Photos of the White River Gallery Launch
WHITE RIVER GALLERY RELAUNCHES UNDER NEW CURATORSHIP
White River – The relaunch of the Lowveld’s iconic White River Gallery was enjoyed at an exclusive preview opening event on Friday, 2 March. Drawing a national crowd of many of the who’s-who in the art world, the gallery launched with a group exhibition titled “A Palette of Short Stories” showcasing both local and broader South African artists.
Dana MacFarlane, the new director and curator of The White River Gallery, emphasised as part of her opening address what a privilege it is for her “to take over the reins of such a beautiful space that has served as one of the true visual arts platforms in the Lowveld for the past 10 years”.
MacFarlane’s company Halifax Art, which previously directed and managed a gallery in Johannesburg, will now serve as the powerhouse behind the White River Gallery in terms of broader artistic projects. It will also offer an art consultancy and advisory service to both businesses and individuals. “In addition to showcasing established talent, our aim is to raise the level of emerging talent through collaborative engagement with art educational institutions in the area,” explained MacFarlane. “The White River Gallery will enable local viewers and art appreciators to sample broader South African contemporary and conceptual art on a regular basis”.
With its contemporary exterior of concrete, glass and iron, the White River Gallery has been a strongly recognisable feature in White River and surrounds, associated for many years with art-related events in the Lowveld. Designed as the quintessential “white cube”, its ingenious inverted ceiling allows the flow of natural light, the interior warmly reminiscent of church-like serenity facilitating the viewing of art in peaceful solitude. Although it is much loved by the community as an arts gem, regular visitors from further afield have fuelled its countrywide reputation as a gallery of standing and consistency.
An exciting arts programme for the gallery is planned, which will be shared shortly. The current art exhibition, “A Palette of Short Stories”, which concludes on Sunday, 8 April, alludes to the communicative influence of art, allowing each artist to share their unique story through three or four selected artworks.
DANA MACFARLANE
WHITE RIVER GALLERY DIRECTOR AND CURATOR SINCE JANUARY 2018
Dana MacFarlane ended a 23-year marketing career in the financial services industry to actively pursue a profession in the visual arts. Under mentor and well-known artist Michael Heyns, Dana started making her childhood dream a reality. After a few years, Dana began exhibiting art from her home in Johannesburg, followed by the presentation of exhibitions at various high profile venues in Johannesburg, including the Gordon Institute of Business Science and Hyde Park Centre Court. A permanent gallery was sourced in 2012 in Parkhurst, Johannesburg, presenting numerous solo and group exhibitions.
Dana recently relocated from Johannesburg to Nelspruit, providing an opportunity for her to share her passion and purpose as a gallerist and promoter of arts with the Lowveld communities. By building on the White River Gallery’s existing foundation and countrywide reputation, Dana’s aspiration is to bring a new dimension to the art landscape in the Lowveld – further raising awareness for excellence in art and artistic practice.
Dana is proud to share that the White River Gallery has been selected to participate in the prestigious Turbine Art Fair in Johannesburg in July 2018.
ShowMe Nelspruit was on hand to capture the glamour. See the photos here….
Photo Gallery: