Art in a time of repression - 3 new exhibs:  1. The legendary Rorke's Drift Art Centre

During the apartheid era, when art training was denied to black artists, a fine arts training centre, Rorke's Drift in KwaZulu Natal, was established to redress the injustice. Now, over 40 years since its opening, a selection of works from this vitally important centre will be exhibited at Iziko SA National Gallery. "Art from Rorke's Drift" runs from 16 May - 24 June.

Curator Joe Dolby describes the history of Rorke's Drift and the works in Iziko's collections:

" In 1963 the Evangelical Lutheran Church Art & Craft Centre was relocated to Rorke's Drift in KwaZulu Natal. It had started as an occupational therapy project at the Ceza Mission Hospital near Nongoma in 1962 to teach marketable skills like weaving to rural women. It soon became evident that the curriculum needed to be broadened to include art tuition, and in 1968 a fine art school was established. For the next two decades, the art centre became one of the most important training centres for black artists.

The first prints and tapestries from Rorke's Drift in the Gallery's collection were acquired in the mid 1960's, most of the artists being well-known names such as Azaria Mbatha and John Muafangejo.

In 2006, funding provided by the National Lottery Board enabled us to significantly augment our holdings, resulting in a much more representative selection of works by artists from Rorke's Drift."

For more information contact Joe Dolby 021-467-4660 or e-mail jdolby@iziko.org.za.

Image: Linda Nolutshungu 194?-2001
Potato Seller
Etching, aquatint,
Presented by the Friends of the SANG

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