role of the object will be overshadowed in this scenario, and my wish is that we “oldies” prepare young museologists for management positions which protect the centrality of the object. The road ahead for them is not an easy one.
Our Education Officers have been challenged to come up with a fresh approach to programmes relating to temporary exhibitions. Changes in the Matric art curriculum place far more emphasis on process rather than product. Their challenge is to make visual art diaries (process) accessible to viewers in a form other than books, which we would normally display in show cases. Watch this space.
Still on schools, we honour Russell High School by providing them with the Schreiner Gallery for an installation during the time the Matric exhibition is on display. The school has excelled in using waste materials in innovative, creative ways.
So....... a general challenge. Let’s all get creative this year!
Brendan Bell