Toast to Wiles family’s works
THREE generations of Wiles artists had their work celebrated last Friday evening during an exhibition at the Wiles Gallery in Bathurst.
The evening featured work by well- known Grahamstown-born artist, Jane Wiles, her mother, Lucy and stepfather Brian Wiles, and her grandfather, Walter Gilbert “WG” Wiles, an accomplished artist and the first of the Wiles family to leave a lasting imprint on the fine art world.
As many as 14 WG Wiles paintings are owned by the British royal family.
The purpose of the exhibition was for Jane’s two children, Ben Voss and Lucy Voss-Pryce, to honour the memory of their mother who died in 2013 after a long battle with cancer.
To make the evening extra special, close friend John Van de Ruit, author of the South African bestseller, Spud, opened the evening with a special welcoming and tribute to Bathurst and the Wiles family.
Some of the artworks featured at the exhibition have never been seen by the public before and include works painted between 1935 and 2013.
Ben welcomed the guests and said that he was overwhelmed by the interest shown.
“This exhibition is to honour my mother and for the people who enjoy Wiles art for the legacy to continue,” he said.
Ben said that the art displayed in the gallery reflected artists who had dedicated their whole lives to the brush and described them all as “committed, artistic and authentic individuals”.
“As you walk through the gallery try and have an experience with it, whether it’s a swim, or for the rest of your life,” Ben said.
“When you are buying one of these pieces, you are not just buying the intrinsic value of the painting, you are buying something that you love,” he added.
Novelist Van de Ruit said he had many warm memories of Bathurst.
He spoke briefly of his life leading up to the creation of his bestsellers, describing a life-turning point when he nearly died in a boating accident.
Van der Ruit turned his attention to the village and spoke of his “Bathurst story”.
“The book talk I had here was the only one I have ever done in a pub. It was probably one of my favourites. There is something quite unique about this place,” he said.
“Doubt comes to all of us, especially when you are trying to turn something into something that can last a lifetime. I had to come close to death before I was able to create Spud.
“I couldn’t bear just disappearing from this world, I needed to leave a legacy.”
Van de Ruit is a close friend of Ben’s and also a great Wiles art admirer. He owns a Jane Wiles piece painted of Water’s Meeting that hangs in his dining room.
“When I am filled with doubt I look at Water’s Meeting and I fill myself up,” said Van de Ruit.
Van de Ruit said he was overwhelmed with excitement at the prospect of visiting the area which inspired Water’s Meeting, before his departure from the village.
‘I couldn’t bear just disappearing from this world, I needed to leave a
legacy’