South Africa

_{Posted on Tuesday 3-07-2007}

Fresh paint gallery opens
60 Davenport Rd, Glenwood – opens late July

_{Fresh Paint, a new spacious gallery specializing in unusual and quirky pieces of art from throughout South Africa, opens late July in a gracious Victorian home (with rather large distinctive blue spotted dogs on the roof) at 60 Davenport Road in Glenwood, as part of the Durban’s suburb’s thriving cultural Renaissance.}

_{Respected ad agency bosses Greg and Lynn May are changing direction somewhat together with business associates John Wheaton and Immins Naude, and are transforming their Glenwood agency into a new gallery space. After 21 years in the advertising industry the Mays have chosen to shift their focus from the business end of the visual arts spectrum (in the form of graphic design) to the non-commercially driven end of the same genre, by opening up a gallery and trading in fine art, crafts and art photography.}

_{Greg May’s vision is to exhibit art makers and crafters from beyond the borders of KZN – irrespective of their medium. May has carefully chosen an enviable collection of distinctive, unusual and seldom-seen South African art. The Fresh Paint Gallery will shows work by established industry leaders as well as emerging art-makers gleaned mostly from small towns. Without neglecting work from KZN, much of the work is from the Free State where the Mays found town after town boasting thriving arts communities diligently creating fine work well off the commercial beaten track. The Mays have done numerous research trips throughout the province and have sourced an eclectic variety of paintings and craft.}

_{The gallery has also been given KZN trading rights to the delightful African Toy Shop range of hand-crafted wooden toys for children of all ages. Made by village craftspeople throughout Africa, these distinctive “toys” are made from natural and recycled materials and are culturally relevant to the community making them. Toys can be hardy and suitable as playthings for children, or elaborately detailed conversation pieces for the busy exec – such as 4x4 replicas, earth moving machinery, airplanes and helicopters. The African Toyshop operates on principles of fair trade, and sources toys from craftspeople throughout Africa including Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Congo and Zululand. In recognition of the beauty of their toys and the toymakers’ need to earn a living, The African Toyshop was established in 2005 in Gauteng and now has a KZN outlet.}

 _{The Fresh Paint Gallery will exhibit some of the astonishing photographs by top industry professionals including Barry Downard and Greg May himself. The gallery will also showcase the phenomenal impact of evolving technology which allows sophisticated digital manipulation of images. This technology has broadened the possibilities of photography a million fold and has given photographers an unending palette of tools and digital darkroom at their disposal to develop their art.}

_{It is anticipated that the gallery will host a myriad of art by a large body of art-makers, and from time to time will host specialist exhibitions focusing either on a specific artist, or on a group of artists working together in a community or town.}

_{The Fresh Paint Gallery is scheduled to open during late July. The opening exhibition features work from across the length and breadth of the Free State.}

_{Gallery hours will be 9am until 4pm – or after hours by appointment. It is open daily. For more information, contact the Gallery on 031 201 8367.}
 

_{More info and photos available on request:}

_{Illa Thompson
Publicity Matters
Arts & Culture Publicist of the Year: 1998 & 2003
PANSA KZN Deputy Chairperson: 2005 & 2006
PANSA KZN Regional Secretary 2007
tel: 031 201 1638
mobile: 083 326 3234
illa@pubmat.co.za}

_{"If we, citizens, do not support our artists, then we sacrifice our imagination on the altar of crude reality and we end up believing in nothing and having worthless dreams." Yann Martel}

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