Welgemeend Art Month – August 2020
Welgemeend Art Month, a firm favourite on the Cape Town August art calendar for the past seven years, will take on a different format this year. Four online (Zoom) discussions will be presented on the Strauss & Co platform, covering interesting topics concerning the historical homestead of Welgemeend, the Boerneef Art Collection housed at Welgemeend, and the behind-the-scenes excitement and highlights of exhibitions held during past Welgemeend Art Months.
Irma Stern, Die Blompot,From the Boerneef Art Collection
Strauss & Co specialist Dr Gera de Villiers will present a talk on the rich history of Welgemeend (which was built in about 1693) and the people associated with it, drawing on the in-depth research she has carried out. Amanda Botha, who knew the academic and poet, Boerneef (Izak Wilhelmus van der Merwe), will talk about his life, his love for art and his connection with Welgemeend, in conversation with other guests. Senior Strauss & Co art specialist Wilhelm van Rensburg will discuss selected artworks from the Boerneef Art Collection, including works by Irma Stern, Alexis Preller, Maggie Laubser and Cecil Higgs, among other South African artists.
Alexis Preller, Drie Figure, From the Boerneef Art Collection
The chairperson of Strauss & Co, Frank Kilbourn, and his wife Lizelle, who were instrumental in establishing Welgemeend Art Month, will along with Strauss & Co Art Specialist Matthew Partridge provide a glimpse into how Welgemeend Art Month exhibitions have been curated over the years and discuss some of the works that have been on display.
Welgemeend Art Month was originally created as a fund-raising initiative for the restoration and maintenance of the historic Cape Dutch
homestead, and in this spirit, Frank and Lizelle will donate a work of art from the Kilbourn Collection that will be auctioned by Strauss &
Co in aid of the Friends of Welgemeend.
Welgemeend Art Month is a collaboration between the Friends of Welgemeend, Frank and Lizelle Kilbourn, Strauss & Co, Delaire Graff Estate and others, with the support of Jan van Riebeeck Hoërskool.
Program of Zoom Talks August 2020:
Thursday 6 August at 4pm
The Life and Legacy of Welgemeend
Homestead conducted by Dr Gera de Villiers,
Art Specialist, Strauss & Co
Thursday 13 August at 4pm
Boerneef the Poet, the Academic, the Collector
and his Friendship with Artists conducted by
Amanda Botha, Art Journalist and Writer
Thursday 20 August at 4pm
The Boerneef Art Collection conducted by
Wilhelm van Rensburg, Senior Art Specialist,
Strauss & Co
Thursday 27 August at 4pm
Six Years of Exhibitions at Welgemeend
conducted by Frank and Lizelle Kilbourn
and guests
Further information about the series of online
Zoom talks and the artwork to be auctioned
will be available soon. www.straussart.co.za
Jean Welz, Stillewe Papaja, From the Boerneef Art Collection.