Stoned at the AVA, is a momentus exhibition by curator and artist Cheryl Traub-Adler showcasing artwork from the turbulent 80’s. Many know the significant role the AVA gallery has played in establishing artists for decades and was one of a handful of public spaces that stood firm against the Apartheid government censorship. Inside their fascinating archive, Cheryl re-discovered, their finest contribution – the 1980s artists that used this platform as a means to give a voice to the liberation struggle.
At a special talk held at The Bijou in Cape Town, Cheryl explained that “this was a time before social media before anything other than the paper you saw, the paper you exchanged, that you passed on… for people in the street the t-shirt you were wearing was uniting you with other people.”
The choice of the very prominent yellow wall in the exhibition referred to what was called “butter busses” (police vans) during the Apartheid era. She also made the comment that linocuts, woodcuts, print medium, things that could be done easily was how information was shared. Everything was hand made so these activists didn’t have the luxury of computer/smart phone technology to get their viewpoints in the public realm. There was the press and the media but they were so right-wing and controlled by the governing party that you could never align yourself with it or use it as a platform. With this in mind the choice of subject and medium should be considered. Here are some of the artworks currently standing tall in the AVA Gallery.
Upon invitation, Cheryl graced us with her presence and knowledge to walk us through some of the carefully selected art pieces of this exhibition. Here is a sneak peak of some of those artworks standing tall in the AVA Gallery.
Find out more from the exhibition HERE