Nelson Mandela Bay
South Africa
GFI Art Gallery
About Us
The Ron Belling Art Gallery was established in 2000 in Port Elizabeth. The focus has gradually shifted over the years with the changing times and the growing interest in the visual arts arena. The Gallery name has since been changed to the Gutsche Family Investment Art Gallery (GFI Art Gallery) and the building has over the years been sensitively adjusted to accommodate its ever changing role.
The Gallery is a landmark building on Park Drive in Port Elizabeth and is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the city. In 1936, Axel Stockelbach, then managing director of Ford South Africa, commissioned the first woman Architect to qualify in South Africa, Gertruida Brinkman, to design his house, “Ridgewood”.
The house was purchased in 1988 by Port Elizabeth businessman, Philipp Rowland Gutsche Senior. On his death in 2000, leaving behind a legacy of charity and goodwill, it was his wish that the residence be converted into an art gallery.
The purpose at the time was to house the Ron Belling Military Aviation Collection of Oil Paintings which had been acquired by the Gutsche family.
To this day Mr Gutsche’s daughter, Dorothea Moors, chairs the Gallery Board and together with the Board Members and Gallery Staff, Mr Gutsche’s legacy is upheld through the passionate promotion of visual arts in the Eastern Cape and beyond.
Current Exhibition
U N S E T T L E D
GROUP EXHIBITION – TEXTILE ART PE & KEISKAMMA ART PROJECT
Fibre Art has evolved from traditional crafts to a respected fine art medium. The exhibition encompasses wonderful fibre art pieces that emphasize innovation, technique, and the interplay between traditional and contemporary practices. The theme Unsettled has led artists to explore various visual narratives, multimedia works, and collaborative installations. It has furthermore encouraged them to reflect on the different dimensions of being “unsettled”, signifying a focus on things that disrupt, challenge, or evoke discomfort or unease. Artworks tell stories of displacement, migration, or personal transformation.
Exhibiting artists include members of Textile Art Port Elizabeth (TAPE), Keiskamma Art Project as well as national Fibre Art groups: Textile Art Group Gauteng (TAGG), Textile Art Group Southern Cape (TAGS), Fibre Artists Cape Town (FACT) and Fibreworks, as well as individual fibre artists. TAPE & Keiskamma Art Project play a pivotal role in creating awareness and the promotion of Textile Art in the Eastern Cape.
Dates: 6 sep – 16 oct 2024 for public viewing
Upcoming Exhibitions
TEXTILE ARTS PORT ELIZABETH (TAPE) & THE KEISKAMMA ART PROJECT: 5 Sep – 16 Oct 2024
JONATHAN VAN DER WALT: 24 Oct – 27 Nov 2024
CREATIVE BLOCK & EASTERN CAPE CERAMICS: 5 Dec – Jan 2025