Nicolette van Rensberg will exhibit African landscapes at the Blue Caterpillar Art Gallery from March 1 to 31.
The Blue Caterpillar Gallery is situated at the Butterflies for Africa complex in Pietermaritzburg. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday from 09h00 to 16h30, Saturdays 09h30 to 15h30 and Sundays 10h30 to 15h30. More information from Jeni Cramer on 033 387 1356 or email art@butterflies.co.za or visit www.butterflies.co.za
Monday, February 28, 2011
HOME AND AWAY
(”Melodious Journey through cosmos” - 1974 chalk and charcoal on paper by Fikile Magadelela Coll: Ifa Lethu Foundation)Home and Away: A Return To The South is an exhibition curated for the Ifa Lethu Foundation and is currently running at the Durban Art Gallery.
For the last five years the Ifa Lethu Foundation has been instrumental in repatriating South African art that was produced during the apartheid years but which found its way overseas due to the fact that there was no market for the work of black South African artists in the country at the time.
Home and Away: A Return To The South explores this previously lost artistic heritage alongside the Art Against Apartheid collection. Curated by Carol Brown, former director of the Durban Art Gallery and now an independent curator, the show examines the similarities and differences between works produced by South African artists experiencing the oppression of apartheid and those from beyond our shores who created works in support of the struggle. Although produced from different perspectives, the two collections are united in their focus on human rights.
The exhibition was first shown at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg where the historic nature of the space – once a prison, now the supreme symbol of justice in South Africa – provided a highly appropriate context for the two collections. It then moved onto the Iziko Museum - Michaelis Collection Old Town House an equally significant space as it usually houses the Dutch collection. This, with its colonial reminders, was an elegant and beautiful building which showed the collection in an equally interesting manner.
The show recently received a full eight-page feature in the prestigious Art in America journal where the well-known art critic and writer, Steven Dubin, who writes that "Representing, literally, the return of the repressed, the Ifa Lethu cache offers a rich vein of material yet to be fully explored, and holds the potential to substantially expand our perceptions about South African art history."
Home and Away: A Return To The South runs until March 30 at The Durban Art Gallery which is situated on the second floor of the Durban City Hall, entrance in Anton Lembede (formerly Smith) Street opposite the Playhouse. More information on 031 311 2262/6.
FRANSIE PRETORIUS ART CLASSES
Discover Your Creative Potential through Art.
Part time art classes in drawing and painting techniques are offered in a large variety of media by well-known Durban artist and teacher, Fransie Pretorius.
“By making a study of art, it will help you to become more aware of the world around you and teach you more about yourself,” explains Fransie. “You will have opportunities to develop your technical skills and to explore your own hidden ideals and desires, which could become powerful tools in understanding and expressing yourself. Most importantly, you will discover and acknowledge your own value, build up self esteem and experience the sweet taste of achievement and self-realization through making art.”
If you are really committed to LEARN ABOUT ART, No previous experience is required. Fransie believes that all people have hidden skills and creative potential that can be unlocked and developed through right brain thinking. It is amazing to see how much each student improves after attending only a couple of classes. She is well-versed in teaching art at all levels up to tertiary level therefore more experienced artists will also benefit from attending her art classes. She taught a variety of subjects at DUT before retiring from her position as Associate Director in the Fine Art Department at the end of 2005.
Fransie’s extensive field of interests includes Fine Art, Photography, Design, ceramics, dress design etc. She is passionate about drawing in any media but is particularly fond of charcoal and pastel drawing. She is represented by her art in all the major art galleries in KZN, including the Durban Art Gallery and The Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg, as well as other private and public collections.
She teaches art and technical skills in a range of drawing and painting media, inclusive of water-colours, oils and acrylic painting. Her interests are expressed in various genre including Life Drawing and paintings of Interiors, Still life, Landscapes and Botanical art.
At present Fransie offers Art Classes at her home in Westville on Wednesday mornings and on Saturday afternoons. More information on 031 266 6422 or 082 929 9685 or e-mail fransiep@telkomsa.net
Part time art classes in drawing and painting techniques are offered in a large variety of media by well-known Durban artist and teacher, Fransie Pretorius.
“By making a study of art, it will help you to become more aware of the world around you and teach you more about yourself,” explains Fransie. “You will have opportunities to develop your technical skills and to explore your own hidden ideals and desires, which could become powerful tools in understanding and expressing yourself. Most importantly, you will discover and acknowledge your own value, build up self esteem and experience the sweet taste of achievement and self-realization through making art.”
If you are really committed to LEARN ABOUT ART, No previous experience is required. Fransie believes that all people have hidden skills and creative potential that can be unlocked and developed through right brain thinking. It is amazing to see how much each student improves after attending only a couple of classes. She is well-versed in teaching art at all levels up to tertiary level therefore more experienced artists will also benefit from attending her art classes. She taught a variety of subjects at DUT before retiring from her position as Associate Director in the Fine Art Department at the end of 2005.
Fransie’s extensive field of interests includes Fine Art, Photography, Design, ceramics, dress design etc. She is passionate about drawing in any media but is particularly fond of charcoal and pastel drawing. She is represented by her art in all the major art galleries in KZN, including the Durban Art Gallery and The Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg, as well as other private and public collections.
She teaches art and technical skills in a range of drawing and painting media, inclusive of water-colours, oils and acrylic painting. Her interests are expressed in various genre including Life Drawing and paintings of Interiors, Still life, Landscapes and Botanical art.
At present Fransie offers Art Classes at her home in Westville on Wednesday mornings and on Saturday afternoons. More information on 031 266 6422 or 082 929 9685 or e-mail fransiep@telkomsa.net
ABANTU BAKITHI / OUR PEOPLE
("Ezinyathelweni zikamkhulu" by Lalelani Mbhele)Recently mounted at the African Art Centre is a new exhibition titled Abantu Bakithi / Our People highlighting a selection of Durban’s rich and diverse community of artists and their works. Artists represented are Welcome Danca; Sibusiso Duma; Bheki Khambule, Xolile Mazibuko; Lalelani Mbhele and Mbhekeni Mbili.
The African Art Centre prides itself in nurturing young talent and encouraging the production of works of creativity and innovation. It provides an outlet and public exposure for more than 1,000 artists and crafters and in so doing enable them to generate a sustainable income for themselves.
On view until March 13, 2011, these eclectic works of art on Abantu Bakithi / Our People reflect and celebrate life. The selection of artists - some known to the Centre and three newcomers - have used social commentary as their major theme and reflect on issues including traditional Zulu culture and religion, township life and the communities in which they live.
Lalelani Mbhele’s paintings in bright, vibrant colour are unique and carefully executed. Prominent in his artworks is an added element of humour and wit. He says that his paintings are a vehicle through which he communicates his passion for the people who surround him and are part of his everyday existence.
Xolile Mazibuko, one of KwaZulu-Natal’s young up and coming artists, successfully uses the medium of painting to convey and express her views on her culture and how she experiences life as a young black woman from a traditional Zulu background. She refers to herself as a profoundly spiritual person and a follower of the Shembe faith. She attests to being deeply aggrieved for her community and for the disadvantaged and often makes reference to the neglect of basic human rights in her paintings. In 2009 Xolile was selected as one of the top 100 artists for the Spier Contemporary Exhibition.
Sibusiso Duma, recently selected as one of ten finalists of the ABSA Atelier 2010, brings to the exhibition a unique painting delicately executed in vibrant colour and in his traditional style of pointillism.
Mbhekeni Mbili, one of KZN’s distinctive voices in the visual arts, has produced two paintings which illustrate the modernist language of “township art” to explore contemporary issues. His humorous, narrative paintings are a vehicle through which he communicates his personal interpretation of the world in which he lives. Mbhekeni’s work is sought after in both local and international markets.
Welcome Danca, well-known for social commentary and interpretations of the traditional Zulu way of life and daily observations of the city environment has in his new paintings directed his focus on the life of hostel dwellers living in KZN. Poignantly executed, Danca effectively depicts the mysterious, gloomy environment and austerity of hostel life.
Bheki Khambule‘s paintings depict his daily observations of the city environment, the space, the people and the culture. Bheki Khambule was the winner of the 2008 Nivea Art Start Award, an award aimed at emerging artists in KZN.
Abantu Bakithi / Our People runs until March 13 at the African Art Centre at 94 Florida Road, Morningside. More information from the Director, Sharon Crampton, on 031 312 3805 or email africanartcentre@afri-art.co.za or visit www.afriart.co.za
ARTSPACE SHOWCASE
artSPACE durban offers the opportunity to showcase and put on sale selected works of art from March 7 to 26 in the Middle Gallery.
“The selected works we are looking for to exhibit and hopefully sell for you have to be by known artists with a history of exhibitions and who are already in collections,” explains a gallery representative.
Works should be delivered to the gallery by February 28 during normal opening hours. For this event artSPACE Durban has reduced their handling/admin fee to 5% (basis the selling price at the gallery) and the selling commission to 14.5%.
More information from Claus or Amy-Jo on 031 312 0793 or 083 252 8068 or info@artspace-durban.com
“The selected works we are looking for to exhibit and hopefully sell for you have to be by known artists with a history of exhibitions and who are already in collections,” explains a gallery representative.
Works should be delivered to the gallery by February 28 during normal opening hours. For this event artSPACE Durban has reduced their handling/admin fee to 5% (basis the selling price at the gallery) and the selling commission to 14.5%.
More information from Claus or Amy-Jo on 031 312 0793 or 083 252 8068 or info@artspace-durban.com
MIDSOMER MURDERS
A new series of the highly popular Midsomer Murders is now running on BBC Entertainment (channel 120 on DStv) on Sundays at 16h40.
A planning dispute ends up with a murder being committed after a star of the Midsomer Conservation Society believes that her neighbours are involved in a money-making development scam. The inimitable Inspector Barnaby is called in to investigate.
A planning dispute ends up with a murder being committed after a star of the Midsomer Conservation Society believes that her neighbours are involved in a money-making development scam. The inimitable Inspector Barnaby is called in to investigate.
A WINK AND A SMILE
A Wink And A Smile is a new music revue which combines the talents of three of KZN’s most popular entertainers as they take a musical road-trip looking at Love, Life and Laughter!
Lisa Bobbert, Evan Roberts and Anthony Stonier, all multi-award winning artists, combine their talents for the first time ever! Acclaimed jazz pianist Evan Roberts has devised new and wonderful arrangements to some well-known and lesser-known classics. The line-up includes Here’s to Life, Otto Titsling, All by Myself, The 12 Daze of Christmas and a marvellous medley entitled Songs we Heard which, in itself, might explain why this trio go together like a wink and a smile!
A Wink And A Smile is 70 minutes long and has performances on March 11 and 12 at 19h00 for 19h30. Tickets R110 – patrons may take their own drinks, glasses and ice provided. The venue is a private home in Glenwood near the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Bookings on 082 882 9869 or email: clarence@icon.co.za (preferable) There is no confirmed booking without payment – banking details and directions will be given on bookings).
Lisa Bobbert, Evan Roberts and Anthony Stonier, all multi-award winning artists, combine their talents for the first time ever! Acclaimed jazz pianist Evan Roberts has devised new and wonderful arrangements to some well-known and lesser-known classics. The line-up includes Here’s to Life, Otto Titsling, All by Myself, The 12 Daze of Christmas and a marvellous medley entitled Songs we Heard which, in itself, might explain why this trio go together like a wink and a smile!
A Wink And A Smile is 70 minutes long and has performances on March 11 and 12 at 19h00 for 19h30. Tickets R110 – patrons may take their own drinks, glasses and ice provided. The venue is a private home in Glenwood near the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Bookings on 082 882 9869 or email: clarence@icon.co.za (preferable) There is no confirmed booking without payment – banking details and directions will be given on bookings).
WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE
Chris Tarrant presents a fourth series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? from Tuesdays to Thursdays at 19h30 on BBC Entertainment (channel 120 on DStv)
This show has broken records around the world, won numerous awards and has been the setting for some of the best moments in TV history. "50:50", "Phone A Friend" and "Ask The Audience" are all trademarked and phrases such as "Is that your final answer?" are so well known that they are often used in everyday conversation, across the globe.
For the audience, a great part of the show’s appeal is in playing along at home, which brings an almost interactive facet to the show, as Chris teases contestants and viewers alike before revealing the answers.
This show has broken records around the world, won numerous awards and has been the setting for some of the best moments in TV history. "50:50", "Phone A Friend" and "Ask The Audience" are all trademarked and phrases such as "Is that your final answer?" are so well known that they are often used in everyday conversation, across the globe.
For the audience, a great part of the show’s appeal is in playing along at home, which brings an almost interactive facet to the show, as Chris teases contestants and viewers alike before revealing the answers.
BARNYARD AUDITIONS
The Barnyard Theatre Productions will hold auditions for hopeful performers on March 10 at the Gateway venue.
Duck Chowles of The Barnyard Theatres will audition both male and female vocalists, as well as any musicians for future Barnyard productions.
Performers are requested to be at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway at 09h30 on the day to register, with the audition process beginning at 10h00. Singers are to prepare two songs, one of which one must be a rock song, and should bring backing tracks. Musicians are to bring their instruments.
More information from Debbie Davidson on 083 776 7979 or the venue on 031 566 3045.
Duck Chowles of The Barnyard Theatres will audition both male and female vocalists, as well as any musicians for future Barnyard productions.
Performers are requested to be at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway at 09h30 on the day to register, with the audition process beginning at 10h00. Singers are to prepare two songs, one of which one must be a rock song, and should bring backing tracks. Musicians are to bring their instruments.
More information from Debbie Davidson on 083 776 7979 or the venue on 031 566 3045.
SHAKESPEARE AND SWANS
The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s fourth concert in the current World Symphony Series season starts with one of Berlioz’s early but great works inspired by Shakespeare - Grande Ouverture du Roi Lear, Op. 4, H. 53 (Grand Overture to King Lear). Berlioz’s approach to the King Lear tragedy is one of probing character studies; along with music depicting Lear’s descent into madness, Berlioz employs one of his most beautiful melodies, perhaps as a representation of Cordelia’s purity. The first half ends with one of the major Romantic cello concertos -Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1, cast in a single continuous movement.
The orchestra will take audiences to the shores of Swan Lake after the interval, in a performance of a selection of numbers from the beloved ballet, which contains some of Tchaikovsky’s most enchanting music.
The young and accomplished cellist Georgi Anichenko will be joining highly sought-after conductor Emil Tabakov for this concert. Tabakov’s impressive discography includes a complete Mahler cycle with the Bulgarian Philharmonic Orchestra, and we are delighted to host him.
The concert begins on March 3 at 19h30 in the City Hall, preceded by a lecture hosted by Friends of Music in the Royal Hotel at 18h15. Book through Computicket.
The orchestra will take audiences to the shores of Swan Lake after the interval, in a performance of a selection of numbers from the beloved ballet, which contains some of Tchaikovsky’s most enchanting music.
The young and accomplished cellist Georgi Anichenko will be joining highly sought-after conductor Emil Tabakov for this concert. Tabakov’s impressive discography includes a complete Mahler cycle with the Bulgarian Philharmonic Orchestra, and we are delighted to host him.
The concert begins on March 3 at 19h30 in the City Hall, preceded by a lecture hosted by Friends of Music in the Royal Hotel at 18h15. Book through Computicket.
COX & NEWMAN BACK IN DURBS
Steve Newman and Tony CoxLiterally thousands of people have asked this question? Are Steve Newman and Tony Cox ever going to play together again? The answer takes the form of their current concert tour of South Africa which began in January in the Baxter in Cape Town, a theatre that goes back with them into history. It was here, back in 1982, when they had their first big series of shows and ran out of material to perform, so for their third and final encore, they famously kissed each other on stage in front of a bursting Concert Hall audience. The crowd went nuts. These concerts resulted in the infamous 101 Ways To Use the Acoustic Guitar album that propelled them to national status.
After their tour of the UK in 2005 they decided to take a break after over two decades of constant touring together. They have a worldwide performance record, unequalled by any other South African guitarist.
Both Newman and Cox have long and distinguished careers as soloists. They are the recipients of multiple awards over the years and have each collaborated with a small army of other finely-honed musicians from South Africa and the rest of the world. However, the duo has a special place in the hearts and minds of folks who have seen them in concert. Their irreverent approach to old classics is legendary and have tickled the ribs of a multitude spanning three generations. Indeed their shows are unique in that their jaw-dropping guitar skills can attract three generations of the same family!
The series of concerts is a celebration - not only of their musical reunion and a staggering 30 years of performance together, but also for their back-to-back birthdays (Tony January 24 and Steve January 25). The shows promise guitar nights like no other, delivered by two masters of the guitar performing a mix of their side-splitting golden oldies with new material.
The Durban leg of the series sees Cox & Newman - Return of the Road Warriors running from March 8 to 13 at Moonshadow at the Old German Club. Book at Computicket. More information on 031 266 0836.
If you’ve seen them before, you know what to expect – for newcomers to the Cox/Newman magic, you have a treat in store! (Caroline Smart, artSMart editor)
RICHARD HASLOP
(NB: The former story re Richard Haslop appearing at Howard College Theatre has been replaced by the following as the concert had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.)Richard Haslop will present a programme of blues, as well as traditional (or traditional-sounding) folk music, accompanying himself on slide guitar, dobro and mandolin. This will now take place on March 9 at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music.
Richard Haslop may be better known for his vast record collection, his widely acclaimed radio shows on SAfm - which probably featured the most eclectic range of music ever played on South African radio, and perhaps anywhere else - and for the fact that he has spent the best part of three decades trying, in thousands of print articles, to persuade the public to like the same stuff he does.
He has also lectured in the UKZN Music Department and elsewhere on various aspects of the music business and popular music history, especially African-American music history, and has presented papers, inter alia, at the National Arts Festival’s Winter School in Grahamstown and at the conference of South African Jazz Educators.
However, before any of this, Richard was a musician, and hopes to continue to be one after people no longer care about his opinions. More than anything else, he loves playing blues and traditional and old time folk music and has played guitar, dobro, lap steel, mandolin, bouzouki and tin whistle, solo and in a variety of folk, rock, blues, bluegrass and uncategorisable bands, at numerous festivals around the country, including Splashy Fen, White Mountain, the Four Winds Folk Festival in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town’s Maynardville Folk Festival, Awesome Africa and the Durban International Blues Festival.
Richard says he “has many friends who are much better musicians than he is, but who allow him to play along with them from time to time”, so he has contributed to albums and gigs by Syd Kitchen, Fiona Tozer, Lilo, Famous Curtain Trick, Jim Neversink, Brendon Bussy, Steve Newman and Tony Cox among several others. This time, however, he will be on his own!
The performance at the Centre for Jazz takes place at 17h00 for 17h30. Entrance R30(R10 students). More information on 031 260 3385.
SAM MARAIS FOR SUNDOWNERS
Following its first two highly successful Sundowners events at the Playhouse recently, the third in this innovative series of courtesy entertainment events, geared at social interaction, will be presented by The Playhouse Company on March 4 when popular entertainer Sam Marais will be in the spotlight in the Playhouse’s Main Foyer. So come and chill out at The Playhouse in Durban after work, between 17h30 and 18h30 and enjoy the relaxing ambience. Admission is free, and a cash bar will be open, along with the Playhouse Coffee shop.
Going forward, this exciting new Sundowners initiative will take the form of monthly get-togethers in this format in the Playhouse Main Foyer. Future star acts scheduled to appear on the first Friday of every month will include, among others, well-known Durban musos Brian Thusi and Madala Kunene. More information on 031 369 9555.
REMEMBER RAFI
A concert that pays tribute to the legendary Mohamed Rafi will take place on March 4.
"The evergreen voice of a Legend that graced us with his voice will be etched into the minds of people who listen to Indian music the world over,” says a representative. “The task is to entertain the audience with tunes that reminisce of his famous renditions and to take them on a journey remembering his life. The team is further tasked with engaging the audience into the effect that the voice of Mohamed Rafi had on the South African audience and their perception of Indian cinema over the years.
“The show has been packaged into a piece of artwork so that it neatly translates to the audience the essence of the man’s work. Each unit is carefully rehearsed to synchronise into a beautiful display of entertainment."
Remember Rafi takes place on March 4 at 19h00 at the ABH Patundeen Theatre, Chatsworth.
"The evergreen voice of a Legend that graced us with his voice will be etched into the minds of people who listen to Indian music the world over,” says a representative. “The task is to entertain the audience with tunes that reminisce of his famous renditions and to take them on a journey remembering his life. The team is further tasked with engaging the audience into the effect that the voice of Mohamed Rafi had on the South African audience and their perception of Indian cinema over the years.
“The show has been packaged into a piece of artwork so that it neatly translates to the audience the essence of the man’s work. Each unit is carefully rehearsed to synchronise into a beautiful display of entertainment."
Remember Rafi takes place on March 4 at 19h00 at the ABH Patundeen Theatre, Chatsworth.
GUY BUTTERY IN KLOOF
(Guy Buttery© byTyrone Bradley)Guy Buttery will perform in Kloof on March 4 at Bluestockings. 2010 was an exceptionally profound year for him. Barely moments after winning “Best Instrumental Album” at the South African Music Awards and straight off the plane from a European Festival Tour, he returned home to South Africa for a run at the National Arts Festival and won not one, but two National Awards including the Standard Bank Golden Ovation Award for the Best Music Production of the festival, out of 4,600 acts.
Apart from local achievements, Guy’s worldwide scope and recognition rose exponentially post the release of his third and latest album, Fox Hill Lane. The response Guy received for what he believes to be his most mature album to date was phenomenal. Apart from the obvious accolades surrounding winning awards, Guy met nothing but glowing reports in 2010 on both the musicality and production of Fox Hill Lane with international press. The most noticeable of these being a three-page spread in the latest edition of Guitar Player Magazine (the world’s biggest guitar related publication) which subscribes to over 11 million readers.
Guy Buttery’s performance on March 4 is at 19h30 for 20h00 and Bluestockings is situated at 16 Dan Pienaar Road in Kloof. Tickets R60 booked through Narene on 083 659 3628 or email: narene@telkomsa.net More information at www.guybuttery.co.za
FRANSCHHOEK LITERARY FESTIVAL
The 2011 Franschhoek Literary Festival (FLF) will take place from May 13 to 15 with nearly 100 authors, poets, editors, illustrators and chairpeople.
FLF events are mostly spirited discussions between several writers on a theme, and include fiction and non-fiction authors whose books range from biography and politics to graphic novels.
News is that London-based South African author and former winner of the Sunday Times Fiction Award, Justin Cartwright, will be hotfooting it to Franschhoek after launching his new book, Other People’s Money, and helping to decide on the International Man Booker Prize shortlist with fellow judges in Australia.
The FLF is delighted to be presenting bestselling author Colin Cotterill to South African readers who haven’t yet discovered his gently humorous mysteries set in Laos in the 70’s, starring the National (and only) Coroner, Dr Siri Paiboun. English-born Colin is a teacher and cartoonist who has lived and worked in South-East Asia for a number of years and knows the region well. His website www.colincotterill.com is a treat.
The University of the Free State Vice-chancellor Jonathan Jansen will debate some of the major issues of our time in events titled How to Fix our Schools, Can Books Help to Heal a Nation? and Leadership & Innovation. New collections of his columns in both English and Afrikaans will be published by Bookstorm in time for the FLF: We Need to Talk and Oor Bokdrolletjies en Rosyntjies.
Expect more meaty debates in 1994 And All That with Peter Harris (Birth) and Jonny Steinberg (Little Liberia), chaired by John Maytham; Press Freedom chaired by Justice Malala with, among others, Durban satirical blogger Azad Essa (Zuma’s Bastard) who is coming from Doha where he now works for Al Jazeera; and Outcasts with Carmel Rickard (Thank You, Judge Mostert), Max du Preez (Pale Native) and Jonny Steinberg again, chaired by Jacques Pauw (Little Ice Cream Boy).
Writing Madiba will feature authors who have worked on books about our local hero who has become a world icon: Tim Couzens (Conversations With Myself), Anna Trapido (Hunger for Freedom) and Mike Nicol (Mandela: the Authorised Portrait), chaired by Max du Preez who has been commissioned to write The Rough Guide to Nelson Mandela.
Mike Nicol specialises in crime novels (Black Heart¸ the third book in his Revenge Trilogy, is coming out in May) and will also be appearing in the events What is Krimi? with Jassy Mackenzie (Stolen Lives), Sarah Lotz (Tooth and Nailed) and Sifiso Mzobe (Young Blood), and Skop, Skiet en Donder which promises action-packed dialogue with Tony Park (Silent Predator), Australia’s answer to Wilbur Smith, and Sifiso Mzobe again, chaired by the inimitable Jenny Crwys-Williams.
The full programme will be available on www.flf.co.za towards the end of February.
The FLF is presented in association with Porcupine Ridge Wines and the Sunday Times, and is further made possible through the generosity of Franschhoek guest house owners and voluntary workers who give their time and energy to make it an event to remember. Ticket proceeds and other donations go towards the FLF Library Fund.
FLF events are mostly spirited discussions between several writers on a theme, and include fiction and non-fiction authors whose books range from biography and politics to graphic novels.
News is that London-based South African author and former winner of the Sunday Times Fiction Award, Justin Cartwright, will be hotfooting it to Franschhoek after launching his new book, Other People’s Money, and helping to decide on the International Man Booker Prize shortlist with fellow judges in Australia.
The FLF is delighted to be presenting bestselling author Colin Cotterill to South African readers who haven’t yet discovered his gently humorous mysteries set in Laos in the 70’s, starring the National (and only) Coroner, Dr Siri Paiboun. English-born Colin is a teacher and cartoonist who has lived and worked in South-East Asia for a number of years and knows the region well. His website www.colincotterill.com is a treat.
The University of the Free State Vice-chancellor Jonathan Jansen will debate some of the major issues of our time in events titled How to Fix our Schools, Can Books Help to Heal a Nation? and Leadership & Innovation. New collections of his columns in both English and Afrikaans will be published by Bookstorm in time for the FLF: We Need to Talk and Oor Bokdrolletjies en Rosyntjies.
Expect more meaty debates in 1994 And All That with Peter Harris (Birth) and Jonny Steinberg (Little Liberia), chaired by John Maytham; Press Freedom chaired by Justice Malala with, among others, Durban satirical blogger Azad Essa (Zuma’s Bastard) who is coming from Doha where he now works for Al Jazeera; and Outcasts with Carmel Rickard (Thank You, Judge Mostert), Max du Preez (Pale Native) and Jonny Steinberg again, chaired by Jacques Pauw (Little Ice Cream Boy).
Writing Madiba will feature authors who have worked on books about our local hero who has become a world icon: Tim Couzens (Conversations With Myself), Anna Trapido (Hunger for Freedom) and Mike Nicol (Mandela: the Authorised Portrait), chaired by Max du Preez who has been commissioned to write The Rough Guide to Nelson Mandela.
Mike Nicol specialises in crime novels (Black Heart¸ the third book in his Revenge Trilogy, is coming out in May) and will also be appearing in the events What is Krimi? with Jassy Mackenzie (Stolen Lives), Sarah Lotz (Tooth and Nailed) and Sifiso Mzobe (Young Blood), and Skop, Skiet en Donder which promises action-packed dialogue with Tony Park (Silent Predator), Australia’s answer to Wilbur Smith, and Sifiso Mzobe again, chaired by the inimitable Jenny Crwys-Williams.
The full programme will be available on www.flf.co.za towards the end of February.
The FLF is presented in association with Porcupine Ridge Wines and the Sunday Times, and is further made possible through the generosity of Franschhoek guest house owners and voluntary workers who give their time and energy to make it an event to remember. Ticket proceeds and other donations go towards the FLF Library Fund.
OTHELLO AT THE PLAYHOUSE
Think Theatre’s acclaimed staging of Shakespeare’s Othello is running in the Playhouse Opera until March 11 presented, as previously, in association with the Playhouse Company.
Geared mainly for secondary school learners studying Shakespeare’s stage tragedy as a set work, the production is again directed by award-winning actress Clare Mortimer, herself an accomplished writer and an experienced English teacher.
Othello stars Farai Gwaze in the title role, playing opposite Josette Eales as Desdemona and Clinton Small as Iago, with Janna Ramos-Violante taking the role of Iago’s wife, Emilia. Also featured in the exceptionally strong cast are Loyiso MacDonald, Michael Gritten, Darren King, Marc Kay, Clare Mortimer, Adam Dore, Janna Ramos Violante, Bryan Hiles and Rowan Bartlett.
This production has garnered much critical acclaim during its previous seasons when it played to packed houses. With its themes of racism, love, jealousy and betrayal, Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy remains powerfully relevant to present-day audiences.
The reviews speak for themselves: “It was deeply gratifying to sit through a morning schools performance of Mortimer’s two-hour version of Shakespeare’s Othello and experience a packed audience of high school pupils displaying a genuine enthusiasm for the work, whooping with delight as performers took final bows.” – Billy Suter, The Mercury
“If your child's school hasn't booked seats to see Think Theatre's production of Othello, then start lobbying them to do so now… a truly human story... this production is well directed, well-paced and features some of the best actors in KwaZulu-Natal. Don't miss it.” – Estelle Sinkins, The Witness
Schools performances are Mondays to Fridays at 09h00 and 12h00 daily. Tickets R40 (R60 for adults attending the public performance). Bookings and information re out-of-town performances are through the show’s producer, Margie Coppen, on 083 251 9412.
Geared mainly for secondary school learners studying Shakespeare’s stage tragedy as a set work, the production is again directed by award-winning actress Clare Mortimer, herself an accomplished writer and an experienced English teacher.
Othello stars Farai Gwaze in the title role, playing opposite Josette Eales as Desdemona and Clinton Small as Iago, with Janna Ramos-Violante taking the role of Iago’s wife, Emilia. Also featured in the exceptionally strong cast are Loyiso MacDonald, Michael Gritten, Darren King, Marc Kay, Clare Mortimer, Adam Dore, Janna Ramos Violante, Bryan Hiles and Rowan Bartlett.
This production has garnered much critical acclaim during its previous seasons when it played to packed houses. With its themes of racism, love, jealousy and betrayal, Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy remains powerfully relevant to present-day audiences.
The reviews speak for themselves: “It was deeply gratifying to sit through a morning schools performance of Mortimer’s two-hour version of Shakespeare’s Othello and experience a packed audience of high school pupils displaying a genuine enthusiasm for the work, whooping with delight as performers took final bows.” – Billy Suter, The Mercury
“If your child's school hasn't booked seats to see Think Theatre's production of Othello, then start lobbying them to do so now… a truly human story... this production is well directed, well-paced and features some of the best actors in KwaZulu-Natal. Don't miss it.” – Estelle Sinkins, The Witness
Schools performances are Mondays to Fridays at 09h00 and 12h00 daily. Tickets R40 (R60 for adults attending the public performance). Bookings and information re out-of-town performances are through the show’s producer, Margie Coppen, on 083 251 9412.
TSHEPANG FOR MICHAELHOUSE
(Pic by Andrew Brown: Nonceba Constance Didi & Mncedisi Shabangu)Based on the true story that rocked the nation and shocked the world, Lara Newton’s critically acclaimed Tshepang comes to Michaelhouse’s Schlesinger Theatre from March 2 to 4. Since it was first performed in South Africa in 2003, the play has touched the hearts of theatre lovers all over the globe.
In 2001, South Africa was devastated by the news of the brutal rape of nine-month-old baby Tshepang in Louisvaleweg, a small town in the Northern Cape, leaving behind scars which still penetrate today. Once the story hit local and international headlines, it was as if the scab was torn off a festering wound as hundreds of similar stories suddenly surfaced via the media - each equally horrific.
Inspired by this shocking true story, Lara responded to the desperate situation by starting to write the play in 2002, based on extensive research from media articles and related material and a deeper investigation into both the physical and socio-economic landscape where events such as these occur. Rather than pointing fingers and finding unsubstantiated answers, the play draws the viewer into the complexities and contradictions that surround these events.
While South African reviews have praised the production, it has also received critical acclaim in London: “This searing and compassionate, powerfully acted play … is a committed act of remembrance.” (The Stage, London) and “There’s a richness and subtlety in Lara Foot Newton’s script that has not been seen in South African new writing in recent years.” (Critic’s Choice, Time Out, London)
Tshepang is currently a matric set-book for Drama, and has been named as a South African classic text, a text that will rarely be seen performed live with the original cast. Lara Newton, who is also the Director of the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, will present lectures after two of the shows - an experience not to be missed! Lara Newton once again directs Mncedisi Shabangu, who reprises his role as narrator and sculptor Simon, and Nonceba Constance Didi who plays Ruth in this haunting and uplifting masterpiece of redemption.
Tshepang has performances in the Schlesinger Theatre at Michaelhouse on March 2 at 14h00* and on March 3 and 4 at 19h00 with an extra performance on March 3 at 11h00* (* includes lecture by Lara Newton). Tickets R120 (R100 scholars and pensioners) booked through Michelle Huntley on 033 234 1139 or email: email: michun@michaelhouse.org
THE HAPPY CLAPPER
(Aaron McIlroy as the irrepressible Veejay)Back by popular demand, Aaron McIlroy’s The Happy Clapper returns to the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre for a brief season, following its premiere run at the Sneddon last November. Co-written and directed by Patrick Kenny, the show poses the question: What are people’s perceptions of Biblical characters? Are they Charlton Heston, coming down a mountain in a dodgy outfit?
The intervention of the media has long played a role in skewing people’s perceptions of Christianity, says Durban actor Aaron McIlroy, who cites movies such as Steven Spielberg’s The Prince of Egypt, and a host of others, as creating a glossy but fictitious perception of the people who populate the Bible. “The Bible is full of many of the greatest stories ever told. Often enough they have been told badly, so I thought: why don’t I have a shot at telling them badly, too?” quips the popular entertainer.
The Happy Clapper speaks alike to those who follow other beliefs, as it does to members of the Christian faith, offering a broad scope of perspectives that aim to enlighten and entertain while treating religious matters in a robust if sometimes tongue-in-cheek light. “We need to lighten up, and not be so judgemental in dealing with our fellow humans,” says McIlroy. “We can do this by bringing a sense of integrity to our dealings with each other, while at the same time looking at the subject matter that preoccupies us in our worship.
“We think we are ‘in the know’, while often we are actually clueless, adds McIlroy. “There is so much more than we think there is to gaining a true depth of knowledge. Seen from the outside, there is a stigma attached to being a so-called ‘Reborn Christian’. But how weird is it, actually?”
The Happy Clapper sets out to defuse the myths surrounding charismatic Christians. The first half of the show opens with a run through the Old Testament, courtesy of Mr McIlroy donning the persona of a well-honed Rabbi who is on home turf, sharing elements of his own personal history, so to speak. Following this, the actor morphs into Bluff inhabitant, Gary van Vuuren, who’s comfortable he’s a fundi at unlocking all matters pertaining to the New Testament. Trying to put across a complex concept such as The Trinity, he assures us ‘it’s more than just a girl’s name’.
“Gary’s the perfect example of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread,” says McIlroy. “Only, he cracks it more often than he knows. Just when you think he’s heading for the rocks, he nails it right in the centre.”
McIlroy’s ubiquitous alter ego, the ever-popular Veejay, also surfaces to offer a guiding hand on how to negotiate your way around the potential hazards of traversing the evangelical Christian world. In his inimitable fashion, Veejay deals with the application of Christianity. As ever, he keeps things really grounded, commenting on those critical taboos that preoccupy charismatic Christians: Sex, Booze and Money.
In a nutshell, The Happy Clapper aims to share with the broader theatre-going community what Christians believe and why, through invigorating doses of comedy. “We’re not saying it is simple, but rather is it real, is it worth considering?” says McIlroy.
The Happy Clapper runs from March 1 to 13 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Tickets R95 (R85 matinees) booked through Computicket on 083 915 8000. There is a special low-priced preview on March 1 when tickets are R65.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
MEANDER MUSIC
The Midlands Meander is a hub of creativity with an impressive range of crafters, sculptors and artists. Several of the eating places offer live music.
These include Prawn Nights @ Fernhill Hotel every Friday evening with music from Derick & Jess (033 330 5071). Fridays @ The Bierfassl in Nottingham Road offer music from Des and magical entertainment by Robin Boltman (033 266 6320)
More Friday entertainment comes from Hebron Haven in Dargle with live music from Barry Ritson while Sundays Lunch in the Garden offers live music with Erin Fourie. (033 234 4431)
These include Prawn Nights @ Fernhill Hotel every Friday evening with music from Derick & Jess (033 330 5071). Fridays @ The Bierfassl in Nottingham Road offer music from Des and magical entertainment by Robin Boltman (033 266 6320)
More Friday entertainment comes from Hebron Haven in Dargle with live music from Barry Ritson while Sundays Lunch in the Garden offers live music with Erin Fourie. (033 234 4431)
FRIENDS OF MUSIC: MARCH
(Pic: Duo Zappa – Mainolfi)There are three exciting recitals in March due to be presented by Friends of Music.
March 1: Cellist Georgi Anichenko from Belarus with pianist Anastasya Terenkova from France - both outstanding international artists. The programme includes works by Fauré, Poulenc, Hanmer, Prokofiev and Shostakovich. The Prelude Performers will be Daniel and Nina Kolev as well as Erina and Emiri Nishii who will present Bach’s Allegro from sonata for violin solo in A minor (Erina) and Telemann’s concerto for 4 violins in D major.
March 8: The Duo Zappa - Mainolfi featuring Mattia Zappa (violoncello - Swiss / USA) and M Mainolfi (piano - Italy / USA). Both are Juilliard graduates and prizewinners of several International competitions. Their programme will include works by Bach, Sibelius, Dvorak and Brahms. The Prelude Performer will be singer Gabriel Wills.
March 29: Pianist Ching-Yun Hu from Taiwan who has been described as “Dazzling” and “a pianist with soul of Chopin”. He will perform works by Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert and Liszt.
The recitals all take place at the Durban Jewish Centre, 44 Old Fort Road, Durban at 19h45. Tickets R70 (R60 FOM members and R20 students, orchestral members) booked at Computicket. There is safe parking.
THE LURE OF THE LIMERICK
On February 28, the Mondays at Seven programme at St Clements will host The Lure of the Limerick when Pieter Scholtz with Sally Stretch and Pat Smythe (and occasional musical accompaniment by James Parker) share some naughty limericks.
The Lure of the Limerick takes place at 19h00 on February 28 at St. Clements, 191 Musgrave Road, cultivating a culture of bistro entertainment - art poetry music film drama etc
Table bookings on 031 202 2511. There is no cover charge although there is a Donations box to support presenters. More information at http://www.what2night.co.za/restaurants/restaurant/2122/
The Lure of the Limerick takes place at 19h00 on February 28 at St. Clements, 191 Musgrave Road, cultivating a culture of bistro entertainment - art poetry music film drama etc
Table bookings on 031 202 2511. There is no cover charge although there is a Donations box to support presenters. More information at http://www.what2night.co.za/restaurants/restaurant/2122/
DEKAF
Comedian Siv Ngesi stars in Dekaf for one night only at the Sibaya Casino in Durban on March 10, 2011.
Dekaf is a black, white comedy about blacks who think like whites, as told by a black guy who sounds white. The show stars the up-and-coming stand-up comic Siv Ngesi in a bold production from the comedic mind of David Newton (Politically Incorrect; Defending the Laid Man & Laugh).
“Contrary to popular belief there is a new generation of black people who don’t bitch about the ‘struggle’, can swim, aren’t hated by dogs and didn’t vote for Jacob Zuma,” say the organisers. “In Dekaf, Ngesi takes you into the world of a black man who was raised in the suburbs, schooled in the public school system, dates white women and listens to Josh Groban!”
Dekaf debuted at the 2009 Grahamstown National Arts Festival under Newton’s directorship. The show filled its capacity venue and garnered favourable reviews from the local press and audiences alike and at the 2010 Festival, the show won the coveted Golden Ovation Award.
Sivuyile ‘Siv’ Ngesi is a 25 year-old actor and comedian born in the township of Gugulethu, Cape Town. Acting came early to him and at ten years old, Siv toured Asia with Les Misérables in the coveted role of Gavroshe. Since then, he has landed roles in films such as Cape of Good Hope, After the Rain, Love in Africa, Zeenon z3, World Unseen and Schweitzer. His best credit to date must be his scenes with Keifer Sutherland in 24.
David Newton is an actor, director and producer. He has become one of South Africa’s most bankable comics and has made his comedy appealing to his fans through his ability to speak directly and frankly about everyday situations that happen to everyone. Newton has directed all three of his one-man shows namely Defending the Laid Man, Politically Incorrect, both available on DVD, and Laugh. His third DVD, Nothing But The Truth, is a 100min collaboration of the best of the three shows and stars Sivuyile Ngesi as the opening act.
Dekaf starts its national tour with a show at the Krakatoa at the Sibaya Entertainment Kingdom on March 10 at 20h00. Tickets R55 booked through Computicket or 083 915 8000.
Dekaf is a black, white comedy about blacks who think like whites, as told by a black guy who sounds white. The show stars the up-and-coming stand-up comic Siv Ngesi in a bold production from the comedic mind of David Newton (Politically Incorrect; Defending the Laid Man & Laugh).
“Contrary to popular belief there is a new generation of black people who don’t bitch about the ‘struggle’, can swim, aren’t hated by dogs and didn’t vote for Jacob Zuma,” say the organisers. “In Dekaf, Ngesi takes you into the world of a black man who was raised in the suburbs, schooled in the public school system, dates white women and listens to Josh Groban!”
Dekaf debuted at the 2009 Grahamstown National Arts Festival under Newton’s directorship. The show filled its capacity venue and garnered favourable reviews from the local press and audiences alike and at the 2010 Festival, the show won the coveted Golden Ovation Award.
Sivuyile ‘Siv’ Ngesi is a 25 year-old actor and comedian born in the township of Gugulethu, Cape Town. Acting came early to him and at ten years old, Siv toured Asia with Les Misérables in the coveted role of Gavroshe. Since then, he has landed roles in films such as Cape of Good Hope, After the Rain, Love in Africa, Zeenon z3, World Unseen and Schweitzer. His best credit to date must be his scenes with Keifer Sutherland in 24.
David Newton is an actor, director and producer. He has become one of South Africa’s most bankable comics and has made his comedy appealing to his fans through his ability to speak directly and frankly about everyday situations that happen to everyone. Newton has directed all three of his one-man shows namely Defending the Laid Man, Politically Incorrect, both available on DVD, and Laugh. His third DVD, Nothing But The Truth, is a 100min collaboration of the best of the three shows and stars Sivuyile Ngesi as the opening act.
Dekaf starts its national tour with a show at the Krakatoa at the Sibaya Entertainment Kingdom on March 10 at 20h00. Tickets R55 booked through Computicket or 083 915 8000.
ZULU LULU
Trayci Tompkins of the Zulu Lulu Art Bar on the Midlands Meander offers fun entertainment for youngsters where they can paint a specially prepared ceramic pig, plate or mug. Take-away packs are available. Phone Trayci on 084 666 6980.
“Ceramic artist Trayci Tompkins, and her creative studio group bring a fresh and original approach to their work. Working as a team each item is individually hand built – there is no mass production or moulding, so each piece brings with it a life and personality of its own.
Together, this dynamic team have met the demands of both local and international standards with their range of collectable raku fired figurines and quirky designer tableware. Their ability to custom make artistic products has led to numerous Corporate Gift orders and Interior installations.
To find us: take the Howick North exit R107 off the N3 onto R103 Midlands Meander into Lions River. We are located on the corner of the R103 and Dargle turn off. (only 4km from Midmar Dam)”*
Taken from Zulu Lulu’s website at http://www.zulululutrading.co.za
“Ceramic artist Trayci Tompkins, and her creative studio group bring a fresh and original approach to their work. Working as a team each item is individually hand built – there is no mass production or moulding, so each piece brings with it a life and personality of its own.
Together, this dynamic team have met the demands of both local and international standards with their range of collectable raku fired figurines and quirky designer tableware. Their ability to custom make artistic products has led to numerous Corporate Gift orders and Interior installations.
To find us: take the Howick North exit R107 off the N3 onto R103 Midlands Meander into Lions River. We are located on the corner of the R103 and Dargle turn off. (only 4km from Midmar Dam)”*
Taken from Zulu Lulu’s website at http://www.zulululutrading.co.za
ALADDINS CRAFT
Aladdins de-Light, which is part of the Midlands Meander, will be holding an advance Stained Glass Course in March. The course will last four days at a cost of R1,900.
Pottery classes cover handwork, wheelwork and exciting class projects (R350 all inclusive per month for four classes). These take place every Monday evening or Tuesday morning and visitors to the area can join the class for R150 per day. Pottery classes can be arranged for six or more visitors if booked in advance and a corporate teambuilding class is also available.
Aladdins also provides an entertaining craft offer where you can paint your own unique dinner/tea set with your friends. Cost depends on sets required and tea or lunch or champagne breakfast.
More information from Jan or Louise van Niekerk on 033 266 6460 or email: louise@aladdins.co.za
(Aladdins also hold Theme Dinner Evenings every Thursday)
Pottery classes cover handwork, wheelwork and exciting class projects (R350 all inclusive per month for four classes). These take place every Monday evening or Tuesday morning and visitors to the area can join the class for R150 per day. Pottery classes can be arranged for six or more visitors if booked in advance and a corporate teambuilding class is also available.
Aladdins also provides an entertaining craft offer where you can paint your own unique dinner/tea set with your friends. Cost depends on sets required and tea or lunch or champagne breakfast.
More information from Jan or Louise van Niekerk on 033 266 6460 or email: louise@aladdins.co.za
(Aladdins also hold Theme Dinner Evenings every Thursday)
Saturday, February 26, 2011
KZNPO CONCERT: FEBRUARY 24, 2011
(Conductor Yasuo Shinozaki)Resplendent performance highlight of concert. (Review by Michael Green)
A resplendent performance of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 5 in E minor was the high point of this concert, but there were also outstanding presentations of a little known and very attractive work for trombone and of opulent music by Richard Strauss.
The visiting Japanese conductor Yasuo Shinozaki ended his brief stint with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra with prolonged applause from the Durban City Hall audience after a quite overpowering performance of the Tchaikovsky symphony. This is, of course, a celebrated work. Some highbrows tend to sneer at Tchaikovsky, but there is no doubting the compelling power of his music and his gift for memorable melodies.
Yasuo Shinozaki’s flamboyant but disciplined style of conducting is well-suited to this kind of music, and under his direction the orchestra gave a lovely, integrated, emotional performance. At the end the principal horn player Sorin Osorhean was singled out by the conductor for his impeccable playing of the famous main theme of the second movement, and the orchestra as a whole well deserved the audience’s foot-stamping applause.
Another example of rich and lush orchestral music, Richard Strauss’s Don Juan, opened the programme, with the horns and the wind instruments in general showing good form.
The novelty on the programme was the Concertino for Trombone and Orchestra by the 19th century German composer Ferdinand David. This turned out to be a delightful, concise composition rather in the manner of Felix Mendelssohn, who was a friend of David’s.
The soloist was the orchestra’s principal trombonist, Anthony Boorer. He is a Welshman with a trim, upright military figure, as befits a man who started his musical career in the Royal Marines Band. In this pleasant and melodious music he displayed a strong technique (trombone playing is almost as good to watch as it is to listen to), and a lengthy first movement cadenza explored to the full the capabilities of the instrument and of the player.
As an encore he played, unaccompanied, I’m getting sentimental over you, an old favourite that the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra made popular about 80 years ago (Tommy Dorsey himself was a trombonist). A little unusual for a symphony concert, but it was very well played and very well received by a happy audience. - Michael Green
14th TIME OF THE WRITER
Some 21 prominent writers from a dozen different countries will converge on Durban for a thought-provoking week of literary dialogue and exchange of ideas at the Time of the Writer international writers festival from March 14 to 19.
Hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and with principal funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, this 14th edition of the festival, presents a packed programme of both day and evening activities. Freedom of Expression will feature as an underlying thread within the festival and audiences can expect to hear the opinions of leading writers on creative processes which inform their writing as well as on the enabling or constraining forces of political, social and environmental contexts within which they write.
The festival's Opening Night Keynote Address will be delivered by the recently retired Constitutional Court judge, esteemed writer and cultural activist, Justice Albie Sachs. The award-winning author of a number of books, including Soft Vengeance of a Freedom Fighter and Justice in South Africa, Sachs was instrumental in the process of writing the constitution of South Africa and is therefore eminently qualified to speak on the festival theme.
Following the opening night at which all writers present brief introductions, double-bill readings and panel discussions will take place nightly at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, preceded by book launches and live music.
March 15 will feature British-born American Raj Patel, food activist and author of internationally-acclaimed Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System, and his most recent offering, The Value of Nothing. Patel has been active in South African affairs and was a visiting scholar at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2009. Joining him in a discussion entitled Ugly/ Beautiful, Stuffed and Starved will be Sarah Nuttall, South African leading cultural commentator and author of the award-winning Ugly/Beautiful: African and Diaspora Aesthetics, with her reflections on contemporary society.
Also shining a spotlight on contemporary South Africa on the same night is author and journalist Lauren Beukes, whose novel Zoo City, has been described as "intelligent and witty urban writing for the 21st century." Popular Aziz Hassim, Durban-based author of The Lotus People (which won the 2001 Sanlam Literary Award for an unpublished novel), joins Beukes in a discussion entitled Life in the Inner City.
Leading intellectual and award-winning writer Njabulo Ndebele, author of Fools and other Stories, The Cry of Winnie Mandela and others, will, together with provocative post-colonial thinker and academic Achille Mbembe, tackle the heady topic of A Promise Delivered or a Nation Betrayed: Literature as South Africa’s Conscience. Cameroon- born Mbembe is a profound voice in contesting clichéd Western perspectives of Africa.
Ndebele and Mbembe appear on March 16, the same evening that a foregrounding of African culture will take place in the presentations by Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe) and Ellen Banda-Aaku (Zambia). Gappah’s debut collection of heartfelt short stories, An Elegy for Easterly poignantly describe the strained everyday living of Zimbabwe's people, and this award-winning book has already been translated into six languages. Primarily a children’s writer, Ellen Banda-Aaku’s first novel, Patchwork - an emotive tale of a young girl's journey towards coming to terms with her identity - won the 2010 Penguin Prize for African writing.
French writer Marie Darrieussecq’s best selling debut novel Truismes (Pig Tales) - a postmodern tale about the gradual transformation of a woman into a sow - explores the human state in the most bizarre and fantastical of ways. Matching her for a session titled Painting the Psyche on March 17 is award-winning artist Ondjaki from Angola, whose evocative work as a poet, documentarian, prose-writer and actor posits him a versatile talent.
Writing from a feminist perspective from the currently tumultuous context of Egypt, Sahar El Mougy, articulates the conflict between the values of the west and traditional gender roles in the Middle East. In a hot topic session (March 17), El Mougy will pair up with Durban-born Azad Essa in a discussion entitled Writing Revolution to unpack the role of writers in the scenarios unfolding across the region. Currently working for Al-Jazeera in Qatar, Essa’s provocative 2010 book Zuma's Bastard, offers a fresh perspective around South African race politics and religion.
Two highly accomplished immigrants who have made their mark on the UK literary scene and world-wide, will take to the stage on March 18. Originally from the Caribbean island of St.Kitts and author of numerous award-winning books, Caryl Phillips’s extensive writing oeuvre ranges from non-fiction and fiction to theatre, radio and television documentaries. She will team up with prolific Nigerian novelist and playwright, Biyi Bandele, in unpacking Roots and Routes.
Also on March 18 the genre of the 'crime thrillers' brings together Sifiso Mzobe and Diale Tlholwe, in a panel titled Muti Noir. Exploring the life of a young car hijacker in KwaMashu, Mzobe's Young Blood offers a glimpse into the emotional landscape of someone deemed by society, a 'criminal'. Recipient of the 2010 South African Literary Award and described by South African established thriller-writer, Deon Meyer as "superb", Tlholwe's Ancient Rites, within the frame of a detective story, navigates the contrasting worlds of the real and the spirit; the urban and the rural.
Prolific Senegalese writer Boubacar Boris Diop and German writer/filmmaker Torsten Schulz will discuss The Pen as a Weapon against War on the closing night of the Time of the Writer. Diop’s work of fiction, Murambi, the Book of Bones, deals powerfully with the issue of memory around the Rwandan genocide, while Schulz’s novel Boxhagener Square, which won numerous awards and was made into a film, is set in the context of post-war Germany.
Chris van Wyk and Etienne van Heerden will culminate this year’s festival with a discussion on Re-Inventing Memory Through Literature. Van Wyk has an extraordinary knack for telling heartwarming stories of often comical personal experiences against the backdrop of critical periods in South African history. Van Heerden, with his work published in over 60 anthologies in South Africa and overseas, together with an acclaimed string of novels, poetry and essays, is one of the huge icons within Afrikaans literature.
Tickets R25 for the evening sessions (R10 students on presentation of student card) booked through Computicket on 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000 or purchased at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 18h30 each evening.
There will be a broad range of day activities in the form of free seminars, workshops (including a full-day Publishing Forum on March 17), book launches, school visits, and a prison writing programme. These will focus on promoting a culture of reading, writing and creative expression and broadening access to the participating writers.
For the full programme of activities, biographies, or more information, click on the Centre for Creative Arts advert on this page or visit www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or contact the Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506/1816.
The 14th Time of the Writer festival is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), the Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Durban, the French Institute of South Africa, Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS), National Arts Council, Adams Campus Books, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and with principal funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, this 14th edition of the festival, presents a packed programme of both day and evening activities. Freedom of Expression will feature as an underlying thread within the festival and audiences can expect to hear the opinions of leading writers on creative processes which inform their writing as well as on the enabling or constraining forces of political, social and environmental contexts within which they write.
The festival's Opening Night Keynote Address will be delivered by the recently retired Constitutional Court judge, esteemed writer and cultural activist, Justice Albie Sachs. The award-winning author of a number of books, including Soft Vengeance of a Freedom Fighter and Justice in South Africa, Sachs was instrumental in the process of writing the constitution of South Africa and is therefore eminently qualified to speak on the festival theme.
Following the opening night at which all writers present brief introductions, double-bill readings and panel discussions will take place nightly at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, preceded by book launches and live music.
March 15 will feature British-born American Raj Patel, food activist and author of internationally-acclaimed Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System, and his most recent offering, The Value of Nothing. Patel has been active in South African affairs and was a visiting scholar at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2009. Joining him in a discussion entitled Ugly/ Beautiful, Stuffed and Starved will be Sarah Nuttall, South African leading cultural commentator and author of the award-winning Ugly/Beautiful: African and Diaspora Aesthetics, with her reflections on contemporary society.
Also shining a spotlight on contemporary South Africa on the same night is author and journalist Lauren Beukes, whose novel Zoo City, has been described as "intelligent and witty urban writing for the 21st century." Popular Aziz Hassim, Durban-based author of The Lotus People (which won the 2001 Sanlam Literary Award for an unpublished novel), joins Beukes in a discussion entitled Life in the Inner City.
Leading intellectual and award-winning writer Njabulo Ndebele, author of Fools and other Stories, The Cry of Winnie Mandela and others, will, together with provocative post-colonial thinker and academic Achille Mbembe, tackle the heady topic of A Promise Delivered or a Nation Betrayed: Literature as South Africa’s Conscience. Cameroon- born Mbembe is a profound voice in contesting clichéd Western perspectives of Africa.
Ndebele and Mbembe appear on March 16, the same evening that a foregrounding of African culture will take place in the presentations by Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe) and Ellen Banda-Aaku (Zambia). Gappah’s debut collection of heartfelt short stories, An Elegy for Easterly poignantly describe the strained everyday living of Zimbabwe's people, and this award-winning book has already been translated into six languages. Primarily a children’s writer, Ellen Banda-Aaku’s first novel, Patchwork - an emotive tale of a young girl's journey towards coming to terms with her identity - won the 2010 Penguin Prize for African writing.
French writer Marie Darrieussecq’s best selling debut novel Truismes (Pig Tales) - a postmodern tale about the gradual transformation of a woman into a sow - explores the human state in the most bizarre and fantastical of ways. Matching her for a session titled Painting the Psyche on March 17 is award-winning artist Ondjaki from Angola, whose evocative work as a poet, documentarian, prose-writer and actor posits him a versatile talent.
Writing from a feminist perspective from the currently tumultuous context of Egypt, Sahar El Mougy, articulates the conflict between the values of the west and traditional gender roles in the Middle East. In a hot topic session (March 17), El Mougy will pair up with Durban-born Azad Essa in a discussion entitled Writing Revolution to unpack the role of writers in the scenarios unfolding across the region. Currently working for Al-Jazeera in Qatar, Essa’s provocative 2010 book Zuma's Bastard, offers a fresh perspective around South African race politics and religion.
Two highly accomplished immigrants who have made their mark on the UK literary scene and world-wide, will take to the stage on March 18. Originally from the Caribbean island of St.Kitts and author of numerous award-winning books, Caryl Phillips’s extensive writing oeuvre ranges from non-fiction and fiction to theatre, radio and television documentaries. She will team up with prolific Nigerian novelist and playwright, Biyi Bandele, in unpacking Roots and Routes.
Also on March 18 the genre of the 'crime thrillers' brings together Sifiso Mzobe and Diale Tlholwe, in a panel titled Muti Noir. Exploring the life of a young car hijacker in KwaMashu, Mzobe's Young Blood offers a glimpse into the emotional landscape of someone deemed by society, a 'criminal'. Recipient of the 2010 South African Literary Award and described by South African established thriller-writer, Deon Meyer as "superb", Tlholwe's Ancient Rites, within the frame of a detective story, navigates the contrasting worlds of the real and the spirit; the urban and the rural.
Prolific Senegalese writer Boubacar Boris Diop and German writer/filmmaker Torsten Schulz will discuss The Pen as a Weapon against War on the closing night of the Time of the Writer. Diop’s work of fiction, Murambi, the Book of Bones, deals powerfully with the issue of memory around the Rwandan genocide, while Schulz’s novel Boxhagener Square, which won numerous awards and was made into a film, is set in the context of post-war Germany.
Chris van Wyk and Etienne van Heerden will culminate this year’s festival with a discussion on Re-Inventing Memory Through Literature. Van Wyk has an extraordinary knack for telling heartwarming stories of often comical personal experiences against the backdrop of critical periods in South African history. Van Heerden, with his work published in over 60 anthologies in South Africa and overseas, together with an acclaimed string of novels, poetry and essays, is one of the huge icons within Afrikaans literature.
Tickets R25 for the evening sessions (R10 students on presentation of student card) booked through Computicket on 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000 or purchased at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 18h30 each evening.
There will be a broad range of day activities in the form of free seminars, workshops (including a full-day Publishing Forum on March 17), book launches, school visits, and a prison writing programme. These will focus on promoting a culture of reading, writing and creative expression and broadening access to the participating writers.
For the full programme of activities, biographies, or more information, click on the Centre for Creative Arts advert on this page or visit www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or contact the Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506/1816.
The 14th Time of the Writer festival is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), the Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Durban, the French Institute of South Africa, Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS), National Arts Council, Adams Campus Books, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
DEATH OF THABANI NGUBANE
Director Themi Venturas writes of the sad death of long-time colleague and friend.
“It is with a great deal of sadness that we announce the passing of one of Durban's performing arts community, Thabani 'Lucky' Ngubane.”
Thabani first burst onto the scene as one of the original members of the KWASA internship programme in 1991 under the tutelage of Themi Venturas.
“He was one of the top graduates and penned the 'legendary' poem "You have given me the rod with which to fish" which was read at that first ever graduation ceremony officiated by Wally Serote,” Themi continues.
Thabani created the role of Zakes in the premiere of Themi Venturas' and the KWASA group's musical Taxi Jam.
“Thabani then freelanced for a while until the end of 1993 when he joined Themi Venturas Productions as its technical manager and soon became well loved by all the performers and technicians with whom he worked,” explains Themi. “In 2000/2001 he ventured off on his own to establish Ingonyama Productions. As head of his own company he created employment for many young technicians throughout the KZN region and received a Judges Award from the Durban Theatre Awards for his ongoing behind the scenes contribution to the Performing Arts Industry. Thabani is survived by his children and his ex-wife Nothando.
The performing arts sector mourns the passing of Thabani and celebrates his memory.
“A memorial celebration of Thabani's life will be held at the Catalina Theatre on March 2 at 17h00. Thabani Ngubane was a loved and dear friend of the Performing Arts. Let's give him the send-off he deserves,” adds Themi Venturas. “Anyone wishing to share a recollection or sing a song or just pay tribute should let me know by email at t74@mweb.co.za or on 082 554 8334 so that they can be included in the event."
“It is with a great deal of sadness that we announce the passing of one of Durban's performing arts community, Thabani 'Lucky' Ngubane.”
Thabani first burst onto the scene as one of the original members of the KWASA internship programme in 1991 under the tutelage of Themi Venturas.
“He was one of the top graduates and penned the 'legendary' poem "You have given me the rod with which to fish" which was read at that first ever graduation ceremony officiated by Wally Serote,” Themi continues.
Thabani created the role of Zakes in the premiere of Themi Venturas' and the KWASA group's musical Taxi Jam.
“Thabani then freelanced for a while until the end of 1993 when he joined Themi Venturas Productions as its technical manager and soon became well loved by all the performers and technicians with whom he worked,” explains Themi. “In 2000/2001 he ventured off on his own to establish Ingonyama Productions. As head of his own company he created employment for many young technicians throughout the KZN region and received a Judges Award from the Durban Theatre Awards for his ongoing behind the scenes contribution to the Performing Arts Industry. Thabani is survived by his children and his ex-wife Nothando.
The performing arts sector mourns the passing of Thabani and celebrates his memory.
“A memorial celebration of Thabani's life will be held at the Catalina Theatre on March 2 at 17h00. Thabani Ngubane was a loved and dear friend of the Performing Arts. Let's give him the send-off he deserves,” adds Themi Venturas. “Anyone wishing to share a recollection or sing a song or just pay tribute should let me know by email at t74@mweb.co.za or on 082 554 8334 so that they can be included in the event."
FLATFOOT OPENS DANCE UMBRELLA
Dance Umbrella 2011, South Africa's longest running international contemporary dance festival, begins on February 24 at The Dance Factory in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
It opens with Durban's inimitable Flatfoot Dance Company performing two of their key dance theatre works. Artistic Director of Flatfoot, Lliane Loots says, "All of us in Flatfoot are humbled by this invitation and are very excited to share our work on this national platform. Ironically, we have spent a lot of time travelling internationally and on the African continent with our dance work, but seldom get the opportunity to travel our own country so we are deeply grateful to the artistic director Georgina Thomson and Dance Umbrella for inviting us this year."
Flatfoot's Dance Umbrella performance will begin with guest choreographer to the company, Sifiso E. Kweyama's, circle. First created in 2010, circle is a haunting ritual dance theatre work. This work began as an exploration of traditional values around story-telling and its place in both ancient and contemporary African society. It involved each of the dancers using this platform to also negotiate their 'stories' and so the work has a very private and intimate sensibility. It is a combination of heart-stopping African contemporary dance technique, in a style that has made Kweyama a much sought after teacher and choreographer, with a tender social conscience that is deeply moving! circle has travelled with Flatfoot, over the course of 2010, to Cameroon and Holland and on both trips received standing ovations.
The second work is Loots's own controversial and critically-acclaimed dance theatre work Bloodlines. First performed in 2009, it is a work that delves head-first and uncompromisingly into a political dreamscape that looks into questions of home, belonging and what it means to be a contemporary African. Images of bloodlines that encompass African refugees in South Africa, itinerant African people searching for a home, xenophobia, and Loots's own ironic look at whiteness and her own Afrikaner roots, is presented in a dance work that offers very little narrative but rather the dreams and nightmares of the present.
Collaborating in Bloodlines, with long-time friend and internationally-acclaimed spoken word poet ewok (Iain Robinson), Loots finds a way to thread the spoken word and ewok's unique performance style into a dance theatre work that begins to redefine a genre. Also collaborating once again with Loots, is Durban filmmaker Karen Logan whose poetic images further layer this dance theatre vision.
Loots says, "I make theatre and dance that brings the people I work with along with me, be this the dancers who actively are part of the creative process, or the poet or the filmmaker. In a strange way we have all been feeling quite profoundly about these kinds of bloodlines that make us African - we might not all agree and we have often had heated discussions; and this is what art should do after all?"
An exciting development for Bloodlines for the 2011 Dance Umbrella is the inclusion of guest Dutch dancer Patricia van Deutekom who travels to South Africa to re-stage this piece with Flatfoot. Ms. Van Deutekom comes to Flatfoot, because of the partnership the dance company has had with Dutch dance company, Introdans. After a deeply productive dance education and performance exchange programme between Introdans Interactive and Flatfoot in Durban and in Arnhem (where Introdans is based) that spanned three years of sharing of dance education philosophies, Flatfoot was delighted to be able to invite Van Deutekom to continue this partnership and be part of the Dance Umbrella.
Flatfoot thanks the South African Netherlands Embassy's support in making this exchange possible. Whilst in Durban, Van Deutekom will visit and guest teach with some of the eight dance development programmes that Flatfoot runs in KwaMashu, Umlazi and at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College Campus) with the Flatfoot Training Company.
Flatfoot Dance Company's dance work is supported by the South African National Arts Council and the Dutch development agency, HIVOS.
It opens with Durban's inimitable Flatfoot Dance Company performing two of their key dance theatre works. Artistic Director of Flatfoot, Lliane Loots says, "All of us in Flatfoot are humbled by this invitation and are very excited to share our work on this national platform. Ironically, we have spent a lot of time travelling internationally and on the African continent with our dance work, but seldom get the opportunity to travel our own country so we are deeply grateful to the artistic director Georgina Thomson and Dance Umbrella for inviting us this year."
Flatfoot's Dance Umbrella performance will begin with guest choreographer to the company, Sifiso E. Kweyama's, circle. First created in 2010, circle is a haunting ritual dance theatre work. This work began as an exploration of traditional values around story-telling and its place in both ancient and contemporary African society. It involved each of the dancers using this platform to also negotiate their 'stories' and so the work has a very private and intimate sensibility. It is a combination of heart-stopping African contemporary dance technique, in a style that has made Kweyama a much sought after teacher and choreographer, with a tender social conscience that is deeply moving! circle has travelled with Flatfoot, over the course of 2010, to Cameroon and Holland and on both trips received standing ovations.
