A tour of the Ardmore Ceramic Studio in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands conducted by UKZN alumnus and UKZN 2015 Honorary Doctorate recipient: Fée Halsted-Berning
Ardmore Ceramic Art was established by Fée Halsted-Berning on Ardmore Farm in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains of KwaZulu-Natal, where she lived after obtaining her BA (Fine Arts) Honours degree and lecturing at Natal Technikon. Here she met Bonnie Ntshalintshali, whose polio meant that she was unable to work in the fields. Fée and Bonnie quickly developed a synergy and under Fée's mentorship, Bonnie's natural skills as an artist blossomed. Five years later, in 1990, Fée and Bonnie were jointly awarded the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award, the first such artistic partnership to be recognised. With this success came the demands of creating ceramics for their exhibition, so Fée offered other local women the opportunity to train at Ardmore, producing pieces to generate income for the fledgling studio.
Fée, through necessity, developed the exuberant exotic style that has made Ardmore ceramics famous. Over the years, Ardmore's artists have won numerous awards and exhibited widely in South Africa and around the world. Ardmore artworks feature in leading galleries and collections, including the Museum of Art & Design in New York, the Museum of Cultures in Basel, Switzerland, and the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The acclaimed auction house Christie's has acknowledged Ardmore artworks as "modern day collectibles".
Please join us on a tour conducted by Fée of the gallery, museum and studio at Ardmore. This will be followed by a tea and a slide-show on the history of Ardmore. The very pleasant drive has a number of attractions enroute – including the Mandela Monument/museum and sculpture (close to the R103). Fée welcomes visitors to bring a picnic lunch and have this in the grounds after the tour. The nearby Caversham Mill restaurant which offers splendid views and great food is another option. Bring friends and family, and share in the good company, the tour, slide show and tea!!
Date: Saturday, 20 June 2015
Time: 10h00 for 10h30
Venue: Ardmore Ceramic Studio, Caversham Road, Lidgetton. (Directions below)
RSVP: By Monday, 15 June 2015 to Nomcebo Msweli on 031 260 2016 or email: mswelin@ukzn.ac.za
Robin Ralfe
CHAIRMAN: THE DURBAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Directions to Ardmore Ceramics, Caversham
GPS Location (WGS84 Lat/Lon hddd° mm' ss.s"): S29° 24' 56.4" E030° 05' 45.3"
From Durban
Take N3 route towards Pietermaritzburg
Take exit 107 toward Tweedie West until Howick/Tweedie Offramp (Exit 107)
Turn left and at T-Junction turn right onto R103
Travel for approximately 7km (past Piggly Wiggly)
Turn right onto Caversham Road (gravel road)
Travel for approximately 6km over narrow bridge
Turn right into Ardmore Ceramics