On 22 June 2016 the public of Nelson Mandela Bay are invited to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum. An exhibition of highlights titled YEYETHU, SONKE (THIS BELONGS TO ALL OF US): 60 YEARS OF COLLECTING will open to the public on the evening of the 22nd of June. Guests are invited to arrive between 17:30 and 18:00. David Jones, Director of the School of Music Art and Design at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University will open the exhibition. Music will be provided by local musicians, Brown Sugar.
The Art Museum’s collection is one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s greatest cultural treasures. YEYETHU, SONKE (THIS BELONGS TO ALL OF US): 60 YEARS OF COLLECTING reflects on the diversity of the Art Museum’s unique collection of international and local art, craft and design.
The collection has a special focus on the history and character of the Eastern Cape and its relationship to national and international trends. Eastern Cape artists included on the exhibition are Pickford Marriott, Dorothy Kay, Fred Page, Gladys Mgudlandlu, Phil Kolbe, Alexander Podlashuc, Hylton Nel, George Pemba, Hilary Graham, Robert Brooks, Christine Dixie and many others. Also represented are nationally and internationally acclaimed artists Irma Stern, Sydney Kumalo, Walter Battiss, Tommy Motswai, Penny Siopis, William Kentridge, Diane Victor, Steven Cohen and Nandipha Mntambo amongst others.
The craft and design section pays tribute to the Art Museum’s extensive collection of South African ceramics and Southern Nguni textiles and beadwork. Ceramics on display range from a traditional Zulu bear pot by the late Nesta Nala to contemporary works by Hylton Nel. The Art Museum’s collection of Southern Nguni textiles and beadwork is an important archive, recording the history of beadwork design in the Eastern Cape and helps to keep the tradition of beading and beadwork alive in the contemporary communities. Chinese ceramics will also be on display.
International treasures include a selection of Indian miniatures, a work by David Hockney, the recently rediscovered work of British painter LS Lowry and a Chinese ancestor portrait.
A public programme of events will accompany the exhibition.
The Art Museum conservator, Anthony Keogh, will conduct tours of his studio and the art storage areas. Emma O’Brien, Acting Director of the Art Museum, will conduct walkabouts of the highlights exhibition. Amanda Heshu, the Art Museum education assistant, has planned a family workshop.
- 23 June 2016: Behind the scenes tour at 13h00 and an Exhibition walkabout at 15h00
- 24 June 2016: Behind the scenes tour at 15h00
- 26 June 2016: Behind the scenes tour at 11h00 and an Exhibition walkabout at 12h00
- 27 June 2016: Family workshop at 9h00
- 29 June 2016: Exhibition walkabout at 11h00
Please note: Bookings are essential for the family workshop and the behind the scenes tours, as space is limited.
16/60: The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University will be hosting an exhibition of contemporary highlights from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum’s collection at the University’s new Bird Street Gallery. Works on display represent top works collected by the Art Museum between the years 2000 – 2016. This exhibition will be opened on the 29 June by Dr Melanie Hillebrand who recently retired after 29 years as the Director of the Art Museum.
365 DAYS OF ART CAMPAIGN: To compliment the 60th celebration exhibitions the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum will highlight an artwork a day from the Art Museum’s collection of over 6000 objects. The selected works will be profiled on the NMM Art Museum’s Facebook page.
Opening times:
Weekdays: 09h00 – 17h00 (closed Tuesday mornings)
Entrance free.
The Art Museum will be closed weekends and public holidays until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Alan Straton
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