ARTSMART HEADS FOR 2018!

Welcoming 2018 in with everything that it brings. My immense gratitude to those who make artSMart possible – the advertisers, the reviewers, the readers and the supporters. May the arts prosper in 2018!! - Caroline Smart (artSMart owner and editor)

HISTORIC AMAHUBO PERFORMANCE

(KZN Heritage Ensemble. Pic by Mpikoko)

In association with Concerts SA and Luthuli Museum, iSupport Music Business is bringing the KZN Heritage Ensemble featuring Mbuso Khoza and Mike del Ferro (NL) to KwaDukuza Town Hall on January 7.

The KZN Heritage Ensemble was formed in 2016 by Mbuso Khoza; a prize-winning vocalist, songwriter and composer from Eshowe, after six years of intensive research on the style of music known as Amahubo. The Eshowe-born award-winning vocalist and songwriter is taking the audience back to the time where it all began. This project seeks to educate both young and old about amaHubo, the spoken word, which is a very popular art in the Zulu culture. Khoza aims to orchestrate and pave a way for generations to come.

AmaHubo songs are performed at traditional Zulu weddings, in war, at funerals of homestead heads and chiefs, as well as in other major traditional ceremonies involving a clan, a region and sometimes the whole Zulu ‘nation. Older generations refer to amahubo songs as the songs of the old people or ‘amagama amadlozi’, that is the songs of the ancestors. Knowledge and performance of amaHubo songs form an integral part of traditional Zulu culture. KZN Heritage Ensemble project seeks to educate and revive amaHubo songs. AmaHubo date as far back as the Shaka era, Shaka during his consolidation years assigned at least one iHubo song to each regiment. Each regiment would sub- sequent be identified by its iHubo song.

Khoza himself will feature as part of the choir, his music is referred to as a delicate mix of deep traditional Zulu music infused with Jazz elements. This particular sound separates him from his peers, with an ability to reach down to long-gone memories. His world yet reaches beyond this world. The choir will also feature world-renowned pianist Mike del Ferro, who is travelling from The Netherlands to record with the choir. Del Ferro started playing classical piano and after falling in love with Jazz he pursued his studies on Jazz and received a Master in Contemporary Music at the Amsterdam Conservatory.

The host of this event, The Luthuli Museum, is a national cultural institution charged with conserving, upholding, promoting and propagating the life, values, philosophies and legacy of the late Chief Albert Luthuli. This concert closes off the year 2017 that marked 50 Years since Chief Albert Luthuli died on 21 July 1967 and aims to look forward to the programs the Museum plans to offer in 2018.

The concert will take place on January 7, 2018, at 14h00 at the KwaDukuza Town Hall, King Shaka Street. Tickets R20 at the door.

For more information on Concerts SA visit http://concertssa.co.za

RHUMBELOW TEMPORARY CLOSURE

Theatre to be closed for months. (Article by Billy Suter, courtesy of his blog, SoSuterBill)

(Rhumbelow Theatre manager Roland Stansell surveys the roof damage at the theatre's Umbilo branch in Cunningham Road, Durban. Metal jacks have now been fitted to support the cracked beams discovered in the roof. Pic by Bryan Hiles)

In the good old showbusiness tradition, the show will go on for Durban’s Rhumbelow Theatre franchise – but not for a few months at the Umbilo venue, in the shellhole of the same name, in Cunningham Road.

Plans for a simple ceiling replacement there, following recent storm damage, have now led to the opening of a whole new can of worms, as it has been discovered that beams in the roof are cracked and pose a danger.

It is a process that could take up to six months as a result of financial issues and availability of a work team, says Roland Stansell, manager and entertainment co-ordinator of the Rhumbelow Theatre group, which also has branches at Tina’s Hotel in Kloof and the Allan Wilson shellhole in Pietermaritzburg.

“As far I am concerned the Umbilo building is condemned and it seems highly likely we will have to replace the entire roof to ensure safety,” he adds.

Roofing woes will see the Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo, Durban, closed for up to six months.

