Magical NEW ART SPACE OPENS IN HILTON
Not even Hilton’s notoriously mercurial weather could put a dampner on the celebrations to mark the opening of Gallery ZAZA in Hilton Avenue on October 3.
The latest artistic space in the KZN Midlands is the brainchild of muralist and street artist, Jono Hornby, who has already made his mark in the town thanks to his rainbow bridge, the colourful floral mural near the station and the double-storey paintings at the building housing the gallery and at the Hospice Pre-Loved Shop nearby.
Gallery ZAZA itself is above the Breakroom and is a riot of colour thanks to both the artworks for sale and the efforts which have gone into creating the space.
Among the artists showing their work are Maritzburg’s Siyabonga Sikosana, renowned for his colourful township paintings; Logan Woolfson, aka the Naked Cuber, who makes extraordinary mosaics out of Rubik’s Cubes; Sudanese abstract painter Hussein Salim; and sculptor Luke Falconer.
There are also beautiful pieces of jewellery, beadwork from Woza Moya and the famous Dlamini figurines on sale for those in search of unique gifts..
Speaking at the opening, Jaqui Hilterman, who works at the gallery, said Hiltonians had a way of seeing potential and of looking through the mist and imagining what lies beyond it.
“It is up to us to create, to build, to explore, to play and to throw glitter confetti at every single problem,” she added. “Gallery ZAZA was an empty corporate office – the ultimate blank canvas. Now it is the product of the passion and vision which only Jono Hornby could have cooked up.”
Hornby, who celebrated the opening of the gallery, with a ZaZa Lager, specially brewed by the Clockwork Brewery in Willowton, Pietermaritzburg, said he wants to create a collaborative space, which promotes a sense of belonging and promotes change and human rights.
“We want the gallery to be a gathering place for artists to gather, work and display, and where they will conduct workshops to allow the public to share in the creative process and see artists at work,” he added.
“We want the gallery to be ever-evolving, and to encourage the participation of schools, communities and other social collectives in our vision to make art central to local life and livelihoods.
“Local, for us, means the town of Hilton and the neighbouring areas of Mpumuza, Mbutshana and Howick. We want this area of the Midlands to be a drive-through art gallery, anchored by a mural tour which will be central to developing Hilton as an all-year art destination.
“To make this a dynamic experience, there will be regular community events, art installations and activations, in partnership with local businesses and independent stakeholders to create a collective symbiosis within the community,” said Hornby.