Tatham Tour with Friends – Extraorinary Ordinary

A huge blessing in my life is being part of a local group of home-based creatives.  We call ourselves Studio Union and we meet together regularly.  We plan interesting outings too.  It’s so special to visit local attractions with like-minded people

Tatham Tour with Friends

Our most recent outing took us to The Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg.  It was a delight to visit this significant gallery.  I captured shots of some of the works of art that appealed to me.  I was struck by how the simple things, when viewed through an artists eyes, become artworks.  I was drawn to 2 works by Susan Davies – one of an enamel coffee pot on a table and another of a bowl of beans. Such simple everyday subjects. Bronwen Heath’s Still Life with Butternut also depicted ordinary in an extraordinary way.

Mrs Beeton’s French Beans by Susan Davies and Still Life with Butternut by Bronwen (Jinny) Heath

The delightful coffee shop upstairs is a memorable place to take a break. Its beautiful inside and the outside view includes the majestic Pietermaritzburg City Hall – apparently the largest red brick building in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

The Tatham Art Gallery Coffee Shop – A wall-full of gorgeous art – if you look closely

Also visible from the upstairs balcony are this groups of metal figures.  They form part of  an urban renewal project happening in the CBD of Pietermartizburg.  and signify the transition and resilience of the city (by Iyer Urban Design Studio)

The  Tatham Art Gallery is housed beautifully in premises made up of the old Supreme Court Building, completed in 1875, and the adjacent Old Presbyterian Church dating from 1852.
The Grand Piano in the hall upstairs reflects some of that building and the light and airy roof structure above it.

Tatham Tour with Friends – Did You Know?

1.  FOTAG: Friends of the Tatham Art Gallery

“FOTAG is a body of friends and volunteers who support the Gallery in various ways, mainly through publicity and fund-raising events that provide an additional reason to visit. As a member of FOTAG you receive invitations to all exhibitions and advance warning of Gallery events.”

2.  The Tatham Shop

“The Tatham Shop is stocked with quality craft, mostly from KwaZulu-Natal. There are also small art works, hand-made greeting cards and locally produced books on art. You are welcome to come and browse. You may find something for yourself or a special gift.”

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