(“Maristella: Portrait
of an Unknown Woman” by Maggie Strachan,
one of the works on display)
Report on Trappist Mission exhibition by Janet Whelan
Some years ago a group of artist friends decided to take a
day trip to one of the Trappist Mission stations where they drew and took
photographs to become the basis of paintings back in the studio.
The artists, who have visited many of the 23 missions and
out-stations built by the Trappists and Mariannhill Missionaries between 1882
and 1908, have drawn inspiration from the environment, local communities,
archival records, church architecture and artefacts.
“This has led to a deep appreciation of the work and the
cultural contribution made by the Trappist monks in this province, especially
in the areas of education, architecture, building skills, farming, printing,
photography, arts, and crafts,” said Maggie Strachan, who spearheaded the
project.
As this group of artist adventurers grew, so too did the
body of work produced and it was decided to hold an exhibition to showcase both
the art works and the achievements of the Trappist monks. The artists involved hoped
that their paintings, drawings and mixed-media works would highlight a
little-known part of our cultural heritage, inspire a sense of awe, and
encourage visitors to experience this extraordinary history for themselves
while enjoying the breath-taking landscapes.
The exhibition was opened on November 5, 2017, in St Ann’s
Hall at the Mariannhill Monastery by Archbishop Emeritus Khumalo and on
November 11 the renowned conservation architect, Robert Brusse, delivered an
enlightening address on the history of the Trappists.
The monks, under the leadership of Fr Franz Pfanner, founded
Mariannhill monastery near Pinetown in 1882, and within a few years established
a network of missions across the landscape of southern KwaZulu-Natal.
The participating artists were Maggie Strachan, Joan Martin,
Lara Mellon, Scott Kotze, Nomsa Ngidi, Daryl Houghton, Peter Robinson, Gill Van
Wyk, Rita Fenske, Anna de Vlieg, Bridget
Clutton, Michelle Crawley, Hendrik van der Walt, Estelle Hudson, Janet Wilson
and Margie Ramsay. - Janet Whelan
Posts
