Tuesday, March 1, 2011

André and Charles reminisce after a superb lunch

Saturday February 19, 2011 : Lunch with André & Val van Vuuren in Riebeek Kasteel, Western Cape

It was another scorcher as my father and I stepped into the car to travel an hour out of Cape Town to the house where André and Val now reside. It was clear that we were driving into the winelands, every intersection had a few locals selling off their access grapes: white, pink & red. Charles just waved , "nie vandag baas".

Previously the van Vuuren's lived in Jo'burg and were always in close proximity to Bill's house/studio in Sandton. André admits that Bill was one of his greatest influences and friends, encouraging André to continue in all his artistic endevours. André then dug into his archives and found an interview that Bill had conducted. The last question in particular made me chuckle (was Bill just fishing for compliments?) :

ARTLOOK, August 1971
André van Vuuren interviewed by Bill Hart



I was very pleased to find out that Val & André own one of the multiples of Tension Tower. When I asked André about how Bill might have acquired the commission, he responded that it was Linda Goodman, owner of the Goodman Gallery and Bill's longest running gallerist who had offered him the task. Linda is connected in the medical field as members of her family are (or were) practising doctors.

"Tension Tower" Bill Hart (date unknown)
André is presently exhibiting his work in Johannesburg at Graham's Fine Art Gallery

"Wildflowers" André van Vuuren, 2010
Oil on Canvas, 60 x 70 cm