NIEU-BETHESDA NEWS — The Bethesda Art Centre can be proud that one of their tapestries, namely "The Creation of the Sun" has been selected to hang in the British Museum's exhibition exploring "100 000 Years of South African Art".
Jeni Couzyn, South African poet, director and founder of the Bethesda Art Centre, directed the creation of the tapestry, a collaborative piece, made by the /Xam bushmen, descendents of South Africa's first people, who live in the village and work and create at the Art Centre.
The magnitude of this piece being included in the exhibition can be fully appreciated in that the exhibition also includes artworks and artifacts such as the world famous 800 year old Golden Rhino of Mapungubwe as well as contemporary artworks by the likes of Lionel Davis and Mary Sibande.
John Giblin, head of the British Museum's African section has termed these artworks, "South Africa's Crown Jewels", and it is a feather in the cap of the Bethesda Art Centre that their work is part of such a prestigious and valuable collection.
Also included in the collection is a pearl necklace dating back 77 000 years ago that was discovered in Blombos cave in the Western Cape, proving South Africa to be one of the oldest 'Symbolic' cultures in the world with an "artistic tradition stretching back much further than what was happening on Britain", says Giblin. The key concept of the exhibition is to show that "South Africa's art heritage is the art heritage of many, many peoples"... whether the first people, San Bushmen, European or Asian settlers.
The exhibition is divided into sections that also include the influence of the European and Asian settlers as well as resistance art from the Apartheid era. Work by contemporary African artists, such as the 2m wide tapestry from Nieu-Bethesda, have been acquired by the British museum over the past 20 years.
For the Bethesda Art Centre administrator and artist, Gerald Mei, and lead artist Sandra Swiers, the collection of tapestries has offered opportunities that have taken them far beyond the steep valley slopes of Nieu-Bethesda.
They have traveled with the quilt exhibition from places as far afield as the John Curtin gallery in Perth, and have just returned from the UK where the artworks were on show at the Central Library in Manchester. When back in quieter Nieu-Bethesda, Gerald and Sandra continue with their work at the Art Centre - be it creating new textiles or managing the intriguing Tower Accommodation and restaurant.
Visitors to the Bethesda Art Centre can view some of the quilts and other stained glass pieces, textile art and linoprints are on sale at the gallery. This village of creatives can be extremely proud of the achievements of this centre of excellence in the middle of the Karoo.
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