David Krut Projects (DKP) Johannesburg is hosting Mary Wafer’s solo exhibition Ninth Floor from Wednesday, June 24 at 142 Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood.
Ninth Floor is a new body of paintings and etchings that continue Wafer’s interest in structural marginality and exclusion in contemporary South Africa.
Following her previous inquiry into the Marikana massacre, Wafer’s current research on John Vorster Square – the police station that embodied the violence of the apartheid system – explores moments along South Africa’s post-democratic timeline in order to interrogate cultural change (or the lack thereof).
The sinister, and in places deteriorating, facade of John Vorster Square, now Johannesburg Central Police Station, is, in this work, a signifier of the collective trauma embedded in many of our urban spaces. It embodies a shared anxiety that is a consequence of the brutality of daily life in South Africa.
The menacing presence of the police station is a monument to systemic violence, and is painstakingly explored in Wafer’s large oil paintings.
The title of the exhibition is a reference to the poem “In Detention” by Chris van Wyk.
For more information, contact ame@davidkrut.com or 011 447 0627.
Today’s stars join stars of tomorrow in the Born To Perform Gala Concert at The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City on Wednesday 1 July at 7.30 pm.
Daniel Baron, Graeme Watkins, Nathan Ro and Cito join budding stars of tomorrow on stage to celebrate the young and professional talent that we have in South Africa.
Born To Perform is a platform created by Gemma Marinus Donnelly and Matthew Marinus to create professional opportunities in the performing arts industry for young budding talented children and teens.
Originally coming from the United Kingdom, Gemma has been a major player in the musical theatre industry in SA for over eight years before opening up an elite performing arts school (Stageworx School Of Performing Arts) in 2009. www.stageworx.co.za
Passionate about growing a bright future for our budding artists Gemma and Matthew are heavily involved in training and showcasing the future stars of SA.
Matthew is best known as the talented drummer for The Graeme Watkins Project, but most recently is fast making a name for himself as Dream Canvas Productions, a video production company he has recently formed, where he produces music videos and EPK’s for SA artists. www.dreamcanvas.co.za
For the Born To Perform Gala Concert at The Lyric Theatre on July 1, Gemma and Matt have searched all over Johannesburg for the most talented singer, dancers and actors in musical theatre and pop music to put together a variety style show inspired by the annual Royal Variety Show in England. These budding performers will be teaming up with some of SA’s favourite artists to show the world what South Africa has to offer.
Says Gemma; “We are lucky enough to have such strong industry support and have managed to gain assistance from some top industry players including Collett Dawson and Cito from The CoLab Network as well as seasoned pro’s such as Graeme Watkins (The Graeme Watkins Project) Nathan Ro (Lonehill Estate), Daniel Baron and Cito (WONDERboom).
“Having these artists performing with our young stars will not only give the youngsters an experience of a lifetime but also hopefully encourage other producers to create opportunities in the industry for them. “
The evening will be a dazzling display of song and dance provided by our leading stars alongside a wide array of budding talent. Here are just a few of the expected highlights:
The second leg to Born To Perform is the Born To Perform TV show. Gemma and Matthew are currently in the process of filming segments for this, such as the “Sing with a Star” segment where talented children will duo with local stars – such as Tylo Venter in this clip working with Belinda Davids from the recent The Greatest Love of All – The Whitney Show. Watch the clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sd0kCWqKT8
The final aspect is the new Teen group “The Buzz” where it’s hoped to create a market for young singers in the SA music scene. You can see the debut of “The Buzz” at the showcase in July.
Tickets range from R180 to R220 and can be booked through Computicket or online at www.goldreefcity.co.za or by calling The Lyric Theatre Box Office on 011 248 5000.
Follow Born to Perform:
Website: www.borntoperform.co.za
Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/Borntoperformgala
YouTube: Born To Perform TV
Stageworx Performing Arts is always looking for new talent for their projects so if you are a young talented teen please send a clip to info@borntoperform.co.za
Watch these videos to give you an idea what to expect from the youngsters on the night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cBzy4ade94
AFAI will host a public debate on heritage symbols in post-colonial contexts, titled How do we interpret and manage living history in South Africa?’ on Monday, June 29 at 5.30 pm at the District Six Museum.
Panelists include Gcobani Sipoyo from the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA), Dr Ashraf Jamal from CPUT, Mohammed Shabangu from the Open Stellenbosch Collective and Brian Kamanzi from the Rhodes Must Fall movement (UCT). The debate will be chaired by the D6M Director Bonita Bennet.
