Pemba exhibit aims to inspire
Outreach visits for elderly also planned
AN EXHIBITION with works by acclaimed Nelson Mandela Bay artist George Mnyaluza Milwa Pemba will open at the city’s main art gallery at 6pm on Wednesday.
The exhibition was curated from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum’s permanent collection and celebrates a donation of three additional Pemba oil paintings depicting different scenes in the Bay.
The first two works show a scene of New Brighton in 1957 and an image of the Horse Memorial from 1965 respectively. The third piece, a large oil painting of New Brighton pensioners collecting their pensions, was originally given to the Black Sash organisation by Pemba himself in 1993.
The donation of the three works was made in honour of the late antiapartheid activist and civil rights campaigner, Molly Blackburn.
Pemba is considered the grandfather of art in the Bay and his work also represents a significant contribution to the history of art in this country.
In 2004, the government bestowed on Pemba the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold at the National Orders awards, recognising him for his pioneering role and contribution to the development of the art of painting and literature.
As Pemba is an important figure in both Eastern Cape and South African art history, the donations add to the prestige and intellectual value of the existing collection of his works in the permanent collection.
The museum staff are using the acquisitions in their education and outreach programmes to uplift and inspire local emerging artists.
Besides the exhibition at the museum in Park Drive they have also arranged, in honour of Mandela Month and Pemba, an outreach programme and gallery tour visits for pensioners and retirees.
Community groups and establishments associated with the elderly may contact the museum to be included in the programme.
Call (041) 506-2000 for gallery hours and more information on the exhibition and programmes.