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The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has received a donation of 157 visual arts books from the former curator, Phillipa Pip Curling. The books have to do about different types of art which include rock art, folk art, medieval art and primitivism and modern art. Some also bring about different mediums of art which include painting, craft, sculpture, design, drawings and prints.
The books are from great artists in the world of art who include Rowland, Kurt, Matenga, Gaunt, Doreen Sibanda and Marjorie among others.
Among the donated books are some interesting copies which talk about art today: from abstract expressionism to super realism by Lucie-Smith and Wdward. Legacies of Stone: Zimbabwe Past and Present Volume 1 by Bourgois and Geert, Nicholas Mukomberanwa by Guthrie and Roy, the Letters of Vincent Van Gogh by Roskill and Mark are among the noteworthy donation.
“The National Gallery would like to express their gratitude to Pip Curling for donating so many copies which we believe has boosted our stock,” said the librarian, Joseph Fushai.
“It is a valuable collection of books and our users will find the books very useful. We would appreciate more donations like these from well-wishers.”
Besides the donation of books, Curling also donated material which comprises painting brushes, drawing sheets and easels to the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design. Students from the school were also happy to receive such material.
“I feel supported by what Curling has done,” said Kudzanayi Mavhura, a student from the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design. “I also would like to thank her for the material she has donated and also the books because we are finding them very useful as art students.”
Curling was a curator at the Gallery from 2000 to 2002. She took over from Celia Winter-Irving. She was born in South Africa and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from the University of South Africa (UNISA).
She was a member of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is responsible for setting grand strategic goals and develop an overarching vision for the organisation.
She was also the chairperson of the Acquisition Committee of the National Gallery.
The Acquisition Committee is responsible for deciding and approving the work which is supposed to go into the Permanent Collection.
The Permanent Collection of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe comprises 6 000 artworks of an eclectic nature embracing Zimbabwean, African contemporary works, English and European Old Master artworks as well as traditional pieces representing various cultures.
The National Gallery’s Permanent Collection is a living record of the growth and development of Zimbabwean art from its earliest stages to the present day.
She was awarded the Standard Bank student prize in 1983, and a Masters Bursary in 1985.
She has exhibited extensively in many countries, including Zimbabwe. She was a lecturer in Fine Arts at the Harare Polytechnic for several years and has worked tirelessly to promote rural artists throughout Zimbabwe.
She is an avid art historian and artist. During her time at the Gallery, she conducted lectures on the history of art. She has artworks in the Permanent Collection of the gallery.
She did photography of the Permanent Collection out of her own time and resources.
She did the first draft of the Permanent Collection’s Catalogue for the African Section though the catalogue has not been published yet. In 2008 she did an outstanding artwork on bread for the Story of Bread Exhibition.
Curling will be relocating to South Africa and the National Gallery team would like to wish her all the best in her endeavours.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter