East London’s gracious lady, Ann Bryant has a successful ‘Nip & Tuck’!
We recently celebrated Heritage Day and in doing so, ShowMe East London took the time to go and view one of East London’s most beloved and beautiful 112 year old dames, the Ann Bryant Art Gallery, which has recently undergone an extremely successful ‘face lift’.
‘The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls – Pablo Picasso’
Originally named ‘The Gables’, this once family home was built in 1905 and has weathered all that has been thrown at her throughout the last century, and as one could expect, was in need of a subtle ‘nip and tuck’. Over the last couple of months, she has received this and it is once again a pleasure to walk through the main gate with it’s tall twin facades and through the gardens towards a now rejuvenated Ann Bryan Art Gallery, gleaming white in the sunshine.
It is not only the outside that has had a ‘facelift’ but as you wonder through the beautiful art gallery, you cannot help but notice how everything within it’s walls is just that little bit more crisp and fresh, providing the perfect backdrop to the beautiful art on display.
This is a special place. The gallery is home to a wonderful collection of South African art, and holds regular exhibitions celebrating all art forms including painting, sketching, ceramics and pottery, and currently is exhibiting some beautiful black and white photography. You don’t need to be an ‘art fundy’ to appreciate the displays, you only have to have an appreciation for beautiful things to enjoy both the lovely architecture of the gallery and the beautiful items it houses and displays.
The entire space instills a feeling of calm, reflection and inspiration, sometimes from unexpected sources. While wondering through the lovely gallery admiring the beautiful artworks on display, we came across a young man, sitting at the piano, tunelessly tinkering on the keys, soaking up the atmosphere. While he clearly could not play the piano, it was evident how much he was enjoying and getting inspiration from the space around him, and this is clearly what the Ann Bryant Art Gallery is all about.
So East London, if you are looking to escape the madness of city life, need some inspiration… or just need to find something beautiful in life, we recommend you take a visit to this grand old dame. You never know… you may just bump into some ladies browsing through art books in a quiet room, a young man seating at a piano – gaining inspiration from his surroundings, or one of your many friends who know how lucky we are to have such a treasure in our city.
If there is one complaint ShowMe East London CAN make is … bring back the coffee shop at ‘The Coach House’! That would be the cherry on the top! 😉
Article & Photographs: Sandy Loppnow