A cracked beam was discovered the day after Christmas, when Bryan Hiles, who was project managing the ceiling repairs, arrived with his team to remove all lighting and projectors at the venue for routine cleaning and maintainance.

When the damaged ceiling was removed it was noticed that a beam was cracked and there were signs of previous repairs where extra battons had been added. That, however, was done as far back as 1956, says Roland.

A day after the cracked beam was noticed, a representative of the repair team noticed three fresh cracks in the roof.

“It needs to be inspected by engineers for safety, and in all likelihood will mean that the roof rafters will need to be completely replaced. This is a money and time issue.”

Roland says all shows booked for the Durban venue, the first of which was planned for early February next year, will be moved to another temporary venue, to be announced by mid-January.

“Please note that the Rhumbelow theatre in Durban is not closing down,” Roland posted on his Facebook page after rumour had spread… and someone had even contacted him to hear he might be emigrating.

“I am not going anywhere – other than on a cruise holiday which will see me back on January 16,” he adds.

“We have been running the theatre at the Rhumbelow Moth Hall for some 16-and-a-half years. We will, for audience safety, need to fix/replace the entire roof structure. If anyone is in a position to make any donations towards this cause, please email me on roland@stansell.za.net.

“We are looking forward to a great 2018 year of great shows. Please keep your eyes on social media for details regarding Umbilo, Durban, shows and which venue they will be at.”

Durban's Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo has been operating for 16-and-a-half years. – Billy Suter

SUE BERNON EXHIBITION

(“Eskom Cows Grazing” – oil painting by Sue Bernon)

An exhibition by Sue Bernon is currently running at the Blue Caterpillar Gallery in Pietermaritzburg.

There are 14 works in all on this exhibition featuring works in oils and sculptural work in clay. Nine works depict cattle with different backgrounds and weather conditions.

Bernon is a local talented artist exhibiting her work - her series of cows in different settings are dramatic and she has created her own unique style to capture local rural settings. Her florals, mostly the beautiful Protea also form part of her exhibition.

Bernon states: “I am a South African fine artist. Graduated with a fine art degree, I have been making art my career ever since. I work in various art forms, and attend many art workshops. I also train students in my area.”

Her work is inspired by form and colour, and the sources and variations of colour as light falls on it. She regularly exhibits her work, and it can be found in many South African homes as well as in Australia, New Zealand, Britain and the US.”

“I aim at depicting the drawn and colour form into an unusual tapestry style, without losing sensitivity and character. I strive to draw the viewer into my paintings by leaving little bits of unfinished places. My love for drawing, and passion for colour, inspire me to continually create nostalgic paintings,” she adds.

The exhibition closes at the end of February. The Blue Caterpillar Gallery is situated at the Butterflies for Africa complex at 37 Willowton Road 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

KZNSA MEMBERS EXHIBITION 2018

The theme for the 2018 KZNSA Members' Exhibition is Disruption and the exhibition will take place from January 16 to February 4 with the opening and prize giving taking place on January 16 at 17h30.

SUBMISSION DATES

Work needs to be delivered to the KZNSA gallery, 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban on these dates:

January 11 and 12 between 09h00 and 17h00

January 13 between 09h00 and 13h00

No late submissions can be accepted.

MEDIUMS

All mediums are welcome: Painting, drawing, mixed media, photography, collage, sculpture, etc.

The media gallery is also available for digital and film submissions. There is no limit on size. Members may submit one piece each.

PRIZES

All submissions are eligible for the Joan Emanuel Family Trophy and a share of the R20,000 prize money. Independent judges will award 1^st( R10,000), 2^nd (R5,000) and 3^rd (R2,500) places. In additional, the KZNSA exhibition sub-committee award a commendation for an outstanding piece (R2,500)

For more information email gallery@kznsagallery.co.za

To become a member of The KZNSA Gallery fill out membership form at http://kznsagallery.co.za/kznsa/join_the_kznsa.htm or visit the Gallery Desk during business hours.

The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031 277 1705, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za