Parkrand’s Dirkie de Wet’s dream to start a group that will help local visual artists recently became a reality.
This comes after the Advertiser ran an article early last month about de Wet wanting to create a group to unite artists and spread awareness about their work.
De Wet, who has a passion for painting, noted that local artists don’t get as much exposure anymore since the well-known artist Barry de Villiers passed away.
“It’s amazing what happened since the story was published. I immediately got a response from several artists who were interested in becoming part of the group,” de Wet said.
De Wet started the Facebook group, called East Rand Visual Artists Combine, on April 20. Artists were invited to join the group and within five days there were 10 members. Now there are 17.
The artists, aged between 20 and 70, can post photos of their paintings on the group. The variety of the paintings posted on the group includes landscapes, sea scenes, impressionistic works, character portraits, flowers, animal life and farm scenes.
“Some of the artists have been in the industry for 40 years. There are also art lecturers who are part of the group as well as a photographer and people who have offered to help with exhibitions.
“Some of the artists have already held exhibitions throughout South Africa and in Namibia,” he added.
De Wet said this reaction reassured him that the road ahead for this group looks rosy.
“I look forward to meeting with each artist. Their excitement about this group gives me hope for a boom in the arts in our area. The interest of artists from other parts of South Africa already shows the group will not be limited to the East Rand.”
For more information or to become part of the group, contact de Wet on 072 844 8073 or dirkiedewet@gmail.com
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