A SUCCESSFUL launch of the Walter Battiss Exhibition was held in the Imibala Gallery in Graaff-Reinet recently.
Ros Turner, Blue Crane tourism officer and curator of the Walter Battiss Museum in Somerset East, was the guest speaker at the launch.
By now an expert on this famous artist, she spoke confidently about his life and art and thus made an interesting and informative contribution to the enjoyable evening.
The launch was well attended and was made exceptional by the attendance of Dr JC Vosloo and his wife, who enjoyed a special friendship with Battiss while they lived in Somerset East. Dr Vosloo related some of his memories of Battiss.
It was this special friendship which yielded the establishment of the Walter Battiss Museum in Somerset East back in the 1970s.
A spark of brilliance actually led to the visionary decision to acquire the old, dilapidated building, previously used as an officers’ mess, in order to save it for posterity.
Plans were laid by Battiss, Dr Vosloo and Ben Erasmus and when their endeavours reached fruition, they donated the building in order for it to become the Walter Battiss Art Museum.
The Battiss art works for sale at the exhibition are from the private collection of Prof. Murray Schoonraad, a one-time pupil of Battiss at Pretoria Boys’ High, and later friend and colleague.
The works include many screen prints, lithographs, which are very familiar, as well as three watercolour paintings.
Also to be seen are several pen and ink drawings, which have most probably never before been seen in public.
A spokesperson for The Imibala Gallery, Kim Imrie, said that they would exhibit the Battiss works until August, and are planning to have new exhibitions of the work of South African artists every couple of months.
The gallery is part of the Drostdy Hotel complex. It is supported by the Rupert Foundation and is regarded as a valuable asset for the Graaff-Reinet community.