"South African Contemporary Ceramics"
2001-08-19 until 2001-09-29
Sasol Art Museum, University of Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, , ZA South Africa

Several recent donations of important South African Ceramics have enabled the Sasol Art Museum at the University of Stellenbosch in a position to begin a collection of South African Contemporary Ceramics. Mrs Nana Wagner of The Cameo, Stellenbosch, a ceramic ‘fundi’ in her own right, has been the driving force behind the donations. She was appointed as the Curator of Ceramic Collection of the deceased Mr Dries Smit’s estate. Mr Smit (1932-2001) was an avid supporter of the Fine arts and Music. He built up a formidable ceramic collection over 40 years.

The Director of the University Museum, Dr Lydia de Waal, was given an opportunity to make a selection from this collection.

A total of 17 ceramic pieces of prominent artists ranging from Esias Bosch, Hyme Rabinowitz, Tim Morris and Andre Walford were selected. This selection will hence be known as the Dries Smit Contemporary South African Ceramic Collection and will form the basis of the new Ceramic Collection of the Sasol Art Museum.

Several donations by friends of Mr Smit were made as a reaction to the news of this donation. Prof Hennie Aucamp, Mrs Coba Diedericks and the family of the deceased Mr Michael Blersch, all Cape Townians, donated a further 20 works. These included works by artists Bosch, Rabinowitz, Morris, Maritjie (sic) van der Merwe, Bill van Gilder, Barry Dibb and Hannatjie van der Wat (sic.)

Mrs Nana Wagner also donated a work by Henriette Ngako and an item produced by the Ardmore Studio in Kwazulu Natal.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for South Africa

Other Important Exhibitions in South Africa