Inside the Mind and Heart of a Collector:
David Arment and South African Telephone Wire Art
Sunday, January 19 | 2 PM
Reception / Doors open at 1:30 PM
Since at least the 16th century, the African continent has been home to intricate creations fashioned from copper and brass wire; but the art form known today as telephone wire art has its more recent origins in the wire embellishments on sticks and beer pot covers (izimbenge) first fashioned by Black workers during the Apartheid decades. Employing coated wire that became available with the advent of telephone lines, these unidentified artists produced pieces from salvaged telephone wire, creating desirable items, sought by travelers in search of “Zulu” souvenirs. After Apartheid, the pioneering work of the Bartel Arts Trust and Nedbank Arts and Culture Trust opened the door for an emerging contemporary art form—telephone wire art—that combines innovation and experimentation with traditional methods, motifs, and forms.
This presentation will focus on David Arment’s life as a major collector of South African telephone wire art: How he got started, what keeps him going, how extensive the collection is at this point, how he lives with a major collection. He will talk about why he and his husband Jim Rimelspach have gifted part of the collection to a museum while they are still actively building the collection. For the FOFA audience that is passionately interested in the handmade, the traditional arts, innovation in tradition, this glimpse into the mind and heart of a collector is sure to be an enlightening and entertaining event. In preparation, please come to MOIFA and tour the exhibition before this event!
Seating is limited. Please reserve your spot here. Registration is free for FOFA Members.
