Winter morning stroll

Taking random strolls through my neighbourhood in my hometown  is something I haven't done since, maybe my early years of varsity or possibly high school. As a highly discontent youngster who couldn't wait to leave this small town called Middelburg, I paid very little attention to my surroundings. Now that I've earned a few years to my age, I'm more appreciative of this place I've called home for so long and thus eager to freeze my butt off just to explore it from a more sensible point of view.

Patterns and textures


Frost


Burning wood

Rusty stands

Black Jacks

Things I need to remember for the next time I'm inspired to go for a stroll on a 5ºC cold morning: gloves, woollen hat, ear muffs and waterproof boots. So much for packing light and travelling with just a backpack.

WAM opens its doors to the public

In the heart of Braamfontein, just a stone throw away from the Nelson Mandela Bridge, the Neighbourgoods Market and the Newtown Cultural Precinct lies the newly opened Wits Art Museum.

The impressive architecture with its glass walls on the ground floor has allowed passersby to have a glimpse of the 5000m2 exhibition space for the last couple of months and on the 19th of May 2012, the museum opened its doors to the public for the first time, presenting an opportunity for art lovers and curious minds to explore its collection.

The University of Witwatersrand has preserved a collection of 9000 pieces of art from across the continent for several decades including paintings, drawings, photographs, beadwork and wooden sculptures amongst others.

The museum’s first exhibition called “WAM! Seeing Stars” featured some of the most valued pieces of this collection including Jackson Hlungwani’s “The Altar of God”, a piece by Walter Batiss and the contemporary “Weather 1” piece by Gerhard Marx. Even Madonna makes an appearance on one of the artworks. There are also a number of pieces by unknown artists, an indication of the many nameless faceless individuals across the continent who may never get any recognition for their talents, but continue to produce artwork regardless.

Alexix Preller- Hieratic Women, c 1955-57
Oil on canvas

Judith Attwood- Christ at the Column, 1965
Oil,wire and cloth on board

Lucky Sibiya- Guitar Player, c1973
Incised and painted wood

Gerhard Marx- Weather 1, 2011
Plastic rulers on black wooden substrate

The opening exhibition was worth attending and I will definitely keep going back. Have you paid the museum a visit yet? How was your experience?