Friends of the Gallery (F.O.G)

Friends of the Gallery monthly newsletter

May 2010

In the month of May, the atmosphere at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe was up-tight as everyone was busy as a bee in preparation of one of 2010’s best and biggest exhibitions. The launch of Live and Direct exhibition took place on the morning of 25 May 2010 at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. The opening event was graced with a huge attendance of people from all walks of life.

The Guest of Honour, Spanish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Her Excellency Ms Pilar Fuertes Ferragut awarded the winners with their prize. The breathtaking 1st prize of US$ 10 000 went to Gareth Nyandoro for his work titled ‘National Recylenziliation. The 2nd prize winner was Misheck Masamvu who won a cool amount of US$5 000 for ‘Sweat and bad breath’ and 3rd prize went to Chenjerai Mutasa with US$3 000 for ‘Tazah (Visionaries for a unified Zimbabwe).

The show was proudly sponsored by Kingdom Financial Holdings Limited, Culture Fund Trust of Zimbabwe and Greenwood Park Eye Centre. The Spanish Embassy and National Arts Council of Zimbabwe contributed notably to make this show a success. In the North Gallery, Spanish artist Dario Basso one of the adjudicators for the flagship exhibition presented his installation titled Humedo on the same day. The installation is part of the two years work Darío developed in the rainforest.

The series of works drawn using watercolors on paper makes up a big vegetal atlas of the rainforest and surpasses the almost inevitable tendency of this kind of painting towards pure geometric forms. The wide database turns artistic experience into a place where science, abstract art, living experience and nature coexist and merge.

It is our duty to obtain and appreciate Zimbabwean art, after all investment in art is investment in our heritage. The creative energy that abounds the artworks that are on sale narrates the pride Zimbabwe possesses over other countries. People are invited to visit the Gallery and purchase art from a wide range of Zimbabwe’s best works. These works are appropriate to hang and place in any space including the office, home or the garden. The stone, wooden, metal sculptures, paintings and installations are being sold at affordable prices.

Mr Pasirayi the Assistant Curator traveled to China for the Shanghai Expo which runs for six months. A pavilion hosted by Zimbabwe has been set up and different shows will be put on display on different types of art and traditional life from Zimbabwe. Lastly, the National Gallery is appealing to all interested people to advertise in our A5 journal titled Artlife. The journal focuses on the visual arts in Zimbabwe and it is with hope that this journal will spread regionally and internationally. The rates for advertising your business or interests are affordable as we would wish to give your company exposure and involvement in the arts. Please call Rutendo Mutadzapasi for more information.

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe and the National Trust have collaborated in adding another incentive for the Friends of the Gallery. All those who are FOG members and who wish to join can add a fee of US$5 to the already requested subscription fees as this incentive will enable you to visit and enter into national archives and monumental places in England, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and West Indies. This is a special benefit to all members who would like to travel overseas.