Fat Tuesday

The store is closed for Stock Take on Monday 27 February, Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 29 February 2012. The gallery is open as usual.

Due to the changes taking place in the gallery we have taken the decision to no longer host classes at Fat Tuesday. We would, however, still like to encourage creativity and will be able to put you in contact with teachers giving classes in their own studios. Keep a look out for the changes to our website where there will be photo's, contact numbers and advise on which teacher to choose. 

Join us as we open our exhibition "in celebration"hosting the artwork of 16 artists. Drawing, painting, design and photography will share the walls. Bellevue Cafe will be serving Jambalaya, Gumbo and other Cajun delights. There is a cash bar, a photo booth, The South Jersey Pom Poms and fire dancers, jugglers......this is bound to be the most fun you'll have this year!

questions and answers with Coral and Di on Saturday the 17th December 2011 at 10.30am

 

PLEASE NOTE WE ARE CLOSED ON

26 DECEMBER 2011 AND 2 JANUARY 2012

THE GALLERY IS CLOSED ON THURS 15 DEC 2011 FOR A PRIVATE FUNCTION BUT THE SHOP IS OPEN AS USUAL.

 

TRADING HOURS

MON - FRI 8AM - 4.30PM

SAT & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 9AM - 2PM

We have a private function in the gallery all day. Please dont choose today to pop in and see the latest exhibition. The shop is open as usual and the gallery will be back to normal tomorrow (Sat 10 Dec). So sorry if this messes with your plans.

Lifelines is a collaborative exhibition by Coral Spencer and Di van Wyk.

Both artists have drawn their inspiration from past photographs and memories to  form the two ribbons of artwork that run the length of the gallery.
The images are nostalgic and emotive.

What is also interesting is how the two dialogues compliment each other.Prices vary according to size.

The opening reception is at 6pm Monday the 5th of December 2011

We had a fabulous day with Tina Bester yesterday. She came to sign her newest book "Celebrate" and meet our wonderful customers. Melany made the eats from recipes in Tina's book and Xavier took the photographs.

Thanks to Caryn from Quivertree Publishers who joined us and arranged the media.

Join us on Saturday the 19th of November 2011 at 10am for a walk about with artists's Sue Whitmore and Anne Cleveland. They will walk through the exhibition chatting about their technique and explaining the thoughts behind the artworks.

It is also Fat Tuesday's 4th birthday so we will be enjoying some cake and champagne too!

Opening Tuesday 15 November 2011 at 6pm with a walk about on Saturday 19 November 2011 at 10am

Sue Whitmore and Anne Cleveland are having a combined exhibition but with 2 titles.
Each artist will use a seperate wall to present their paintings.

 Carpe Diem by Sue Whitmore

Watching your child grow up brings with it a rollercoaster of emotions – emotions that are stronger and deeper than one would ever have imagined. It also opens your eyes to things that, we as adults, tend to forget as we prioritize, organize and structure our lives. As an only child, my son has always surrounded himself with friends, keeping our home alive with kids, noise and laughter. As I grow older and hopefully wiser, I have started to notice the incredible value of innocence, of seizing the moment and living it with the abandonment of pure unfettered enthusiasm. Hence the theme of this exhibition” Carpe Diem”.

It all started with a few random sketches of Matthew and his friends at the beach and progressed to more and more time filled with capturing moments in their lives. Thinking about “seizing the moment”, I started to notice so many more instances of this “joie de vivre” in life. People of all ages have times that lift them from the mundane and elevate the moment to one of uncomplicated happiness. Even the joy of inhaling the scents of the early morning in the garden and picking a random bunch of flowers to drench your home with that sweetness. I once read what I believe to be inspirational words on how to be an artist and I have kept these words to remind myself when I forget. I believe we should all live our lives like this so read on and consider freeing up your responsibilities to capture the moments out there.

“HOW TO BE AN ARTIST”

Stay loose, learn to watch snails, plant gardens, make friends with freedom and uncertainty, look forward to dreams, cry during movies, swing as high as you can on a swing by moonlight, refuse to be “responsible”, do it for love, smell the flowers, take lots of naps, give money away, do it now the money will follow, believe in magic, laugh a lot, celebrate every gorgeous moment, take moonbaths, have wild imaginings, giggle with children, listen to old people, open up, dive in, be free, bless yourself, drive away fear, play with everything, entertain your inner child, get wet, hug trees, write love letters and CARPE DIEM.

Painting for this exhibition has not only been an artistic journey, it has also been a journey of incredible awareness to those moments in life that make our souls sing and our hearts peaceful. I hope that you will enjoy the art as much as I enjoyed creating it.

 

CONSERVATION OF WETLANDS by Anne Cleveland

 

Habitat of Waterbirds

My deep interest in birds started when I was a child in England. Many people feed birds there, especially in the snowy winter months when food is scarce, and many varieties of bird become very tame. The different species have distinct characters and their antics fascinated me as a child.