The second work is Loots's own controversial and critically-acclaimed dance theatre work Bloodlines. First performed in 2009, it is a work that delves head-first and uncompromisingly into a political dreamscape that looks into questions of home, belonging and what it means to be a contemporary African. Images of bloodlines that encompass African refugees in South Africa, itinerant African people searching for a home, xenophobia, and Loots's own ironic look at whiteness and her own Afrikaner roots, is presented in a dance work that offers very little narrative but rather the dreams and nightmares of the present.
Collaborating in Bloodlines, with long-time friend and internationally-acclaimed spoken word poet ewok (Iain Robinson), Loots finds a way to thread the spoken word and ewok's unique performance style into a dance theatre work that begins to redefine a genre. Also collaborating once again with Loots, is Durban filmmaker Karen Logan whose poetic images further layer this dance theatre vision.
Loots says, "I make theatre and dance that brings the people I work with along with me, be this the dancers who actively are part of the creative process, or the poet or the filmmaker. In a strange way we have all been feeling quite profoundly about these kinds of bloodlines that make us African - we might not all agree and we have often had heated discussions; and this is what art should do after all?"
An exciting development for Bloodlines for the 2011 Dance Umbrella is the inclusion of guest Dutch dancer Patricia van Deutekom who travels to South Africa to re-stage this piece with Flatfoot. Ms. Van Deutekom comes to Flatfoot, because of the partnership the dance company has had with Dutch dance company, Introdans. After a deeply productive dance education and performance exchange programme between Introdans Interactive and Flatfoot in Durban and in Arnhem (where Introdans is based) that spanned three years of sharing of dance education philosophies, Flatfoot was delighted to be able to invite Van Deutekom to continue this partnership and be part of the Dance Umbrella.
Flatfoot thanks the South African Netherlands Embassy's support in making this exchange possible. Whilst in Durban, Van Deutekom will visit and guest teach with some of the eight dance development programmes that Flatfoot runs in KwaMashu, Umlazi and at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College Campus) with the Flatfoot Training Company.
Flatfoot Dance Company's dance work is supported by the South African National Arts Council and the Dutch development agency, HIVOS.
UMCEBO TO DESIGN INDABA
(The Umcebo stand at Ambiente)The Umcebo Trust is packing up their wondrous range of collections in preparation for their showing at the Design Indaba in Cape Town.
Umcebo is a business orientated non-profit organisation, firmly focused on being a trendsetter and market leader in the fields of South African art, craft and design. The Trust uses creativity as a commercially viable means of empowering marginalised community members, in an inclusive environment. In this way it creates opportunities, overcomes barriers and generates sustainable income for crafters and their families.
The Umcebo team has just returned from the prestigious Ambiente exhibition in Frankfurt. At the Design Indaba, they will launch their new range of white and silver chandeliers.
Umcebo Trust is situated at Shop B8 & B9 at the uShaka Marine Village Walk. For more information contact the director, Robin Opperman, on 083 793 3408, or email: robin@umcebotrust.co.za or visit www.umcebotrust.co.za
Friday, February 25, 2011
ARTSPACE WALKABOUT
artSPACEdurban will host a walkabout of their current exhibition, Shooting Southern Africa, on February 26 at 11h00. This will be given by participating artists Jacki Bruniquel, Andrew Nunn and Anita de Villiers. All are welcome and entrance is free.
Shooting Southern Africa was the theme given to the group of photographers invited to show in the exhibition. It was then left up to the artists to interpret in their own style and personalities in the images that they are showing. Other participating artists include Tyrone Bradley, Chillies Zwane, Angela Buckland, Julie Mayo, Zaf Zafer, Patrick Royal, Harry Lock, Roger Jardine, Kevin Goss-Ross, Peter Machen, Allister Starke, Peter Engblom, Anthea Martin, Cally Lotz, Peter Bendheim, Jane Bedford, Sally Chance, Allen E. Schultz, Kerry Hancock, Val Adamson, Iain Wolstenholme, and Joanne Rushby.
Following the walkabout, there will be a VANSA sponsored workshop titled Design and Photography featuring speakers Clinton Friedman and Anita de Villiers.
artSPACE Durban is situated at 3 Millar Road (off Umgeni Road), Durban. More information from 031 312 0793 or Amy-Jo Windt on 083 399 2816.
Shooting Southern Africa was the theme given to the group of photographers invited to show in the exhibition. It was then left up to the artists to interpret in their own style and personalities in the images that they are showing. Other participating artists include Tyrone Bradley, Chillies Zwane, Angela Buckland, Julie Mayo, Zaf Zafer, Patrick Royal, Harry Lock, Roger Jardine, Kevin Goss-Ross, Peter Machen, Allister Starke, Peter Engblom, Anthea Martin, Cally Lotz, Peter Bendheim, Jane Bedford, Sally Chance, Allen E. Schultz, Kerry Hancock, Val Adamson, Iain Wolstenholme, and Joanne Rushby.
Following the walkabout, there will be a VANSA sponsored workshop titled Design and Photography featuring speakers Clinton Friedman and Anita de Villiers.
artSPACE Durban is situated at 3 Millar Road (off Umgeni Road), Durban. More information from 031 312 0793 or Amy-Jo Windt on 083 399 2816.
ARTRIGHT
ArtRight is a new on-line platform which aims to build professional practice in the visual arts through the creation of tools, templates and advisory resources which address a range of legal, financial and general business issues for people working in the industry.
VANSA invites those interested to an industry briefing and feedback session related to the project, which is being co-developed with Brendan Copestake and the WITS School of Arts.
“The development of the resource as something relevant and meaningful relies on the active participation of people in our industry,” say the organisers. “We want it to be informed by your needs, experience and expertise. Thusfar we have benefitted from contributions from a significant number of leading professionals in the content areas addressed by the site, from gallerists and auction houses through to lawyers and insurance specialists. Visit the site-in-progress at: www.artright.co.za
“We are hoping to expand this network to KZN, building on the Art Savvy workshops that have become a regular feature of the Durban visual arts calendar,” they continue. “We want to use this informal gathering to open up discussion on the professional practice issues that affect you, get feedback on the site as it is, as well as to identify new areas for content development and new potential contributors. The session will be relevant for a wide range of people working in the visual arts - artists, dealers, gallerists and administrators through to art lecturers in tertiary institutions and legal professionals.”
ArtRight takes place on March 9 at 18h00 at the KZNSA. Drinks and snacks will be available. Those wishing to attend should contact Nomcebo Sithole on 031 312 0793 or email: kznadmin@vansa.co.za or Kebone Ramasimong on email: kebone@vansa.co.za
VANSA invites those interested to an industry briefing and feedback session related to the project, which is being co-developed with Brendan Copestake and the WITS School of Arts.
“The development of the resource as something relevant and meaningful relies on the active participation of people in our industry,” say the organisers. “We want it to be informed by your needs, experience and expertise. Thusfar we have benefitted from contributions from a significant number of leading professionals in the content areas addressed by the site, from gallerists and auction houses through to lawyers and insurance specialists. Visit the site-in-progress at: www.artright.co.za
“We are hoping to expand this network to KZN, building on the Art Savvy workshops that have become a regular feature of the Durban visual arts calendar,” they continue. “We want to use this informal gathering to open up discussion on the professional practice issues that affect you, get feedback on the site as it is, as well as to identify new areas for content development and new potential contributors. The session will be relevant for a wide range of people working in the visual arts - artists, dealers, gallerists and administrators through to art lecturers in tertiary institutions and legal professionals.”
ArtRight takes place on March 9 at 18h00 at the KZNSA. Drinks and snacks will be available. Those wishing to attend should contact Nomcebo Sithole on 031 312 0793 or email: kznadmin@vansa.co.za or Kebone Ramasimong on email: kebone@vansa.co.za
D-SEVEN
If you thought acappella music lacked sex appeal, audience accessibility and commercial viability, then D-Seven promises to prove you wrong. “Young, raw, exciting, bold” are just some of the words that describe this amazing all-male A'Capella group from Cape Town, who perform songs from Cold Play and Black-eyed Peas to Queen; Sinatra to Michael Jackson; Rock 'n Roll and a whole lot more – in a way you've never heard them before!
Good looks, fitted jeans, slick moves and smooth music complete the picture.
This sensational group supported international star, Imogen Heap, in Cape Town on her South African tour. They also appeared at last year’s Witness Hilton Arts Festival.
D-Seven will perform at Hilton College Theatre on March 4 at 19h30 and March 5 at 20h00. Tickets R90 (R70 scholars and free to teachers accompanying school groups). A bar and Tuck Shop will be available. Bookings on 033 383 0126 or email tickets@hiltoncollege.com or visit www.artslink.co.za/hilton or www.hiltoncollege.com
Good looks, fitted jeans, slick moves and smooth music complete the picture.
This sensational group supported international star, Imogen Heap, in Cape Town on her South African tour. They also appeared at last year’s Witness Hilton Arts Festival.
D-Seven will perform at Hilton College Theatre on March 4 at 19h30 and March 5 at 20h00. Tickets R90 (R70 scholars and free to teachers accompanying school groups). A bar and Tuck Shop will be available. Bookings on 033 383 0126 or email tickets@hiltoncollege.com or visit www.artslink.co.za/hilton or www.hiltoncollege.com
WRITE JOURNEY WORKSHOP
From page to screen: what it takes to be a screenwriter in SA.
The Writing Studio will develop the write attitude with an exclusive one-day The Write Journey workshop for aspirant screenwriters in Durban on February 27 from 09h00 until 18h00 at the SABC in Old Fort Road.
This inspirational and motivational journey from page to screen offers local aspirant screenwriters an opportunity to sharpen their storytelling skills to write a South African story that will be ideal for the international market.
The guest speakers are Producer Brad Logan (Spud) and screenwriter Janet van Eeden (White Lion). The trainer is Daniel Dercksen, a published playwright, screenwriter, movie journalist and education, training and development practitioner who has been teaching workshops in scriptwriting and creative writing throughout South Africa the past 16 years.
With Spud, District 9, Invictus, Skin, White Lion and Themba turning the spotlight on South African stories, more than 20 local films released last year, and 15 local films awaiting release during the first half of this year, it has never been a better time to be a screenwriter in South Africa.
“The Write Journey focuses on the art of writing visual narrative and turning inspiration into big screen action,” explains Danie Dercksen. “The workshop explores the journey from the inspiration of an idea, through the writing process to the planning and start of a first draft of a screenplay that will become the blueprint for a film, television series or stageplay.
“The inspirational and motivational workshop is ideal for ANYONE with an idea for a story. If there is a local story or inspiring personality you want to write about this is your opportunity to turn thoughts into words.”
The course turns theory into practise and ideas inside out. It explores the full dramatic or comedic potential of stories and empowers storytellers to write a compelling story that will reflect the uniqueness of their culture, history and experience. The workshop is also an introduction into the world of filmmaking and teaches writers how to read and interpret the fascinating language of film, and how to evaluate and analyse film, television and theatre constructively.
It is ideal for novelists who would like to adapt their work into a visual medium, as well as for those who would like to write a stageplay. For more information and registration, email info@writingstudio.co.za or visit www.writingstudio.co.za
The Writing Studio will develop the write attitude with an exclusive one-day The Write Journey workshop for aspirant screenwriters in Durban on February 27 from 09h00 until 18h00 at the SABC in Old Fort Road.
This inspirational and motivational journey from page to screen offers local aspirant screenwriters an opportunity to sharpen their storytelling skills to write a South African story that will be ideal for the international market.
The guest speakers are Producer Brad Logan (Spud) and screenwriter Janet van Eeden (White Lion). The trainer is Daniel Dercksen, a published playwright, screenwriter, movie journalist and education, training and development practitioner who has been teaching workshops in scriptwriting and creative writing throughout South Africa the past 16 years.
With Spud, District 9, Invictus, Skin, White Lion and Themba turning the spotlight on South African stories, more than 20 local films released last year, and 15 local films awaiting release during the first half of this year, it has never been a better time to be a screenwriter in South Africa.
“The Write Journey focuses on the art of writing visual narrative and turning inspiration into big screen action,” explains Danie Dercksen. “The workshop explores the journey from the inspiration of an idea, through the writing process to the planning and start of a first draft of a screenplay that will become the blueprint for a film, television series or stageplay.
“The inspirational and motivational workshop is ideal for ANYONE with an idea for a story. If there is a local story or inspiring personality you want to write about this is your opportunity to turn thoughts into words.”
The course turns theory into practise and ideas inside out. It explores the full dramatic or comedic potential of stories and empowers storytellers to write a compelling story that will reflect the uniqueness of their culture, history and experience. The workshop is also an introduction into the world of filmmaking and teaches writers how to read and interpret the fascinating language of film, and how to evaluate and analyse film, television and theatre constructively.
It is ideal for novelists who would like to adapt their work into a visual medium, as well as for those who would like to write a stageplay. For more information and registration, email info@writingstudio.co.za or visit www.writingstudio.co.za
NAF CELEBRATES WITH AWARD NOMINEES
Nominations for the prestigious Fleur du Cap - and Naledi Awards have been announced recently, and the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown celebrates with the nominated productions and individuals that have been part of the Festival.