The recent removal of a statue of Cecil John Rhodes on the University of Cape Town’s Upper Campus stimulated vociferous debate on social media, public fora, seminar rooms and informal spaces around the country.
While much of the debate was about the structural racism that still defines many South African Higher Education institutions, the debate was also about heritage, collective memory and living history.
This debate seeks to tease out some of the different ways in which the ‘nation’ deals with statues and buildings that represent an oppressive past, and also articulate a complex and problematized present. In addition, the debate seeks to interrogate the ways in which, the ongoing project of transformation – both within universities and public spaces – can be dealt with in a post-colonial context.
In this way South Africa can reflect on recent events in light of how other post-colonial societies have managed the telling of history and the transformation of cultural/ heritage objects and symbols that shape a community’s consciousness (take India or Zimbabwe as examples).
The District Six Museum is at 25A Buitenkant Street, Cape Town, 8000. Please RSVP to Sophia at sophia@afai.org.za by Monday, June 29 10 am.
Following the success of the 10th anniversary of the hugely popular annual Baxter Dance Festival last year, the organisers are now calling for entries for 2015 from dance studios, schools, companies, groups and independent dance-makers, as well as proposals from choreographers (including a DVD of recent work).
The closing date for applications to participate in this year’s event is Monday, July 6, at 5pm and choreographers are strongly encouraged to send in their submissions as early as possible. Continue reading
Sibikwa Arts Centre is reviving four of its classics: Uhambo, Kwela Bafana, DET Boys’ High and So Where To?.
The Sibikwa Arts Centre in Benoni, founded by Phyllis Klotz and Smal Ndaba, is internationally recognised for its productions that have an ongoing concern to address social, environmental, gender and health issues that validate the lives of ordinary people.
The Sibikwa Players, comprising actors, musicians, dancers and singers, have been dedicated to developing a canon of indigenous South African work in their wondrous signature multi-discipline style since they were founded in 1988.
Sibikwa’s professional drama component has long blown any preconceptions about community theatre out of the water bringing epic retelling of South African history to mainstream audiences.
Sibikwa has revived four of its emblematic classics: Uhambo, Kwela Bafana, DET Boys’ High and So Where To?. All these productions are written and directed by Phyllis Klotz and Smal Ndaba, the stellar Sibikwa team, and have toured extensively nationally and internationally participating in the Edinburgh Festival, Festivals in Europe, Singapore, Canada and the USA. They are now ready for touring in South Africa and the SADC!
All four plays can be booked as school plays; they are suitable for learners from Grade 7 upwards. DET Boys’ High and So Where To? deal with issues such as drugs, crime and teenage pregnancy that affect the daily lives of our youth and fit in with the life orientation syllabus. Kwela Bafana and Uhambo focus on history and heritage.
Sibikwa wouldn’t be Sibikwa without a special women’s month offering. This year So Where To? Will be presented at the Sibikwa Arts Theatre on August 8, 9 and 10 at 3 pm. Tickets are R50 for adults and R25 for pensioners, students and children. Inquiries: 011 422 4359.
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Joanna Frankel is the soloist with the KZN Philharmonic on June 25 in the Durban City Hall.
Cape Town will be given the opportunity to relive the glory days of Freddie Mercury and his iconic band Queen when Artscape Opera House hosts the world’s premier Queen tribute show Queen – It’s A Kinda Magic for a two-week run this November.
Recreating Queen’s 1986 World Tour concert, the show features all of the band’s greatest hits performed live including We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are the Champions and Fat-Bottomed Girls. Careful attention has been paid to all the music – the iconic voice of Mercury, the amazing guitar solos of May and the groundbreaking rock harmonies – plus audiences can expect all the big sound, lighting, effects and costumes of a full-scale rock concert.
The show is expected to be yet another hit for promoters Artscape Opera House who wowed sell-out crowds and drew critical acclaim for The Greatest Love of All – The Whitney Houston Show that played Artscape earlier this year.
In fact Queen – It’s a Kinda Magic is good enough to have attracted the attention, endorsement and eventual involvement of Peter Freestone, Freddie Mercury’s best friend, neighbour, biographer and personal assistant for 12 years.
