HAPPY NEW YEAR

(Caroline Smart)

Here’s wishing all artSMart readers and supporters all the very best for 2015! May the new year bring exciting and productive challenges for the arts and the chance of new opportunities to further creative talents.

artSMart is a voluntary project and my eternal thanks to my PA, Pauline Dalais; my sister Cherry MacIldowie for editing the avalanche of emails, and my regular reviewers Keith Millar and Michael Green as well as to adhoc reviewers and contributors

My huge gratitude to the artSMart advertisers. Please support them and their projects. Without their contribution, artSMart could not exist.

Caroline Smart, artSMart Owner/Editor

12TH ANNUAL AFFORDABLE ART SHOW 2014

(Raja Oshi’s "African Beauty II", oil on canvas)

artSPACE durban's Annual Affordable Art Show is now in its 12th year and is one of the gallery’s most popular exhibitions.

“We manage to collect and select a wide range of fine art keeping the prices down,” explains Gallery owner Karen Bradtke.”We pack the gallery full of works to give the buyers plenty to select from. The maximum sale price is R3,500 once again this year. In years past we have had hundreds of artworks to choose from and a variety of medium from oil paintings, ceramics, sculptures, prints, photographs, drawings and more. This year is no different.”

The Annual Affordable Art Show gives people the chance to start their collections at an affordable price.  If you are already a collector there is plenty to choose from to add to your collection.

Participating artists this year are Andrew Verster, Jeannie Kinsler, Aidon Westcott, Lesley Magwood Fraser, Jabulani Cele, swany, Sharleen Boaden, Julia Forman, Jocelyn Reitz, Roz Cryer, Pam Donegan, Deidre Maree, Moya Evans, Kim Wessels, Daphne Garret, Terry King, Mariek Petzer, Karen Bradtke, Wendy Fundudis, Marlene Jacobs, Ashley Viljoen, Akiko Nakaji, Sharon McClelland, Jane Alexander, Stefan Hughes, Chris Khoury, Ann-Marie Nason, Jane Digby, Patricia McLuckie, Julie Mayo, Rheta-Mari Kotze, Wachania Mithayo, Anne Cleveland, Maureen Babcock, Lesley Ireland Mathew, Denise Becke, Margot Cousens, Karin Janse van Vuuren, Hermine Spies Coleman, L.B Evans, Charles Janse van Rensburg, Scott Kotze, Janien Smythe, Raja Oshi, Keyla Aufrightig, Geoff Price, Ian Walsh, Bronwyn Bruce, Steffi Steffen, Emma Robb, Stephanie Henning-Churton, Shirley Howells, Johanni Ackermann, Jane Jarvis, Karen Debruto, Eloff Pretorius, Arlene McDade, Coral Spencer, Gill Nicholson, Carina Weineck, Megan Bonnetard, Erna Wade, Ntokozo Xulu, Terryll Eloff, Khulekani Cele, Lucky Govender, Jeannette Edwards, Carol Hayward Fell, Grace Kotze, Nicola Firth, Ivan Vicente, Audrey Rudnick, Jana Vorster, Dave Hadlow, Bradley Schwartz, Christiane Jamar, Fathima Sader, Harry Lock, Gail Dahl, Louise Jennings, Corri Hook, Jan Coetzee, Anne Reardon, Catherine Stempowski, Nela Maria Manuela, Lindani Nyandeni, Denise de Sa, Melody French, Shirley Yell, Marianne Meijer, The Deco Collection, Val Wilson with more to come.

The Affordable Art Show runs until January 17 at 14h00 (closed on January 1). artSPACE durban is situated at 3 Millar Road (off Umgeni Road) close to the Waste Centre. More information on 031 312 0793 or visit www.artspacedurban.co.za or www.artspacedurban.blogspot.com

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

Those Were The Days is the grooviest show in town and the perfect start to the new year. It will bring a 60’s music revolution to The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway from January 27.

As hemlines shrunk visibly and free love reigned, the 60’s embedded itself in our memories and music. Those Were The Days pays tribute to a decade where the pace of change in international, social and cultural affairs was quicker than in any other. It is a decade that we will never – could never – forget. Aside from a cultural revolution, some the most influential music of our time comes from this diverse decade that ran the gauntlet from sugary pop to acid rock, Woodstock to Vietnam, The Beatles to The Rolling Stones and Richard Nixon to flower power.

The show features the crazy host, Awesome Powers, who lines up a 60’s party to get audiences rocking and singing along from the first note. From the opening chords of Wipe Out to the closing anthem Hey Jude, the show will take you back to a world that was experiencing a music revolution.

In rock history, the Woodstock music festival opened many doors - Joe Cocker performed With A Little Help From My Friends; Janis Joplin gave us Piece of My Heart; Jimi Hendrix delivered Purple Haze; then there was Love The One You’re With by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Let’s not forget the era of California Dreamin’, when groups like Creedence Clear Water Revival and The Mamas & The Papas were born. British pop invaded the US with music from The Animals, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Soul music also made its mark with artists such as Marvin Gaye and Chubby Checker while the musical Hair brought a whole new dimension to the 60’s in the anthems The Age Of Aquarius and Let The Sun Shine In.

The show will feature a rocking eight-piece band made up of Kyle Matthew (also as host), Ruan Geldenhuys, Marvin Nethononda and Chloe Geldenhuys on vocals; with Aaron Nel on guitar and vocals, Calli Thomson on keyboards, Romeo Moalusi on bass guitar and Ruan Oosthuyzen on drums.

