Visitors to this year’s Harcourts Hilton Art in the Country exhibition will be greeted by a riot of colour.
Sixty-seven artists are currently displaying their paintings, drawings, linocuts and ceramics at Harrington House, which is based on the Hilton College Road.
Speaking at the opening of the event on Thursday evening, one of the country’s leading artists David Johnson paid tribute to convenor Kathy Jacob for having the vision and drive to create “the best event of its kind in South Africa”.
With well over 1 000 artists making a living from their work, Art in the Country offers a unique platform that brings together some of the country’s top exponents in this magnificent setting
Speaking on behalf of headline sponsor, Harcourts Hilton, David Wilkes said the event was helping to promote the KZN Midlands, adding: “We’re proud to be associated with Art in the Country and look forward to another memorable and rewarding even.”
uMngeni Deputy Mayor Sandile Mnikathi, who joined Jacob to cut the ribbon and formally open the exhibition agreed, saying that Art in the Country was a key event on the local tourism calendar and was helping to spread the word about what the KZN Midlands had to offer visitors.
Among the many artists showing their work at the selling exhibition are linocut specialist Siya Ngubane from Pietermaritzburg, whose impressive works include beautifully crafted portraits in both colour and black and white; Pro Mkhize, from Sweetwaters, who is known for his detailed pencil renderings of fauna and flora subjects, and Mpophomeni-based Muzi Ndlela, who regularly uses a goat motif in his work to affirm his identity as a Zulu person and to guide his journey as an artist.
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There is also a display of glass, ceramics and bronzes made by artists who are showcased at the Zulu Lulu Arthouse at Piggly Wiggly.
Another collective displaying work at Art in the Country is The Drawing Guild, which aims to create a platform for artists who work in pastels, coloured pencils, charcoal and graphite.
In addition to viewing (and buying) the stunning art, visitors can enjoy food from Jackie Cameron’s School of Food and Wine.
Art in the Country runs from Thursday, May 23 to Sunday, May 26. Opening hours: 10 am to 8 pm Thursday to Saturday. 9 am to 4 pm on Sunday.
Entry is R30 (R20 pensioners and R10 pupils). There is ample free parking.