THE first exhibition in artSPACE durban’s newly refurbished space opens on Saturday, March 5 at 11am. Lovers of fine art will be able to view Anthea Martin’s work in Birds and Man at 3 Millar Road (off Umgeni Road) in Durban until the end of March.

Speaking about the exhibition and her inspiration Martin said: “Birds kept appearing in my collages, so called me to question their presence and to reflect on their beauty and ability to survive our changing world climate and destruction of their habitat.

“Man and birds have had a long connection that encompasses centuries of beliefs, superstition and facts about birds. As birds can negotiate the heavenly heights they were thought to be messengers of the Gods. Omens were read from the appearance of certain types of birds such as owls and ravens as harbingers of birth, death or foretelling significant events. Eagles, Hawks and other birds of prey were frequently used as symbols of power and might.

“On the earthly plane, birds are used for hunting to procure food and for sport.  Their feathers have adorned our bodies in the past and present. Their quills wrote in ink our histories. Literature has endless references to birds in poems, prose, fairy and folk tales, which explore their enduring power to fascinate us.”

Martin is a practising artist and teacher and has been involved in the Durban art world for many years, firstly having her own gallery in Westville, then as Director of The African Art Centre for 13 years. She has exhibited widely in Durban and other places in South Africa.

The exhibition runs until Thursday, March 31. And while you at artSPACE take a sneak peak at the studios.

The gallery is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Saturday from 10am to 1 pm. Inquiries: 031 312 0793, http://www.artspace-durban.com, http://www.artworksartspace.blogspot.com or the Facebook page artspacedurban