national Arts Festival Banner

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

MERVYN MCMURTRY AT ART ON KINGSWAY


(Mervyn McMurtry and some of his works on the exhibition)

Art on Kingsway has been going for over two years and only recently begun showcasing a new artist each month. The pop up Art Gallery is Art on Kingsway in Amanzimtoti. In the past, in addition to the artworks of the local artists, the works of the Fibreworkx Artists of KZN have featured, as have the landscape photographs of local veterinarian, Eugene van Heerden.

“This February celebrates the paintings of well-known theatre personality, Mervyn McMurtry. He has been able to focus on his art in a far more concentrated way since his retirement from academia, as his work shows. There are about 30 pieces on show, some of which are small companion pieces. But he doesn’t disappoint with size – there are two really big paintings, each of which is worth the trip alone. This reviewer was particularly struck by Pool, Autumn, Kamberg, one of the large works, which is deceptively simple at first but which intrigues with its many layers of imagery and meaning,” says reviewer, Brenda Pratt

The launch was held on February 2, where McMurtry held a walkabout. It was attended by an interested crowd of artists and friends who enjoyed his amiable and informative address. The immediate appeal of his work was demonstrated in the sale of eight of his paintings within the first hour of the event. The organisers anticipate a very successful month!

“Taken from Waiting for Godot, McMurtry uses the theme of ‘The light gleams. . . .’ to capture the moment when objects or people are at their shining best, and yet contained within that moment of perfection there is inherent death and decay. This theme is particularly well realised in his portraits of three of the actors who play characters in the award-winning musical Camelot for which McMurtry was assistant director. Each of them momentarily holds the light of humanity within them before it fades,” adds Pratt.

Art on Kingsway is up a short flight of stairs at Toti Oasis, a Caltex Garage in Kingsway (Andrew Zondo) Road. Travel south on the N2. Take the glide off to the left when Galleria is on your right, and choose the R102 fork in the road.  Travel about 2 kms south and you will find it on your left.  There is parking and good coffee downstairs.

For more information contact 082 824 7990