Exhibitions at the Art Museum

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum will be the place to be in June and July 2010 to enhance the experience of visitors to the Friendly City during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Situated at the entrance to the FIFA Fan Fest at St Georges Park, the Art Museum is offering visitors a unique experience of what Nelson Mandela Bay, the Eastern Cape, South Africa and Africa are all about.  Historical and contemporary depictions of life and environment will provide hours of pleasure which can be revisited again and again. 

Pleased to meet you!
(South Africa: Gateway to Africa)
29 May – 12 September 2010
An exhibition of top contemporary South African art from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum’s permanent collections, supplemented by a selection of works by contemporary African artists.  This dynamic exhibition engages with issues such as identity, HIV and Aids and post-colonialism, amongst others.

Know your city
15 May – 18 July 2010
An exhibition that celebrates Nelson Mandela Bay through the creative endeavours of artists.
Using oil paint, watercolour, printing and photography, artists have documented the physical, emotional and political changes of the city over time.  Historical works, including works by Thomas Baines, will be on exhibition with contemporary works by local artists such as Robert Brooks, George Pemba, Dolla Sapeta and Trevor Melville.  New photographic acquisitions by Glen Meyer, Russell Kana, Rob Duker and Marc Shoul will also be on show.
 
A special opening function will be held on the 9 June 2010 for anybody wishing to experience  the exhibitions in a festive atmosphere.  For more information or to confirm attendance at the opening function, telephone the Art Museum on 041 5062000.

"Ubuhle bentsimbi": The beauty of beads
9 June – 10 October 2010

An exhibition of beadwork highlights from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum's Southern Nguni collection with items sourced from other museums in the Eastern Cape.

The exhibition will showcase Xhosa beadwork from the 19th Century to the present, documenting the changing patterns and styles while giving insight into the symbolic and cultural significance of beadwork.  Works by the Africana painter, Frederick Timpson I'Ons, depicting the Eastern Cape in the 19th Century, will be included. 

The exhibition will be accompanied by demonstrations of traditional beading techniques representing the many diverse styles on show.  Replicas of historical beadwork items and contemporary jewellery inspired by the works on show will be for sale at the Art Museum shop.

The beadwork exhibition with accompanying demonstrations has been made possible by a grant from the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund.