Castellani House anniversary exhibition opens
Stabroek News
May 25, 2003
An exhibition currently on at the National Art Gallery, Castellani House, is showcasing works by artists whose styles and subject matter reflect the spirit of Guyana through its people, their way of life and the physical and visionary landscapes of their surroundings.
The exhibition titled ‘An Anniversary of Exhibition’ was launched on Thursday to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of the gallery which was opened in May of 1993.
The public can view this exhibition until June 25. Gallery hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays and 2:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturdays.
Elfrieda Bissember, Curator of the gallery, during opening remarks noted that a home for the national collection of art meant the stability to execute long-planned and painstaking tasks, such as the written and photographic inventory of the collection.
Bissember said the works in the current exhibition ran the gamut of expression from the most gentle essays in realism and representation to the most challenging non-representational compositions in painting and sculpture.
The works of the artists, she said, reflected the changes and developments in Guyanese society, and are therefore a visual record of the history and culture of the Guyanese people. And the gallery’s role will be to continue as a place privileged to hold such works, to inspire and affirm identify - an embodiment of Guyana, its past, present and future.
Meanwhile, former President of Guyana, Janet Jagan, as chairman of the management committee at Castellani House, in her remarks noted that over the years the gallery had catalogued the nation’s collection and had added valuable pieces.
Jagan said the house has served as a beacon to Guyanese artists, with valuable exhibitions being held every year, encouraging young artists and honouring those of the past.