"The National Arts Festival is delighted that the Festival was the original platform for so many of the nominated productions and artists. We congratulate the nominees and, regardless of who wins, South Africans can be assured that these are artists with a determination to strive for excellence”, said Festival Director Ismail Mahomed. The Naledi Awards are planned for March 7, and the Fleur du Cap winners will be announced on March 20.
The largest bouquet of nominations has been scooped by the Cape Town-based theatre company FTH:K who have both a strong reputation and a following at the Festival. The company has been nominated for a total of seven awards between the Fleur de Cap and the Naledi awards.
Four Fleur du Cap Best Actress nominees came from productions that were staged at the 2010 Festival. Antoinette Kellerman (As die Broek Pas / Man to Man), Jennifer Steyn (Molly Bloom), Liezl de Kock (Wombtide) and Robyn Scott (London Road) graced the Festival stages in 2010. Two of the Best Supporting Actress nominees are also for Festival productions, with Liz Szymczak (Endgame) and Ntomboxolo Makhutshi (London Road) both in the run. Nat Ramabulana (The Girl in the Yellow Dress) has been nominated for the Fleur du Cap Best Actor.
Malcolm Purkey (The Girl in the Yellow Dress) and Marthinus Basson (As die Broek Pas / Man to Man) are both nominees for the Fleur du Cap Best Director accolade. Antoinette Kellerman (Man to Man /As die Broek Pas) and James Cairns (Dirt / The Sitting Man) are both in the run for Best Performance in a One-Person Show.
The Girl in the Yellow Dress (Craig Higginson), London Road (Nicholas Spagnoletti) and The Sitting Man (James Cairns) are nominees for Best New SA Script. Christiaan Olwagen (Woza Andries) and Francesco Nassimbeni (Done Londen) are in the run for The Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for New Directors, and Craig Leo and Emile Starke (Womb Tide) are nominated for Best Design.
Productions that have been part of the 2010 Festival who are in the run for Naledi Awards are:
Songs of Migration: Nominated for Best Production of A Musical, Best New South African Play or Musical Produced, Best Performance in a Musical (Hugh Masekela and Sibongile Khumalo), Best Musical Director/Score/Arrangement (Ezbie Moilwa), Best Theatre Lighting Design (Wesley France), Best Costume Design (Noluthando Lobese) and Best Theatre Sound Design (Freddy Malesa).
Girl in the Yellow Dress: Nominated for Best Production of a Play, Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role (Play) – Nat Ramabulana, Best New South African Play or Musical Produced, Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role (Play) – Marianne Oldham, Best Director of a Play or Musical (Malcolm Purkey) and Best Theatre Set Design (Gary McCann).
Butcher Brothers, Quack and Wombtide are all in the run for Best Cutting-Edge Production. Wombtide is also nominated for Best Theatre Lighting Design (Rob Murray) and Best Theatre Set Design (Craig Leo & Emily Stark). Quack was also nominated for Best Costume Design (Leila Anderson).
Matthew Ribnick is nominated in the category Best Comedy Performance (Play, Musical or Revue) for his no-holds-barred approach to Geraldine Naidoo's new comedy Monkey Nuts that sold out at the 2010 Festival.
“Theatre awards are a vital part of growing an arts economy,” said Mahomed. “The awards help to profile high achieving artists to managements but they also assist the artists to constantly break their own glass ceilings. The National Arts Festival congratulates all the nominees and winners; and applauds both the Fleur de Cap and Naledi Theatre Awards for having the vision to give recognition to our country’s artistic leaders.“
The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The Eastern Cape Government, The National Arts Council, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, The Sunday Independent and M Net. The 2011 Festival will run from June 30 to July 10.
For more information, click on the National Arts Festival on this page which will take you to their highly informative website)
"The National Arts Festival is delighted that the Festival was the original platform for so many of the nominated productions and artists. We congratulate the nominees and, regardless of who wins, South Africans can be assured that these are artists with a determination to strive for excellence”, said Festival Director Ismail Mahomed. The Naledi Awards are planned for March 7, and the Fleur du Cap winners will be announced on March 20.
The largest bouquet of nominations has been scooped by the Cape Town-based theatre company FTH:K who have both a strong reputation and a following at the Festival. The company has been nominated for a total of seven awards between the Fleur de Cap and the Naledi awards.
Four Fleur du Cap Best Actress nominees came from productions that were staged at the 2010 Festival. Antoinette Kellerman (As die Broek Pas / Man to Man), Jennifer Steyn (Molly Bloom), Liezl de Kock (Wombtide) and Robyn Scott (London Road) graced the Festival stages in 2010. Two of the Best Supporting Actress nominees are also for Festival productions, with Liz Szymczak (Endgame) and Ntomboxolo Makhutshi (London Road) both in the run. Nat Ramabulana (The Girl in the Yellow Dress) has been nominated for the Fleur du Cap Best Actor.
Malcolm Purkey (The Girl in the Yellow Dress) and Marthinus Basson (As die Broek Pas / Man to Man) are both nominees for the Fleur du Cap Best Director accolade. Antoinette Kellerman (Man to Man /As die Broek Pas) and James Cairns (Dirt / The Sitting Man) are both in the run for Best Performance in a One-Person Show.
The Girl in the Yellow Dress (Craig Higginson), London Road (Nicholas Spagnoletti) and The Sitting Man (James Cairns) are nominees for Best New SA Script. Christiaan Olwagen (Woza Andries) and Francesco Nassimbeni (Done Londen) are in the run for The Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for New Directors, and Craig Leo and Emile Starke (Womb Tide) are nominated for Best Design.
Productions that have been part of the 2010 Festival who are in the run for Naledi Awards are:
Songs of Migration: Nominated for Best Production of A Musical, Best New South African Play or Musical Produced, Best Performance in a Musical (Hugh Masekela and Sibongile Khumalo), Best Musical Director/Score/Arrangement (Ezbie Moilwa), Best Theatre Lighting Design (Wesley France), Best Costume Design (Noluthando Lobese) and Best Theatre Sound Design (Freddy Malesa).
Girl in the Yellow Dress: Nominated for Best Production of a Play, Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role (Play) – Nat Ramabulana, Best New South African Play or Musical Produced, Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role (Play) – Marianne Oldham, Best Director of a Play or Musical (Malcolm Purkey) and Best Theatre Set Design (Gary McCann).
Butcher Brothers, Quack and Wombtide are all in the run for Best Cutting-Edge Production. Wombtide is also nominated for Best Theatre Lighting Design (Rob Murray) and Best Theatre Set Design (Craig Leo & Emily Stark). Quack was also nominated for Best Costume Design (Leila Anderson).
Matthew Ribnick is nominated in the category Best Comedy Performance (Play, Musical or Revue) for his no-holds-barred approach to Geraldine Naidoo's new comedy Monkey Nuts that sold out at the 2010 Festival.
“Theatre awards are a vital part of growing an arts economy,” said Mahomed. “The awards help to profile high achieving artists to managements but they also assist the artists to constantly break their own glass ceilings. The National Arts Festival congratulates all the nominees and winners; and applauds both the Fleur de Cap and Naledi Theatre Awards for having the vision to give recognition to our country’s artistic leaders.“
The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The Eastern Cape Government, The National Arts Council, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, The Sunday Independent and M Net. The 2011 Festival will run from June 30 to July 10.
For more information, click on the National Arts Festival on this page which will take you to their highly informative website)
PAPERBOY!
(Grant Jacobs)Written and performed by Durban born Grant Jacobs and directed by the award-winning Liam Magner, Paper Boy is a fast-paced production with loads of colourful characters portrayed in speedy costume changes.
Bobby Jones is a multi-faceted human being. By profession, he is a newspaper delivery boy. However, he also considers himself an aspiring detective, which often lands him and his misguided newspaper in trouble.
Bobby begins his day making a difference in the world by delivering the newspaper to the people of Alice Road, until his infamous right arm swings a newspaper into an open window hitting late Mrs Moodley’s ashes flying into the air. This act of foolishness spins out of control and is a catalyst for a series of unfortunate yet very amusing events which finds Bobby breaking into houses and using his ‘James Bond’ detective tactics to uncover some facts about his mother that were best kept under the rug.
PaperBoy is described as non-stop madness from start to finish and deals with issues of self-fulfillment, ambition and truth at comedic yet touching levels. It runs at Seabrooke’s Theatre DHS in St Thomas Road from March 3 to 6 at 19h30. Tickets R50 booked on 031 277 1500 or email seabrooke’s@durbanhighschool.co.za
BIG BOYS DON’T DANCE!
Two brothers will pull out all the stops to shake things up at the DHS Seabrooke’s Theatre in Durban when Ash and Bradley Searle present their critically acclaimed comedy Big Boys Don’t Dance – a show made up of energetic and jaw-dropping dance moves and hilarious antics.
The dancing brothers prove that, actually, big boys do dance, and they demonstrate just how manly dancing can be, especially when there’s a fantastic storyline tying it all together.
The show is a satirical look at the pre-wedding experiences of an average South African man with a less than macho past his comic brother won’t let him forget.
Ash from So You Think You Can Dance and Bradley, who recently starred in the musicals Peter Pan, Footloose and Pinnochio, twirl from gumboot and breaking to dirty dancing and acrobatics.
Big Boys Don’t Dance won a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in 2010. According to the Cue newspaper, the show is “a South African version of The Hangover meets Flashdance with all the technical perfection of a Broadway musical”.
Big Boys Don’t Dance runs at Seabrooke’s Theatre at DHS in St Thomas Road from the March 9 to 12 at 19h30. Tickets R60 booked on 031 277 1500 or email seabrooke’s@durbanhighschool.co.za for more information.
The dancing brothers prove that, actually, big boys do dance, and they demonstrate just how manly dancing can be, especially when there’s a fantastic storyline tying it all together.
The show is a satirical look at the pre-wedding experiences of an average South African man with a less than macho past his comic brother won’t let him forget.
Ash from So You Think You Can Dance and Bradley, who recently starred in the musicals Peter Pan, Footloose and Pinnochio, twirl from gumboot and breaking to dirty dancing and acrobatics.
Big Boys Don’t Dance won a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in 2010. According to the Cue newspaper, the show is “a South African version of The Hangover meets Flashdance with all the technical perfection of a Broadway musical”.
Big Boys Don’t Dance runs at Seabrooke’s Theatre at DHS in St Thomas Road from the March 9 to 12 at 19h30. Tickets R60 booked on 031 277 1500 or email seabrooke’s@durbanhighschool.co.za for more information.
SASAD CONGRESS 2011
(Tap expert Pascal Hulin)The South African Society for the Advancement of Dancing (SASAD will host the exciting Dance Congress in April 2011 where a wonderful and talented group of dance tutors will be coming to Durban to give top quality classes to all those interested.
The dance genres include: classical ballet, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, pilates, musical theatre, tap and musical theatre tapping. There are also real live classical ballet pianists (instead of CD’s) for the ballet classes which makes the dance classes more authentic and enjoyable for the dancers.
The dance tutors include Andri Marais (Durban), Brigitte Reeve (Cape Town), Celeste Botha (Cape Town), Dianne Cheesman (Cape Town), Denise Schultze (Cape Town), Duane Alexander (Cape Town), Craig Bullock (Johannesburg), and Pascal Hulin (Germany).
Local talented pianists are Eirene Candy and Jill Davidson who are kept busy playing all over South Africa for Cecchetti and RAD ballet exams.
The Dance Congress will be held from the April 4 to 7 in the school holidays at Danville Park Girls High School. Dancers and teachers from all over South Africa will be attending. Over these four days, dancers and teachers have the opportunity in taking part in nine classes a day of dance.
Those interested in attending the Dance Congress, should contact the SASAD office on Tel/Fax 031 303 8737 or email info@sasad.org.za
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
NEW WORKS
(Work by Marianne Meijer, who focuses on faces that are departures from traditional portraiture)Three outstanding Durban artists are presenting their new work at the KZNSA Main Gallery. Pascale Chandler, Marianne Meijer and Nicole Pletts have joined forces and created an exhibition of paintings that together provide a moving and rich viewing experience. Each artist has chosen to explore one single subject and it is this discipline that distinguishes this striking exhibition.
Chandler paints horses, Meijer, faces and Pletts divers, (of the swimming pool diving board variety). Ordinary subjects, perhaps, but this is no ordinary exhibition. These artists are seasoned veterans and we have come to expect great things from them. Their new works do not disappoint. Despite the distinct differences in subject, there is a common theme running through all the work – they are interested in the subtleties of the human psyche and spirit. The horses speak to the vulnerability and fragility of the human soul, the faces to the power of the unconscious and the divers to freedom and the life force we all share.
Chandler’s inspiration emerged from a road trip to the Karoo where she was struck by the empty spaces and the feeling of abandoned places - once sites with history and home to families. The sense of stillness and contemplation was for her a metaphor of the fragility and transitory nature of life. The symbolic meaning of horses dates back to prehistory. Due to their natural companionship with man in both work and art, the horse is an emblem of our life-force. Traditionally the horse is associated with power, victory and virility. Chandler has chosen to invert these symbols and depicts her horses as fragile and vulnerable – they teeter in space on stick-like legs. She is interested in the skeletal architecture of their anatomy. They appear constructed in an industrial kind of way rather like the residue of a building construction site. They are not (as are many horse paintings) romanticized. Her technique enhances this ‘mechanicalness’. A thick painting medium is used in a sculptural way burnished to produce a patina more akin to sculpture. This layering and choice of monochromatic tones gives the horses an ethereal, unearthly quality and hence a quiet, moody soulfulness that speaks to our common and collective humanity.
