Friends of the Gallery (F.O.G)

Friends of the Gallery monthly newsletter

November / December 2010

November/December

Hope I find you well and enjoying the festive season. As we near the end of the year the National Gallery of Zimbabwe is hosting a number of shows that can keep you entertained and engaged throughout the month. Currently is one of the most inspiring exhibitions by AFRICAID on HIV/AIDS. Entitled The Audacity of Hope, this is an exhibition of artworks by HIV positive children in commemoration of the global honour of the World AIDS Day celebrated every 1st of December. These young children joined together with local artists and developed their own artwork through which they share their stories behind how treatment, care and support has affected their lives. Also standing at the centre of the Courtauld Gallery in the same exhibition is the Tree of Life that narrates the different means of survival these children use in order to live a longer life. Each flower on the tree represents a different child’s hope for their future and continued access to treatment ensures that there is light and hope for them. Audacity of hope was made possible through the aid of UNICEF, USAID, Children First, Maruva Trust, National Aids Council and the Ministry of Health and it runs until the 30th of December 2010. Please come and view this exhibition as it offers so much insight into the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the children who are our future.

AFRICAID and Arundel Girls performed song with a powerful message by Labi Siffre (1987) titled Something Inside So Strong. The lyrics of the song were befitting the message by AFRICAID on behalf of the children.
The lyrics went as;

Something inside so strong
I know I can make it
Though you’re doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh, something inside so strong

Brothers and Sisters
When they insist we’re just not good enough
When we know better
Just look them in the eyes and say
I’m gonna do it anyway
I’m gonna do it anyway

More so, Springstone Trust/Friends Forever opened an exhibition on the second of December titled Vhura Meso- Zimbabwean Roots in the 21st Century. This is an exhibition of stone sculptures by established and emerging artists and is be complemented with paintings by well known painters.

Springstone Trust
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe Visual Art Studio final exhibition kick starts on the 9th of October under the theme Changing Times. The art students will exhibit new styles, forms and skills of art showing distinction and development in the different art disciplines. Also on the same day is a photo exhibition by Bethule Nkiwani themed A place called home. It is a photographic documentation of the living conditions of a destitute woman and her children.

NGVAS 2010

The 7th of December, the Gallery will host an exhibition by ZIVA graduate students showcasing works they created during their course. Finally on the 16th there will be a solo exhibition by Cosmos Shiridzinomwa titled The Chronicles. On display will be an installation of items placed in wardrobes and under the chairs representing the unnecessary junk we keep it our houses.

The NGZ is hosting various fun filled activities for the December Days of the Month on the weekend of the 4th to 5th. The 4th of December will feature among other activities the screening of a locally produced horror movie, Twisted, which was recently premiered and only opens to the public on the 5th of December. Other activities include workshops on poetry and song writing facilitated by Albert Nyathi and Alexio Kawara, a conference for youth on leadership and entrepreneurship and a performance by Bulawayo based acapella group. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe invites the Harare community to come and support this initiative and have some great fun as we enter the festive season. Admission into the Gallery will be free.

In parting, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.