Tag Archives: Magaliesburg

MelonRouge and Artichoke Gallery in South Africa Hosts 7th Slow Art Day

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For their Slow Art Day 2024, the MelonRouge and Artichoke Gallery in Magaliesburg, South Africa, invited visitors to slowly experience the exhibition ‘POP Art – is it ISM or is it ART?’, listen to music, and eat food.

Slow Art Day poster for the event

Richard Scott, ‘Candy. Touch Me.’ (unknown date). Photo by Hannelie Sanders

Lighters with pop-art prints on display for Slow Art Day

Slow Art Day participants (and a dog vistor!) and Hannelie Sanders. Photo by Hannelie Sanders

Food served as part of the event. Photo by Hannelie Sanders

On Slow Art Day, visitors gathered at the Gallery to explore the art of Richard Scott and listen to the
music of Niki Daly. The gallery also displayed various practical items adorned with Pop Art, such as lighters, vinyl covers, and magazines, integrating art into everyday life.

Hannelie Sanders, the event host, led a lively and informative discussion. The central question during the event was whether Pop Art qualifies as an art form or merely an “ism.” The conversation was inspired by Niki Daly’s song, whose lyrics playfully questioned the distinction between artistic movements and true art:

Lyrics Excerpt:
Maholy-Nagy, Maholy-Nagy
I love his ism, but is it art?
Tell me my Bauhaus baby
Is it art?
Is it an ism or is it an art?
…

The song set the tone for the day’s theme, blending humor with a critical examination of art
history and theory.

Richard Scott, a prominent British artist based in Cape Town, was a key feature of the event. Scott’s art often combines vivid Pop Art elements with everyday objects, making his work accessible and engaging. His art was displayed alongside practical items, emphasizing Pop Art’s integration into daily life.

As most readers know, Pop Art emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by its use of popular culture imagery and mass media techniques. Artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein drew inspiration from advertising, comic books, and consumer products, challenging traditional notions of art. This movement blurred the lines between high art and mass culture, making art more accessible to the general public.

At Slow Art Day HQ we are looking forward to whatever MelonRouge Artichoke Gallery designs for Slow Art Day 2025.

-Johanna, Ashley, Jessica Jane, and Phyl

P.S. Stay up to date with events at the MelonRouge Artichoke Gallery via their Facebook

Here you can also see some videos produced in connection with the Slow Art Day event and shared to Facebook:

Magaliesburg’s Multi-sensory Slow Art Day 2019

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Gallery owner Hannelie Hartman welcomed participants of all ages to the third Slow Art Day at MelonRouge in Magaliesburg, South Africa.

The event was facilitated by Dr. Sonja Brink, a Learning through Play Ambassador for the Lego Foundation, who, when not involved in Slow Art Day, teaches the Setswana language to South African children and adults through song and movement.

Working with MelonRouge, she came up with a creative multi-sensory design that started with a brief talk on the link between art and information through the ages. She discussed ways to use art to cultivate focus and presence when feeling overwhelmed by technology overload (Ed: this is one of the key reasons Slow Art Day was started a decade ago – to create an antidote to technology’s growing dominance).

After Dr. Brink’s talk, participants were then blindfolded and given a fragrant piece of clay to smell and touch in order to kickstart their senses for the multi-sensory slow looking program they were about to experience.

Blindfolds were then removed and participants starting looking at a painting titled “Injasuthi Valley,” by artist Frances Wedepohl (below). As they slowly gazed, viewers were encouraged to touch and smell a variety of natural materials, including grasses and branches.

“Injasuthi Valley,” by artist Frances Wedepohl

Next, Dr. Brink brought the participants to slowly experience artwork by artist trio Louisa Staude, Louel Staude, and Heinz Schnölzer, titled “An Ode to Fynbos” (below). Visitors were invited to immerse themselves in the essence of this art through exploring the textures, smells and music composed specifically for the installation.

“An Ode to Fynbos” by artist trio Louisa and Louel Staude, and Heinz Schnölzer

Then, during the third viewing, participants were encouraged to taste a range of sweet, sour, and salty candies while slowly savoring artist Trevor Rose’s tryptic titled, “Life’s Journey” (below).

“Life’s Journey” by artist Trevor Rose

With the level of detail, playfulness, and creative multi-sensory focus, this Slow Art Day 2019 was a “resounding success”, with Dr. Brink noting that for both her and the participants “it was amazing!”

We look forward to whatever creative designs MelonRouge and Dr. Brink come up with for Slow Art Day 2020.

– Ashley