Meijer paints faces that are departures from traditional portraiture. Her interest lies in inventing variations and exploring expressive effects rather than mere depictions. Details become blurred through manipulation of the medium often to the point of abstraction. What is captured is the subtlety and enormous range of human emotion that makes each of us unique yet sharing a common humanity. She abandons the realistic photographic images and chooses a new way of ‘seeing’ with the mind’s eye – a process of inward introspection and intuition that gives these works their unique power to move and engage with the viewer. Four distinct series are presented. Firstly a myriad of small (almost miniature) digital prints then large acrylic on paper, smaller digital prints that are deconstructed and finally a haunting series of ‘death masks’.
Pletts has produced a series of male figure studies in the form of swimming pool divers. Figures are her favourite subject and she was drawn to the divers for their movement and the sense of floating in space. The figures are depicted balancing on diving boards and flying high in aerial gymnastics. She paints in her characteristic bold and gutsy way with fresh painterly strokes that magically combine to interpret the subtleties of human flesh. But there is more. The divers exist in the vacuum of space lending them a curiously existential feel. They are about being, being human, being free, and being courageous. They are also undeniably sensual – erotic, almost. This not only because they are naked save for the quintessential black speedo but because her technique is so physical, so tactile. Each brush stroke is a record of the power of the human hand, rather like an archaeological remnant of the act of touching. This is contrasted with the crisp, clean blues that surround them. Water is universally symbolic of the unconscious and whilst she does not depict the pools themselves we are left with the impression that ‘what goes up must come down’ and that the divers occupy the precarious position of being between the safety of terra firma and the uncertainty of the water below them. The divers are anonymous, faceless. Pletts’s interest lies in their universality and common humanity a theme which unites the work with her fellow exhibitors.
New Works runs until March 13. The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031 277 1703, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF CITY CAMPUS
(Durban Technical Institute 1912)In 2010, The Durban University of Technology (City Campus) celebrated its centenary. To celebrate this milestone DUT hosted a series of events in December last year. The celebrations were mostly internal and now the DUT Art Gallery welcomes the general public to view and join the DUT community in celebrating 100 years of higher education in KZN through Celebrating 100 Years Of City Campus.
This exhibition is largely made up of timeline banners outlining the growth of the University, colour and black white images printed on canvas and an audio DVD looking at the activities at the Natal Technical School.
Amongst the activities that took place last year was a dinner, exhibition and unveiling of two plaques by guests of Honour Professor Vevek Ram, CEO of the National Lotteries Board and KZN Provincial MEC of Education the Honourable Mr Senzo Mchunu.
City Campus building has architectural significance to Durban’s built environment. This building, which houses DUT’s Faculty of Arts and Design, was initially built for students and staff of the Durban Technical Institute. The building’s foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Connaught on December 3, 1910.
The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) generously invested R30.5 million in sponsorship towards the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Heritage Projects. The funding was used for the City Campus Restoration Project, which is concerned with preserving the architectural heritage of the 100 year old building, and the Research of Currie’s and Surrounds (ROCS) project.
Over the last century, the City Campus has been recognised as one of Durban’s oldest heritage sites displaying as it does, the original architectural design. The building is also listed as a historical monument by eThekwini Municipality and has attracted local and international tourists, struggle heroes and ex-South African citizens.
In celebrating the centenary DUT embarked on a building restoration project to replace the entire roof with all ancillary components of the ceilings, electrical and air conditioning installations. During the refurbishment of City Campus, the original architectural significance has been maintained. The project formed part of DUT’s progressive academic and social development goals which are committed to the creation of a learning environment through the provision of safe, modern and technologically advanced facilities for its academic community.
The City Campus building is valued at around R100 million and is a heritage monument that DUT wants to preserve and showcase to locals and the international community. The renovation allows for the replacement of support structures that have never been replaced since the building was first built.
Durban Technical Institute (Durban Tech) was the first institution of higher education in Natal. When Howard College opened, the Natal Technical College (NTC) as it was then known, transferred to Natal University College on August 1, 1931: 200 students, 10 professors and lecturers, buildings, equipment and a college campus of 50 acres and so launched the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as it is today.
Celebrating 100 Years of City Campus will be launched on February 24 at 18h00 and will run until March 25 at the DUT Art Gallery (Steve Biko Campus) above the library.
PARK CONTEMPORARY
The KZNSA Park Gallery has launched the new Park Contemporary.
The KZNSA is committed to the development of the visual arts in KZN and is unique in that it is a Public Benefit Organisation. As such, the Gallery presents experimental and educational exhibitions of national and international significance. The launch of the Park Contemporary will focus on showcasing the works of professional KZN artists and will provide an art agency function that will serve artists and art lovers and collectors. What will distinguish it from the other KZNSA Gallery spaces is that the exhibition will be an ongoing presentation of up to 30 art works that represent the broad range and diversity of locally produced works.
Artists will show individual or - in some cases - small series of their work. The launch will feature works by Peter Rippon, Carla Da Cruz, Leigh Scott Hempson, John Roome, Michael Croeser, Sibusiso Duma, Sifiso Ka Mkame, Grace Kotze and Coral Spencer Domijan.
Park Contemporary runs until March 13The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031 277 1703, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za
The KZNSA is committed to the development of the visual arts in KZN and is unique in that it is a Public Benefit Organisation. As such, the Gallery presents experimental and educational exhibitions of national and international significance. The launch of the Park Contemporary will focus on showcasing the works of professional KZN artists and will provide an art agency function that will serve artists and art lovers and collectors. What will distinguish it from the other KZNSA Gallery spaces is that the exhibition will be an ongoing presentation of up to 30 art works that represent the broad range and diversity of locally produced works.
Artists will show individual or - in some cases - small series of their work. The launch will feature works by Peter Rippon, Carla Da Cruz, Leigh Scott Hempson, John Roome, Michael Croeser, Sibusiso Duma, Sifiso Ka Mkame, Grace Kotze and Coral Spencer Domijan.
Park Contemporary runs until March 13The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031 277 1703, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za
GIRL, YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE
The KZNSA Mezzanine Gallery and Multi-Media Room is currently hosting an exhibition by Carmen Sober titled Girl You Know It’s True. Sober is a Wits graduate whose work has been well received on the international arts circuit – the USA, Moscow, Sweden. She has been the recipient of numerous prestigious scholarships and awards most notably the Brait-Everard award in 2009.
Sobers’ work for this award looks specifically at the sensational and fantastic narratives that form the stock material for tabloid journalism and urban legends. Using photography, installation and performance, Sober confronts the viewer with the absurd and the ridiculous.
Her work is centred very much within a theatrical mode. Costume, drag, disguises, moustache, staging, wit, narratives, cliché, and memory, all form part of both the performance and the documentation of her photographs.
The exhibition is a multi-media project consisting of sound, installation, performance, video and photographic works that brings to Durban an outstanding example of a young artists cutting edge approach to art production that brings together art making, technology, social comment and the media.
Girl You Know It’s True runs until March 13. The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031 277 1703, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za
Sobers’ work for this award looks specifically at the sensational and fantastic narratives that form the stock material for tabloid journalism and urban legends. Using photography, installation and performance, Sober confronts the viewer with the absurd and the ridiculous.
Her work is centred very much within a theatrical mode. Costume, drag, disguises, moustache, staging, wit, narratives, cliché, and memory, all form part of both the performance and the documentation of her photographs.
The exhibition is a multi-media project consisting of sound, installation, performance, video and photographic works that brings to Durban an outstanding example of a young artists cutting edge approach to art production that brings together art making, technology, social comment and the media.
Girl You Know It’s True runs until March 13. The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031 277 1703, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za
BORN 2B WILD
(The Wild Men Alastair Andrew, Bryan Rowe, Grant Halliday and Musical Director Aaron Nel
Vintage Productions SA presents Born 2B Wild in Westville after a successful run in Ballito over the festive season.
A fun show for everyone, the show will appeal to all ages with music taken from a variety of genres spanning decades. Through the eyes of researcher “Moenie-kaksoekie-met-Mariekie” the group takes a fun, light-hearted musical journey through what women like - OR dislike - about men and the differences between the genders.
The show features a live band consisting of the talented Grant Halliday on drums, Bryan Rowe on bass, Musa Mtetwa on keyboards and Aaron Nel on male vocals and lead guitar with lead vocalists Alastair Andrew and Vanessa Moodley. “Mariekie” is played by Andrea Nel. Show numbers include: Smoke on the Water, California Girls, Bicycle, Mustang Sally and I am What I am.
The show will run for three nights only at the Westville Theatre Club from February 25 to 27: the doors open on Friday and Saturday at 19h00 (show at 20h00) and on Sunday at 17h00 (show at 18h00). Tickets R80 and patrons should bring along picnic baskets and drinks. Bookings through Andrea on 082 994 0984 or email southafricanism@gmail.com
UMKHUMBANE JAZZ ENSEMBLE
In association with Castle Lager, the Rainbow Restaurant in Pinetown will host the Umkhumbane Jazz Ensemble in concert on February 27.
“Not much that I need to say about this one, except that it has been far too long since this big brassy jazz ensemble graced our stage,” says Neil Comfort, co-owner of Rainbow Restaurant. “Thankfully, with the excellent support that South African Breweries is giving us for our headline concerts this year, we have been able to offer the group - which features a mix of veterans and young stars of the future - a fee in line with their abilities whilst still keeping the ticket price at an affordable level.
“Buy your ticket early for R40,” Neil Comfort continues, “and I promise you will get more fun and longer lasting memories than a Hollywood blockbuster at the cinema for slightly more money and a lot less entertainment.”
The line-up reads as follows: Jerry Kunene and Muntu Dube on Alto saxophones; S'thembiso Ntuli and Moses Sefatsa on tenor saxophones; Bheki Luthuli and Eric Duma on trumpets; Theo Bophela on piano; Mdu Mahlobo on guitar; Zithulele Dlamini on drums; KB Maphumulo on bass; Noluthando Madondo on trombone and vocals; and Adolph Kunene on vocals.
The performance takes place on February 27 and the doors open at 12 noon. Tickets R40 presale (R60 at the door).
The Rainbow Restaurant Estd 1981 is situated at 23 Stanfield Lane, Pinetown. More information on 031 702 9161 or 083 463 8044 or email: bandwagon@artslink.co.za or visit www.therainbow.co.za
“Not much that I need to say about this one, except that it has been far too long since this big brassy jazz ensemble graced our stage,” says Neil Comfort, co-owner of Rainbow Restaurant. “Thankfully, with the excellent support that South African Breweries is giving us for our headline concerts this year, we have been able to offer the group - which features a mix of veterans and young stars of the future - a fee in line with their abilities whilst still keeping the ticket price at an affordable level.
“Buy your ticket early for R40,” Neil Comfort continues, “and I promise you will get more fun and longer lasting memories than a Hollywood blockbuster at the cinema for slightly more money and a lot less entertainment.”
The line-up reads as follows: Jerry Kunene and Muntu Dube on Alto saxophones; S'thembiso Ntuli and Moses Sefatsa on tenor saxophones; Bheki Luthuli and Eric Duma on trumpets; Theo Bophela on piano; Mdu Mahlobo on guitar; Zithulele Dlamini on drums; KB Maphumulo on bass; Noluthando Madondo on trombone and vocals; and Adolph Kunene on vocals.
The performance takes place on February 27 and the doors open at 12 noon. Tickets R40 presale (R60 at the door).
The Rainbow Restaurant Estd 1981 is situated at 23 Stanfield Lane, Pinetown. More information on 031 702 9161 or 083 463 8044 or email: bandwagon@artslink.co.za or visit www.therainbow.co.za
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
HEELS OVER HEAD
The Centre for Jazz & Popular Music, UKZN presents the Heels OVER Head all female Jazz Band on February 23.Heels OVER Head consists of vocalist /founder Thulile Zama, Nomkhosi Mazibuko (vocalist), Lindelwe Ngonelo (keyboards/piano) and Zoe Masuku (drums) - a group of young, vibrant, diverse professional Durban musicians. The love of jazz music linked them towards to end of 2008 to form this popular musical force and the musicians have a good stage presence as well as energy and passion for what they do. Over the last few years, the sound of the band has grown in terms of dynamics, arrangements, compositions and performance while still staying true to their original fans.
The band members have extensive experience locally, nationally and, in some cases, internationally. Their performance skills have won them respect and a number of fans wherever they perform. Songs like All the things you are, Could it be, Love Song, Inyandza leyo and Past, Present, Future see the performance skill that has won them a large fan group.
Besides jazz, there are strong elements of maskandi, mbhaqange, gospel, classical, funk, house, reggae and a slight afro feel in their compositions.
They have performed at the ICC, the Exhibition Centre, Zimbali Lodge, Howard College Theatre, Centre for Jazz and Popular Music, Bat Centre, Rivets Bar/Hilton Hotel and The Durban July. The ladies have also started to make a mark outside of Durban with recent performances at the Bassline and Carnival City in Johannesburg and the South African Jazz Education Conference in Cape Town.
Band members have shared stages with great musicians including the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim, Sibongile Khumalo, Busi Mhlongo, R.J. Benjamin and dub poet Linton Kwezi Johnson.
Heels OVER Head will perform on February 23 at 17h30 at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music in Shepstone Building, Level 2, ground floor, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Tickets R30 (R10 students). More information on 031 260 3385 or email: luthulia1@ukzn.ac.za
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