EAST London artists were left seething after a commission to create mosaic plaques for the German Settlers Monument on the beachfront was awarded to a Cape Town company.
They said several artists in Buffalo City were more than capable of doing the work and that the snub was an insult to local creative abilities.
The mosaics will replace bronze plaques at Heroes Park which were ripped off the memorial’s walls by thieves in the late 1990s.
They will depict German settler history in the Eastern Cape and will be unveiled mid-January, according to Ann Bryant Art Gallery curator Leon du Preez.
He said a BCM-run competition to design the winning layout of the plaques had not been well supported but was won by retired East London architect John Kingsley-Hall, who was awarded R25000.
Artists were then invited to provide quotes on the implementation of the mosaic and this work had been awarded to a Cape Town firm called Mosaic Works, despite their quote being higher than that of local artists.
The work is being executed in Cape Town at a cost of R119000 and will be shipped to the city upon completion. Du Preez said the German consulate was funding the mosaic component of the project.
East London artist Bernard Barry, who put in a quote for the work, said he initially thought it “wonderful” that local artists were being sourced for the work.
“The work didn’t have to come to me – there are other people in East London who are also more than capable,” said Barry, who has completed several public mosaic artworks, including a large mural at a Vincent pizzeria.
But Du Preez said the German Settler Memorial committee, which consists of BCM officials and members of the German Consulate, had decided to go with the Cape Town company because it was “not too happy” with portfolios submitted by local artists.
“They wanted a professional job done in a short time span. There is a lot of money riding on this and if there was a failure, it would reflect badly on the committee. They also wanted (to appoint) a company rather than an artist because if there are any comebacks it is easier to deal with,” said Du Preez who is not a member of the committee.
“We did originally want to do it with a local artist, but that artist pulled out. I had people in mind, but the committee wasn’t (in agreement).”
He said the decision to replace the bronze plaques with mosaics to commemorate about 7000 Germans who settled in the province in the 19th century was made because thieves were less likely to steal mosaics which are also more modern and colourful.
Barry said he had been approached by Du Preez to submit a quote, which he had done. “I have a history of tackling big public projects and I could have done the job as could several others in the city.”
Another artist, who does not want to be named and who has German settler roots, said she submitted a quote and could not understand why the work had gone to a big company.
“I don’t think it’s fair when we have talent locally. These plaques will now be done by someone who will never see them again.”
City artists angered at snub
They said several artists in Buffalo City were more than capable of doing the work and that the snub was an insult to local creative abilities.
The mosaics will replace bronze plaques at Heroes Park which were ripped off the memorial’s walls by thieves in the late 1990s.
They will depict German settler history in the Eastern Cape and will be unveiled mid-January, according to Ann Bryant Art Gallery curator Leon du Preez.
He said a BCM-run competition to design the winning layout of the plaques had not been well supported but was won by retired East London architect John Kingsley-Hall, who was awarded R25000.
Artists were then invited to provide quotes on the implementation of the mosaic and this work had been awarded to a Cape Town firm called Mosaic Works, despite their quote being higher than that of local artists.
The work is being executed in Cape Town at a cost of R119000 and will be shipped to the city upon completion. Du Preez said the German consulate was funding the mosaic component of the project.
East London artist Bernard Barry, who put in a quote for the work, said he initially thought it “wonderful” that local artists were being sourced for the work.
“The work didn’t have to come to me – there are other people in East London who are also more than capable,” said Barry, who has completed several public mosaic artworks, including a large mural at a Vincent pizzeria.
But Du Preez said the German Settler Memorial committee, which consists of BCM officials and members of the German Consulate, had decided to go with the Cape Town company because it was “not too happy” with portfolios submitted by local artists.
“They wanted a professional job done in a short time span. There is a lot of money riding on this and if there was a failure, it would reflect badly on the committee. They also wanted (to appoint) a company rather than an artist because if there are any comebacks it is easier to deal with,” said Du Preez who is not a member of the committee.
“We did originally want to do it with a local artist, but that artist pulled out. I had people in mind, but the committee wasn’t (in agreement).”
He said the decision to replace the bronze plaques with mosaics to commemorate about 7000 Germans who settled in the province in the 19th century was made because thieves were less likely to steal mosaics which are also more modern and colourful.
Barry said he had been approached by Du Preez to submit a quote, which he had done. “I have a history of tackling big public projects and I could have done the job as could several others in the city.”
Another artist, who does not want to be named and who has German settler roots, said she submitted a quote and could not understand why the work had gone to a big company.
“I don’t think it’s fair when we have talent locally. These plaques will now be done by someone who will never see them again.”
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