NAKED: CREATIVE COLLECTIVE

Artists to express their talent with fashion, slam poetry, dance, music and installation performances.

Following on the success of the Naked and Red Eye parties – contemporary fusions of art, music, fashion and dance – comes Naked: Creative Collective.

It all happens in the Durban City Hall precinct on May 16 as a send off for the globe-trotting international project of Make Art/Stop Aids. With the Not Alone exhibition at the Durban Art Gallery as a backdrop and inspiration, artists will express their talent with fashion, slam poetry, dance, music and installation performances.

The line-up includes Ewok, the Midsummer Night’s Dream cast, Spit Munky, DJs Funky G and Rolly, Hetto Playaz and highlights from Jomba!

The edgy fashion element comes from the Linea Academy whose new generation students were encouraged to explore “fashion as activism”. Their garments will be integrated into a performance work choreographed by award-winning David Gouldie and members of the Flatfoot Dance Company.

From 21h00, the action moves across the road to the King Club in the Playhouse complex where the “put it out there” Dirty Skirts indie rock band will get the party pumping. The four-piece band from Cape Town released their debut album, On a Stellar Bender, in 2007 and have since played on every main stage of South Africa’s festival circuit and toured the UK, USA and United Arab Emirates.

“Durban is crying out for innovative events and Naked: Creative Collective certainly fits the bill,” said producer Gouldie. “However, this is an ambitious project with a strong emphasis on ‘local is lekker’ content so we need Durban’s support!”

The thrust of the Naked parties has been to revolutionise Durban’s night life and art scene and to show off the city and its talent. “Which is why so many people who really care about Durban and its culture literally come to the party – like Models International, Production Projects and XPR Sound,” adds Gouldie. “They and all the artists involved provide their invaluable expertise (and infrastructure) to give our city a boost and to make us all feel proud.”

And the good news is that this will be the first of many events in the inner city aimed at celebrating Durban.

Tickets for part one of Naked: Creative Collective at the DAG and the after-party at King Club are R40 (available at the door). Tickets for the after-party only are R50 (available at the door).

Safe parking is provided at Albany and Royal Hotel parking garages.