Audiences can get ready to twist again to the music of the 60’s - those were the days when even the bad times were good, and the party went on forever!

Those Were The Days runs from January 27 to March 8. Tickets R145pp from Wednesday to Saturday with discounted specials of R110pp on Tuesday nights and R100pp for the Sunday matinees. For bookings and enquiries, phone The Barnyard Theatre on 031 566 3045 or visit www.barnyardtheatres.co.za/gateway

For further information e-mail gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za or visit www.facebook.com/gatewaybarnyard.

WRITING STUDIO’S NEW COURSES

The Writing Studio’s motivational and inspirational correspondence courses for 2015 are specifically designed to make it easier for storytellers who would like to master the craft of writing and focus on the art of conquering the creative process.

The new courses follow in the renowned tradition and excellence of 18 years of workshops and master classes throughout South Africa and give storytellers a unique opportunity to write in their own space and at their own pace.

An added bonus is the interactive one-on-one communication between trainer Daniel Dercksen and participants, affording them the opportunity to question and clarify the self tasks, tasks and comprehensive notes of the 12 units during the course.

Writers can take an introspective journey into what it takes to be a writer with The Write Attitude, make the most of conquering the writing process, proudly take ownership of writing a story from start to finish, and explore 29 most common writing mistakes and how to overcome them. This course is ideal for writers who would like to balance their creative self with the realities the writing process demands.

Budding screenwriters and filmmakers can explore the fundamentals of writing for a visual medium with The Write Journey. The course looks at how to master the art of how to read a film and explore the language and visual dynamics of film. Writers will understand the process of writing a first draft from inception to developing the concept, characters, and plotting the story. Ideal for writers who would like write for film or television.

Budding playwrights can explore the magic of live theatre and the significant role of plays in society with The Write Drama. Examine the world of contemporary and classic theatre and musical theatre, the raw material of drama, the art of the drama, what it takes to be a dramatist in South Africa, and how to get your plays on to the stage. The Write Drama for budding playwrights who would like to produce their plays independently.

The educator is Daniel Dercksen, the driving force behind the successful independent training initiative The Writing Studio, a published film and theatre journalist for 30 years and has been teaching workshops in creative writing, playwriting and screenwriting throughout South Africa the past 19 years. Dercksen received the number one spot for most popular lifestyle contributor for 2012 and 2014 on www.bizcommunity.com

Graduates of previous courses include filmmakers John Barker (Spud 3: Learning to Fly, Bunny Chow and How To Steal a Million) and Henk Pretorius (Leading Lady, Bakgat, Fanie Fourie Se Lobola), producer screenwriter and filmmaker Sallas de Jager (Roepman, Verraaiers, Musiek vir die agtergrond and Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux), award-winning playwright Neil Coppen (Abnormal Loads) and Jeremeo Le Cordeur (Tannie Dora Gaan Bos), novelists Lauren Beukes (Zoo City, The Shining Girl) Gary Hirson (The Magic That is Ours and Calm in Storm)and Consuelo Roland (who received acclaim for her Lady Limbo novel, and was Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Award and received an Honorary mention for the Olive Schreiner Prize for her novel The Good Cemetery Guide).

For more information, agendas and registration contact Daniel Dercksen on 072 474 1079 or email: info@writingstudio.co.za or visit www.writingstudio.co.za

A PIECE OF CAKE

Endearing and amusing journey of downsizing and de-cluttering also offers recipes for diversionary tactics. (Review by Caroline Smart)

Cecil Levin is a respected Durban music teacher and some years back, I reviewed her delightful songbook for young children, Take Note. She has also written a musical play called A Special Gift.

Cecile Levin has now produced a novel, taking in her own experience of her school years in Pietermaritzburg and her studies as a music teacher at UCT and UKZN. As a schoolgirl and student, she wrote children’s stories for the Witness and Sunday Times. Artfully pulling in experiences of friends and colleagues, she has mixed this with a huge dollop of her own imagination for her literary concoction, A Piece of Cake.

The story deals with Alison, who is described as a “hoarder par excellence”. Her previously well-ordered life has taken a serious tumble. Her husband has left her after 40 years of marriage for a much younger woman. Apart from having to cope with this shattering blow, she urgently needs to downsize her home environment which means an immediate need to de-clutter.

Under the judgmental eye of her cat Joey, whose sardonic comments we receive in italics, she starts this journey towards her new life. While her older sister is constantly on the phone to badger her progress, other friends call with useful – or useless – advice.

ATM in her case means After The Move so anything that can be postponed till that time is put aside without hesitation. The process is painfully slow as virtually everything she finds in the stacked cupboards of clutter comes with a memory which in turn generates another memory ... and in no time, a snack or a meal calls.

With food very much the focus in diverting her from her task at the slightest opportunity – A Piece of Cake also contains some mouth-watering recipes, such as Aunt Ann’s Ginger Loaf, Zoe’s Red Velvet Cupcakes, Miffie’s Milk Tart and Mandy’s No-Bake Marie Biscuit Balls which is simplicity itself and sounds delicious.

Levin and her husband, David, are happily married and live in Durban. They have twin daughters, a son and seven grandchildren ...but no cat!

Levin’s writing style is easygoing and highly amusing. Many of us who have been through – or should be going through – any form of tidying up will relate to this book.

In fact, perhaps it’s time to do some tidying up myself. Now, which cupboard should I tackle first ... but actually ... maybe .. perhaps ... isn’t it time for a lunch break?!

A Piece of Cake is available from Adams Bookshops or muffinpress@gmail.com ISBN 0620610578 – Caroline Smart