Visitors flock to Omaruru Artist Trail

This past weekend (21 – 23 September 2012) the town of Omaruru, famed as a haven for Namibian and international artists, once again hosted the popular Omaruru Artist Trail.

Visitors streamed to Omaruru and the overwhelming response was that the Omaruru Artist Trail was “amazing, calm” and a “great place to take a stroll, take in art and see beautiful things”.

According to the organisers the event was well attended and many artists benefited from sales and exposure.

Hundreds of people flocked to the town, situated in the Erongo region, to witness artists and jeweleers trade their craft, or to see the handiwork of a number of painters, potters and jewellers.

See our photos here: [nggallery id=6]

The emphasis at the Omaruru Artist Trail this year was on live demonstrations by artists of various types of crafts. Some of the crafts on display was pottery on the wheel, beading, wire workshops for kids, marble sculpting, paper craft, and the cutting and polishing of semi-precious stones.

Several exhibitions of oil paintings, sketches, sculptures and metal ornaments, and photography, cermaics and pottery at various artist hotspots around the town.

For many, the shady town of Omaruru, where huge trees have taken root alongside the Omaruru river, has become the epi-centre of Namibian art.

And the artists have not let anyone down.

“For passion not for profit” 

That is the credo from which the Omaruru Artist Trail committee began their journey, six years ago.

Some of the artists presenting their crafts at this years Omaruru Artist Trail, included Alpheus Mvula, an internationally recognised Namibia artist. Alpheus is an abstract stone sculpture as well as making card board prints.

Alpheus togehter with Don Stevenson, presented a sculpting and drawing studio at the Omuntu Garden.

Other artists included Ulla Vollprecht, who combines her love for ceramics with her passion for nature.

Anette Meyer, owner of the Touch Goldsmith emigrated from Germany to Namibia in 2002. Since then, she has been inspired by Namibia’s landscape and creates amazing jewellery set pieces. On Saturday, Axel Niedermeyer demonstrated gemstone cutting and carving.

A painting exhibition took place at Wronsky Hall, where Freya Rust and Martin Bosman displayed their arts. Also displayer her beadwork there, was Susanne Blochberger. Christian Liebenberg displayed his intricately designed jewellery cases alongside her.

At the Kristall Kellerei, visitors were treated to wine and schapps tastings – all of these products made and bottled right there in Omaruru.