Gallery
KNYSNA NEWS - For the first time in 11 years, residents of Leisure Isle now have a gallery on the island dedicated solely to the exhibition of art. This comes after the official "reopening" of the gallery on Thursday 15 October with a group exhibition that put the work of seven Garden Route artists on show.
Cellist and singer Lani Groves serenaded the opening of the exhibition, which was attended by residents and artists of Knysna, as well as Knysna Arts Society chair Helena Gerber, who enthused,
"This is just fantastic. To have the Leisure Isle Gallery up and running again is great for all of Knysna."
The building that houses the art gallery was initially built as The Leisure Isle Service Station and Garage, and in 1952 was transformed into the Wiles Gallery by island artist Brian Wiles to display the work of his father, WG Wiles. Up until its sale in 2002, the gallery featured mainly the work of the family artists - WG, his brothers Bernard and Frank, as well as Brian, Lucy, Pauline and Jane Wiles.
It then operated as the Chris Tugwell Gallery until 2007 when it was partially converted to a tea garden before it was sold again in 2009, when it was integrated to include an antique shop.
Photo gallery: Leisure Isle boasts their own art gallery
The building was taken over in July this year by new tenant Daniela Dotan, who felt it was important to retain the gallery and dedicate its space to displaying the work of local artists.
"The gallery holds so much history - not only for the building but for the island in its entirety - so I knew we had to keep that special part of the building," she said. Since Dotan took over, the building has had a slight face-lift.
A painting by Margie Schultz. Photos: Blake Linder
The group exhibition includes works from local artists Andrew Barnard, Peter Barrett, Lyn Beaton, Dave Croad, Benjamin Lombard, Margie Schultz and Glynis Vogel. It presents an eclectic mix of styles, with various different painting methods and subject matter.
"I feel so very fortunate to be in a position to showcase our incredible local talent and so privileged that they trust me to represent such a personal part of who they are," Dotan said.
The artists whose work is displayed at the exhibition, from left: Margie Schultz, Lyn Beaton, Andrew Barnard, Peter Barrett, Benjamin Lombard, Dave Croad, gallery owner Daniela Dotan, and Glynis Vogel. Photo: www.ellephoto.co.za
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