'Where are the young white women?, asks Linda Stupart in her
review of 'Second to None' at the SANG this month, noting that while the older generations are represented, the rising artists on the show seem to be almost exclusively black. Do curators ever get the balance of age/gender/race right? Should they have to?
A difficult question, but there is no doubt that the up and coming generation of women artists comprise a vociferous and assertive group, and it's great to watch them making their mark on the art world.
At the same time, we should remain constantly aware of just how difficult it is for many young black wannabe artists to find the means and the place to learn their trade in the first place. Thus, when AMAC - which incorporates the legendary Community Arts Project - announces that it is desperately in need of a cash infusion to keep its doors open for its students, it is hoped that the local art community will respond. These young students are serious about their ambitions, and they need our support.
An art auction and concert will take place later this month, with tickets from R80 to R150 - see NEWS. And FEEDBACK features two responses to Malcolm Payne's Opinion piece last month on the value - or not - of biennales.
Finally, for those not lucky enough to live in Cape Town, BBCTV provides a glimpse into the city's art world in July, with 'Art Destination: Cape Town'. See NEWS for dates and times.
Sue Williamson
Editor
Next update: Friday, August 4
CAPE
July looks set to be a good one for Cape Town's more light-hearted gallery goer. There are two portrait shows - 'Face Off' at Bell-Roberts and an all singing, all dancing open exhibition at the AVA which promises to be loads of fun and should reveal a few gems. Meanwhile, James Webb fiddles with the electrics at blank projects, Bell-Roberts hosts Anita Van Tonder's playful sculptures and what if the world... sells art for children. At the SANG, new shows 'Second to None' and 'Body and Soul' focus on (mainly) women artists
GAUTENG
Highlights in Gauteng include two retrospectives: veteran painter Cecil Skotnes at the Goodman Gallery and the late Bill Ainslie at Afronova. Wim Botha's Standard Bank Young Artist Award show has finally arrived in Johannesburg and Jan van der Merwe shows at the Pretoria Art Museum.
KWAZULU-NATAL
This month sees the 'FNB Craft Now' awards at the KZNSA Gallery; artist Philemon Sangweni is acknowledged for his 30 year contribution to the art world as the African Art Centre's Artist of the Year, and the Durban Art Gallery hosts a retrospective of photographer Omar Badsha's work.
INTERNATIONAL
Internationally prolific artists Kendell Geers and Candice Breitz both take part in big group affairs in Europe this month. Andries Botha shows some life-size elephants on a beach in Belgium, and 'Snap Judgments' moves to Miami. Jane Alexander is included in a show about the Dalai Lama in California. The National Museum of African Art in Washington DC holds a group exhibition of contemporary artists entitled 'Body of Evidence'. Robin Rhode shows both in Berlin and Tokyo.
CAPE
Robert Troon gets to grips with James Webb's installation at blank projects, while Linda Stupart reviews two large and important group shows - 'Second to None' at Iziko SANG and 'Distant Relatives/Relative Distance' at Michael Stevenson Contemporary..
GAUTENG
Michael Smith reviews Anton Kannemeyer's 'More Days of My LIves' at Art on Paper, a gallery which is becoming increasingly prominent of late.
KWAZULU NATAL
Storm Janse van Rensburg returned to Durban for 'Red Eye: Access Denied/ Access Granted' which left him with mixed feelings. Francesca Verga reports on the refurbishment of the Durban Art Gallery's water closets by Peter Engblom.
LOCAL
MTN launches Messages and Meaning, an extensive catalogue of their collection. In her discussion of several new websites and blogspots, Linda Stupart details just what art blogs can do for you. Sole South African representative at the Basel Art Fair, the Goodman, sold a surprising number of Frances Goodman's works within the first 24 hours. Francesca Verga reports on the winners of 'START: The Nivea Art Awards', while well known Grahamstown artist and academic Dominic Thorburn withdraws his work from Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum's (NMMAM) Biennial Exhibition in reaction to the all-white selection of artists. Arts and Media Access Centre (AMAC), the organisation formed from the merger of CAP and Mediaworks, is holding a benefit concert and art auction, and, part of a series on 10 cities around the world considered important for the vibrancy of their art, 'Destination Art: Cape Town' will be shown on BBC World TV in July.
INTERNATIONAL
Ruth Sacks reports back from the Trienal de Luanda and Carol Brown recently attended the opening of new museum called Quai Branly in Paris. Jane Alexander, Guy Tillim, Mustafa Maluka and Pieter Hugo have been selected to take part in the Sao Paulo Bienal.
The editor downs flaming shooters at a braai to celebrate the 6/06/06, lunches with artists from other parts of Africa, is impressed by Cape Town's first Book Fair, and stunned by Kentridge's 'Black Box' at the JAG.
This month we feature Cecil Skotnes, whose 80th birthday is marked by a retrospective at the Goodman Gallery.
Carine Zaayman visits www.whatiftheworld.com, the vibrant and active site of the Cape Town gallery by the same name.
Carine Zaayman spends some time perusing Michael MacGarry's www.alltheorynopractice.com
Amongst other things, Sasol New Signatures calls for entries, CAPE Africa Platform invites participation in X-CAPE and Iziko SANG announces a Mentorship Programme for a Trainee Curator of Contemporary Art. Frieze magazine launches an art writer's prize.
Malcolm Payne's Opinion last month provoked responses from both Pissarra himself and Pietermaritzburg artist and regular correspondent Gavin Anderson.
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