After reviewing the show while in Singapore in 2007, Freestone was duly impressed and contacted promoter John Van Grinsven with his compliments. A friendship ensued and Freestone now tours with QIAKM where his schedule allows, acting as a production consultant for the show as well as signing autographs and chatting with Queen fans.
Englishman Giles Taylor will spearhead the role of Freddie Mercury with support from Australians Richie Baker, as Brian May on guitar, and Kyle Thompson, as Roger Taylor on drums, and South Africa’s Steven Dennett as John Deacon on bass.
In 2014 Taylor took on the coveted and complex role of Freddie Mercury. His career has seen him travel the world over the past 13 years, performing with artists such as Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Gabrielle, Rick Wakeman, The Moody Blues, Martin Taylor, Richard O’Brien, Sir Jimmy Tarbuck and Dennis Waterman.
Despite this incredible roll call of colleagues, Taylor counts his role in Queen – It’s a Kinda Magic as one of the toughest musical roles he has encountered to date.
“Freddie was known for his powerful voice and vocal range, and had a very distinct character in general, so emulating him is quite a challenge, but those details need to be just right for a show of this magnitude. True Queen fans will appreciate the attention to detail,” says Taylor.
NEED TO KNOW
Queen – It’s a Kinda Magic runs from November 10-22 at Artscape Opera House. Tickets at Computicket.
THE latest exhibition at SMITH is a solo exhibition of new work by Marsi van de Heuvel titled ‘Entanglement’.
This show presents works that experiment with empathy and entanglement; a study of an emotional connected consciousness. The multiplicity of the deep yet ethereal colour of blue, and countless minute pen marks, represent an open ended expanse of human experience.
It serves as sanctuary for vulnerability; a home for emotion. It is an attempt to ease anxieties of today’s fixation with idiosyncratic statuses, and soothe the exhaustion of the constant search for signal, by submerging into an expansive and empathetic rhizome.
“I feel compelled to make work that contributes, and I search to find relevant subject matter that does not exclude; that speaks in the language of every man. I love that art has the power to convey something complex in a simple way,” says Marsi. “My work is a demonstration of dedication, a practice of discipline and patience. The process is slow and meditative, consuming of time and self. The intention is to broaden perspectives of who we are, and where we are.”
Originating from Cape Town, Marsi has known from the beginning that art was all she wanted to pursue. She said: “I felt fortunate to be sure of what I wanted to do. I committed. Although my subject and medium has changed over the years, the concepts in all my work have had common themes that I have come to realize quite recently”.
‘Entanglement’ will run from June 24 to July 18 at SMITH, 56 Church Street, Cape Town.
SMITH is open Tuesday – Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.
An exhibition entitled TWENTY: Art in the Time of Democracy featuring works by 115 artists will be presented by UJ Arts & Culture at the UJ Art Gallery from July 1 to August 5.
Gordon Froud, senior lecturer at the University of Johannesburg (FADA) and curator for this show, incorporated a broad range of works by established and emerging South African artists addressing their experiences of the first twenty years of democracy in this country.
Froud originally curated this show for the Appalachian State University Turchin Centre in North Carolina during 2014, which, on its return was exhibited at the Pretoria Art Museum. A selection from this exhibition, co-curated by Professor Karen Von Veh (UJ, FADA) will be shown at the 6th International Beijing Biennale later this year.
The artists, amongst others William Kentridge , Mary Sibande, David Goldblatt, Diane Victor, David Koloane, Kagiso Pat Mautloa, Vusi Beauchamp, Clive Van der Berg, Paul Emmanuel, Kim Berman, Roger Ballen, Matt Hindley, Marco Cianfanelli, Jodi Bieber, Manfred Zylla, Andy Robertson, Christo Doherty, Mbali Dhlamini, Bevan de Wet, Phumilani Ntuli and Jaco van Schalkwyk, comment on a wide variety of themes such as identity formation within a young democracy, resistance, human rights, land concerns, the Mandela years and HIV/Aids.
The exhibition closes on August 5.
NEED TO KNOW
OPENING SPEAKER: Avitha Sooful, Head of Division and senior lecturer, Fine Arts, University of Pretoria
WALKABOUT: Wednesday, July 22 at 1 pm; Saturday, August 1 at 10.30 am
GALLERY HOURS: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. Closed weekends and public holidays.
LOCATION: APK Campus, Cor. Kingsway/University Road, Auckland Park
CONTACT: UJ Art Gallery: 011 559 2099 aedempsey@uj.ac.za
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