02 Dec 2014

Bathoen Museum board secretary, Toro Mosimakoko, has called on Southern District leadership to implement the council motion which resolved that the council should hand over the King George premises to Bathoen museum.

Speaking during Kgosi Bathoen II Memorial Museum art exhibition on November 28, Mosimakoko said once implemented, lack of space; in particular, a hall needed for display of exhibits could be a thing of the past. That withstanding, Mosimakoko commended exhibitors for the display of exquisite works and urged them to never give up.

He said the low turn-out of members of the public should not discourage artists but that they should forge ahead with their God given talents, sharpen them more to raise the quality of their products thereby increasing their public appeal.

Parading her wares, Pearl Baitemi of goora-Tsima ward who makes ladies hand bags, blending the African flair onto them by bringing various ‘Mateise’ designs to them said the exhibition presented her with an opportunity to network with other designers especially those specialising in African Print dresses.

“I really want to create a lasting impression with my bags where ladies from all over would want to have these nice bags for various occasions and so far people are showing a lot of interest in my bags,” she said adding that as somebody who likes beautiful things, the bags would complement women with the love for African print dresses or mateise.

For his part, Jade Muyuthu of Kanye Artworks expressed their desire as artist to have a market centre in Kanye. The centre, he said, would not only showcase their products but go a long way in assisting market such products to potential customers.

He therefore urged fellow artist s to continue toiling and improve their skills and churn-out the best products in the market.

One of the organisers’ Mpho Keoepile decried zero representation of young people in the board that runs the affairs of the museum; something he said needed to be addressed forthwith. He therefore called on the museum management to bring in young people aboard so that their interest may also be represented.

Bathoen II Memorial Museum Curator, Ms Onkgopotse Pule said the exhibition was the museum’s way of giving artists a rare platform to showcase their wares to members of the public, to network and stir interest of people with the love for such products. ENDS