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. [Retun to the Berstein Portfolio]         HILDA BERNSTEIN (1915 - 2005) Hilda Bernstein is an artist, journalist and author who fled South Africa in 1964 to escape arrest for anti-apartheid political activism. Bernstein was a member of the Johannesburg City Council and later founded the Transvaal Peace Council and the Federation of South African Women. In 1946 she was arrested with others in connection with a strike of black workers in the gold mines. She was found guilty and given a suspended sentence. During the 50's and 60's she received banning orders - prohibition against attending any suspected anti-government gatherings, or being a member of any one of more than twenty-six different banned organizations. Hilda's husband Rusty was one of the defendants in the infamous Rivonia trials of 1964. He was the only one found not guilty, but was then rearrested and then given bail. The police then came to arrest Hilda. She went into hiding. At this point Hilda and Rusty soon realized that their only chance for political survival was to escape, which they did by crossing the border into Botswana and eventually to England where they now reside. Hilda's career as a graphic artist began in England. She attended art classes and learned etching in London. Bernstein has had numerous shows of her etchings. Her work not only portrays the horrors of the apartheid regime but also in contrast the beauty of the country and its people. Besides the South African scene she has also brought to life in here art work specific views of London and the European continent. She is the author of several books concerning the struggle of the South African people against apartheid:"No. 46 - Steve Biko"; "The World That Was Ours"; "For Their Triumphs and For Their Tears - Women in Apartheid South Africa"; "The Rift - The Exile Experience of South Africans." The Guernica Gallery has been fortunate in showing Bernstein's work in Santa Barbara, CA.; a retrospective of her work took place in Santa Barbara in March, 1994. [Berstein Portfolio | Top]