adminStephen Garan’anga Visual Art
The recent resurgence of positive movements in the country’s visual arts sector especially in the second half the year has continued to lengthen the short line of platforms and other artistic business opportunities. These are perceived as the right ingredients for a positive outlook and critically install confidence to practitioners. As has been the case for a lengthy while, Zimbabwe’s visual art platforms and art business transactions have been depressed because of acute financial constrains stressing the country’s economy.
The recent activities in the country’s art landscape that has seen a number of art exhibitions at time with awards being hosted at various private and public art spaces.
Unusual spaces like golf courses, sports clubs, pubs to restaurants and art galleries have played to some commendable show.
Another art show is schedule for Wingate Park Golf Club towards the end of October 2014.
There is also a current open call for entries to participate in an art exhibition with a difference themed “A celebration of 2014, the Chinese Year of the Horse”.
This short in the arm for practitioners has a triple monetary prize tag with it, an art auction, possibility for art material funding for selected participants and much more.
The theme dwells on the history of the relationship between horses and humans that is a very long one and the influence of the horse on human development being one that often gets overlooked.
The process of dispersing inventions, languages and writing systems, flora, metallurgy (to name a few human developments) in a nutshell, knowledge around our globe was sped up by the cooperation of horses with humans. This year, 2014 is the Chinese year of the Wood Horse.
It is the Chinese Taoist belief that the attributes to the element, wood or tree are that of strength and flexibility, new growth and fecundity.
The Horse symbolises energy and freedom.
These attributes, brought together in the year 2014, can be linked to those of the relationship between horse and human throughout history: It is the horse that has played a huge role in allowing humans to develop and grow. It is the horse that originally gave the human the freedom to travel further. This exhibition will be an acknowledgement of the role the horse has played in human history, both mythical and real, around the world.
Interested artists are required to send images/sketches together with a short description/proposal of the work to [email protected] by no later than20th October 2014.
They will be notified of whether or not their work has been selected by the 30th October.
If one’s work has been selected, he or she maybe eligible for funding for materials. If they are in need of funding they are requested indicate their text.
The artworks to be exhibited will be chosen by a curator and confirmed by a panel of four selectors, who will also decide on which artworks will win prizes.
There will be equal emphasis placed on concept and realisation of the works. Prize money for first, second and third place will be $1 000, $500 and $250 respectively.
There will also bean auction, for which the proceeds will be divided evenly among all participating artists.The show will open on Friday December 5 and stay open for one week.
There will be a walkabout on December 6 and 7, where participating artists are invited to talk about their work. 10 percent of artists’ sales will go to the Horse Society of Zimbabwe.
If one’s work is chosen for the show, it must be ready for collection, or to be dropped off by November 15, and it must be accompanied by a good quality photograph, the medium, dimensions and price of the work, and a write up of up to 350 words to be included in the catalogue by no later than November 10 2014.
Each exhibiting artist will receive a free catalogue. The remaining catalogues will be available for sale on the opening night and thereafter.
Online Reporter