Tatham Art Gallery

From the Director's desk

I often wish that two consecutive days at the Gallery were the same. And then I imagine how unutterably boring that would be! No two days are the same there is always something to engage us, to challenge us, to drive us nuts! But there are quiet times, times in which to reflect, research, write. After all, that's an important part of our custodial role.

Somehow, I've managed to make that time. It's taken a while, but I'm now wrapping up a draft of the so-called "centenary publication" six years later! With R258 000.00 for publication promised by the National Lotteries Board the book is becoming a reality. Phumlani and I are working on the design in-house. Please have a little more patience. It will be worth the wait!

All things being equal there should be a new project operating in the Old Presbyterian Church alongside the Msunduzi Music School. This is the Youth Advice Centre, an initiative of the Umsobomvu Youth Trust in partnership with the Msunduzi Municipality. The aim of the centre is to provide young people with information, counseling and access to opportunities for further education. We believe it will increase the number of young people visiting the Gallery.

Over the years there has been talk of creating a secure sculpture garden on the Church Street side of the Gallery. The start of this may well become a reality if enough funds are raised to commission a larger than life bronze based on Michael Mpungose's Soccer Player, a wooden sculpture in the Gallery collection. Whilst this work has particular relevance for our own Maritzburg United Football Club, "the team of choice" in "the City of choice", and the 2010 World Cup, the aim is to extend the sport theme to include works reflecting Pietermaritzburg's involvement in various sports disciplines: cycling, canoeing and marathon running.

Work towards our Contemporary Reflections exhibition which will run from 14 May to 28 June is already in progress. The Exhibitions Committee has selected eight works from the Gallery's permanent collection. A number of local contemporary artists have been invited to reflect on and respond to one of these works. The original works and artists' responses will be exhibited together to provide viewers with insights into how iconic images of the past still have relevance for an ongoing dialogue with the present. To facilitate this process a number of workshops will be held. These will offer artists direction and support in an atmosphere of dialogue with other artists.

Late last year three new members were welcomed to the Board: Vuli Nyoni of the Centre for Visual Art, University of KwaZulu-Natal; Beauty Sekete, community worker with women's groups; and Suren Naidoo, art teacher. David Gush was re-elected Chair, with Terry King as Vice-chair. Due to pressure of work, Hilary Kromberg-Inglis resigned. I thank her for her ideas and commitment.

The Board agreed to retain two contract interns, Sibahle Khanyile and Ntuthuko Nkabane. They will continue assisting with administration and technical issues respectively, whilst furthering their studies. Two interns, Pius Ndlovu and Siphokazi Mlamla, from the Durban University of Technology, will be with us until April. Kobie Venter remains with us in her temporary capacity as Education Officer until such time as a permanent appointment is made. Exhibitions

Brendan Bell

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