KZN: A Photographic Historical Record

Artwork

  • DURBAN - Old St Thomas Church - Ridge Road
Durban - Argyle Road graffiti  - 748

Whilst most graffiti is decried, some of the work such as this work on the house on the corner of Currie Road and Argyle is of a high standard. Many listed or protected homes are bought by developers but owners are prohibited from changing them or demolishing them by AMAFA. Their answer, is, to let the properties fall apart to a point where demolition is the only answer. This house that formerly belonged to a Doctor Pickford has in the meantime been freshly painted. The tennis courts in front of the old home are gone.

DURBAN - GLENWOOD WALL ART 749

Wall Art of Graffiti, adorns many of Durban's walls. The small selection here is in Glenwood and one of the images is by Dane Stops. The image is of a girl gazing up at the clear azure skies of KZN. Dane is his real name however 'Stops' is his adopted name. Dane is a fine artist and does interior and exterior https://durbanisyours.co.za/2018/08/kznsa-artists-in-focus-dane-stops/

Durban Muckleneuk Art - 793

The Killie Campbell Museum houses much of the Campbell belongings and as well as the archives has a considerable art collection. This small album has a few examples of the art in the museum such as Nils Andersen, Gerard Bhengu and Perla Siedle Gibson. A large collection is that of Barbara Tyrell.

Estcourt Golf Club - Caricatures   757

These caricatures by PF Fillenham in 1938/1939 depicting Estcourt Golf Club Members are a great record and unwittingly make a social commentary of the times. "Caricature is the ART of making a drawing or written description of someone that usually makes them look silly by making part of their appearance or character more noticeable than it really is." Cambridge Dictionary.

Escourt Post Office Ceramic Plaque 828

Mary Stainbank and Wilgeford Vann- Hall were commissioned to do an extensive amount of work for Public Works. From their Ezayo Studio at Coedmore. They sketched their proposals for approval and once the final work was approved the work commenced. Quite a number of composite tiled screens were done for the Post Office. This album illustrates the scene painted onto tiles by Vann Hall, which was then sent up to the Ceramic Studio for firing in their kilns. The sketches and final product are shown here and the final ceramics are still on the wall of the Post Office in Estcourt and an image shown in this gallery.

Kloof Graffiti

The normal grey drabness of a rail overpass has been transformed at the Kloof rail crossing. The artwork was done in 2020 and gives a welcome lift to the crossing close to the Kloof Station and Shunters Arms.

John Ross by Mary Stainbank 819

John Ross (1815-1880 or Charles Rawden Maclean. He is famous for his walk to Delagoa Bay, a distance 0f 450 kilometers away in order to obtain supplies for a marooned party of merchantmen in the Port of Natal. (1825). Considered a hero to the settlers in Natal, work was commissioned on a statue to commemorate John Ross. This album has the sketches Mary Stainbank, of Coedmore, and a well renowned sculptor, to build up the proposed statue. The statue, built to her design, now is in the grounds of John Ross house

Maidstone All Saints - Artwork - 827

Maidstone All Saints Church has artwork by Wilgeford Vann Hall, who specialised in stained glass and the wood carved Reredos created by her friend Mary Stainbank. They both worked at Ezayo Studios at Coedmore. This album shows the finished artwork, in situ, along with the sketches that were drawn in creating the finished artwork.

Mary Stainbank Museum - Arrival of Settlers - SA Museum - Cape Town - 739

The maquettes here depict the arrival of the Early Settlers at time of Van Rebeek in 1652. They depict the beach arrival, reception by Natives offering curios for sale. The maquettes were made for submission to the SA Museum in Cape Town.

Mary Stainbank - Indian Flower Sellers - Durban  - 738

This album has images of Mary Stainbank's maquettes of the Durban Indian Flower Sellers . This large piece of work of 9ft*4ft ,is on the wall on Poynton Building. The finished sculpture is above street level, facing Pine Street. This album as well as the maquettes, has recent images and an image from a Museum Photo Album. The medium is Ficksburg sandstone. The work dates to 1957.

Mary Stainbank - Addington Della Robbia entrance

The sketches here were drawn by Mary Stainbank in 1929 in the 'work up' for the Della Robbia panel over the entrance to the Prince's Street entrance to Addington Children's Hospital. The panel was cast in several pieces and shows the figure of Jesus Christ blessing the children. Above the bas-relief are the words "Suffer Little Children to Come unto Me" and below is the Red Cross Cartouche. Della Robbia Arts and Crafts Pottery was founded in Birkenhead, England and inspired by Florentine sculptor, Luca Della Robbia. This ceramic bas-relief with with vivid colours was sculpted by Mary Stainbank and fired and glazed at the Ceramic Studios in Olifantsfontein. The one image shows the in situ sculpture in dilapidated state in 2010

Stainbank Gallery - Addington Children's Hospital - Stained Glass  - 743

Wilgeford Vann-Hall, who worked from Eyazo Studios at Coedmore, with Mary Stainbank , was commissioned to make the stained-glass windows for the Addington Children's Hospital in the late 1920's. In total 'Wilgie' made 52 panes measuring 300*400 which were introduced into the hospital's windows. This album has some of the maquettes used to create the windows. Presently only 9 of the panes remain in the hospital, the rest having been vandalized or stolen. The panes depicted comic figures and nursery rhymes, popular at the time.

Nils Anderson - Durban

Born in Norway, Nils emigrated to South Africa in 1911 and trained at the Durban School of Art. He taught art and ceramics at the Durban School of Art and was responsible for much of the artwork in the Addington Children’s Hospital, the artwork friezes in each ward. Sadly, this work was painted over in the 1960’s. Note: His work can still be seen in the Norwegian Hall on The Berea. His work in Natal was prolific and this album also has images of a book celebrating his diverse art-work.

KZN: A Photographic Historical Record