Here in South Africa there are a much greater variety of species, ranging in nature from shy and retiring, to flamboyant players in the theatre of life.

Conservationists have in recent time started working closely with farmers to try to avoid the extinction of species through poisoning, and they are having some success.

A most noticeable example has been in the southern Drakensberg. Early this month I saw a very large flock of over 40 crowned cranes performing their mating dances in harvested maize land and it was evident that farmers in this area are using less pesticides and helping to re-establish the balance of nature. These Crowned Cranes, on the highly endangered list, are becoming far more prevalent in this area of the Drakensberg.

I have made a small collection of paintings of waterbirds, to share my interest and also to highlight certain characteristics.

 

Just arrived from the UK - Roger la Borde Jubilee Tea Towels and Aprons. we just love the quality and vibrant colour.

We have had a lot of interest in the classes but it seems when we get to the swings few people are able
to make the dates we offer or just dont pitch if something better comes up.
You can imagine our frustration in trying to keep teachers and students happy. Never mind keeping the cake fresh!

With this in mind we have decided to restrict the classes to 3 months of the year. Quite possibly April, May and June 2012.
We will still be offering the following:

• Creative Writing
• Bookmaking
• Cartooning
• Watercolour painting
• Fun Clay Sculpture
• Photography
• Paper Making
• Google Sketch Up
• Blogging
• Wet felting

If any of these appeal to you and you are keen to try a class during those months then send us an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 

 

 

 Because Christmas is around the corner we have lots of new stock arriving every day.
 The favourite at the moment just has to be these boxers. They are for meant for men but with   such fabulous designs the ladies are wearing them too as sleep shorts.

They come in a beautiful box with a padded lid that compliments the shorts inside.

Just had to share this bit of Fat News!

 Into the Light

25 October 2011 - 12 November 2011

The works in this exhibition represent some of the best images of a number of years of doing work for the Ubuntu Community Chest, Durban. The Chest, 80 years old this year was founded in 1931 by the citizens of Durban, and spearheaded by then Mayor Greenacre.

To this day, it relies on donor support from individuals, companies and trusts. Some organizations have been supporting the Chest for the full 80 years of its existence. The Chest in turn helps support nearly 100 charities across Durban, ranging from the young, to the old, to the mentally challenged and the terminally ill. It has a proud history of volunteerism and non-corruption and is one of Durban's most worthy causes.

The aim of this exhibition is to both celebrate the 80 years that the Ubuntu Community Chest, Durban has worked for the citizens of Durban, and also to create awareness of the valuable work it does.

Peter Bendheim is a documentary photographer from Durban, South Africa.

His work has been published in a number of books, magazines and other publications.

He has had several exhibitions, both solo and group. His solo exhibition, "Snaps" is part of the Durban Art Gallery's collection.

His interests lie in documenting people and places, with a preference for city life across the world, and for social issues, believing that images can alter our perceptions and drive us to our own social action, no matter how big or how small that may be.

Images are a limited series of 5 each printed on fine art paper. Unframed prints signed and numbered and are R1000 each. All proceeds are for charity and not for the photographer.

 All are invited to attend the opening tonight at 6pm

 Parking is on the Campus grounds and please remember there will be a cash bar.
 Bellevue Cafe is open for those wanting to stay for dinner but book a table to avoid
 disappointment.

 Jeff will be hosting a walk about on Saturday at 10am to discuss the work.

Artist’s Statement

My affair with Printmaking began as an art student in
Durban and the UK in the early 1970’s. It continues today at the Albatross
Studio, which I built next to my home on the East Cape coast, having settled
here in 1993.

In this place of thornbush, stunning beauty and
conflicted history, I’ve found myself working on woodcuts for 10 years or so,
because the medium relates to the place. The block is normally used to produce
print editions, but I’ve also enjoyed seeing the original block become the
artwork, a vessel to carry my subject, defined by the relief of the surface and
colours in mixed media.

I have also had the need to revisit my love of drawing.
As well as woodcut, this exhibition includes a mix of drawing and the lush inked
colours of monotype. Most of the works are small in scale; all of them are
vessels for the metaphors I use, for stories told in this peculiar paradise of
mind and place.

About the Artist:

Jeff’s work is in public and private collections in South Africa, Europe, North America and Asia.
In the past 2 years he has exhibited at ArtSpace Durban, Ann Bryant Gallery (East
London), and at the CoMix 2011 show at National Arts Fest (Grahamstown); after
the Fat Tuesday exhibition he will be sharing a show at the Ann Bryant Gallery
with his students from the Albatross Studio.

Greg Hayes qualified as a master print maker in Albequerque USA after studing fine art at Durban Tech.Here are some pictures of Greg at work on the press.

check out the Mioja website to see more about this fabulous "no nasties" product.