WILLIAM KENTRIDGE SPEAKS AT HIDDINGH
William Kentridge is always articulate and thought-provoking when talking about his work, and generous with what he shares, and his spot as GIPCA's next speaker in the Great Text/Big Questions series is bound to be very rewarding. I'm sure that it will also be very popular and booking is advisable - details are below. Last month saw the opening in New York of Kentridge's production of Shostakovich's opera The Nose, based on Gogol's aburdist short story, and it was received with raves. If we can't see the show, at least we can catch some of the buzz by hearing about it so soon after. In the talk Kentridge will "revisit his exploration of Gogol’s story (written in 1836) and Shostakovich’s music (first performed in Leningrad in 1930 before being suppressed and not seen again until 1974.)"
At Hiddingh Hall on Thurs 8 at 17h00
There is no charge to attend, but space is limited. To book contact ash.miles@uct.ac.za
(For a little more about the Great Text/Big Questions series see last week's blog.)
LIVE PERFORMANCE ART AT SPIER
This coming weekend there's a special event at the Spier Contemporary 2010 worth capturing. There are a number of works of performance art on the exhibition and on most days these pieces can be seen on video ... but at very restricted times (every second weekend or so) the artists perform these pieces live. This weekend the performances will run from 11h00 to 12h00 on the Saturday, and 15h00 to 16h00 on the Sunday.
There is no up-to-date information about who and how, but last time the session included:
* Voices by Maurice Mbikayi
* Newspaper Persona by Phillipe Wayumba Wa-Yafolo
* Itch by Mxolisi Nkomonde
* Lullaby: A Hair Dance To The Music Of ‘Kalimba Lullaby’ By Mr. Cat And The Jackal by Lean Coetze
* Inferno by Mlu Zondi
* Walking Together by Philippe Kayumba Wa-Yafolo
Some of this work looks fun and interesting, judging from the information on the exhibition website - look for links to each of these artists at http://spiercontemporary2010.co.za/2010/exhibition/artists/
An added attraction of the Spier show is the Fringe Arts shop, and there's a coffee shop too.
Spier Contemporary at the City Hall, Cape Town, from 10h00 to 18h00 every day until the 14th May 2010 (including public holidays). Admission is Free. Live performances on Sat 10 11h00 to 12h00 and Sun 11 15h00 to 16h00
www.spiercontemporary2010.co.za • 0860 111 458
NEW LECTURE SERIES AT THE BOOK LOUNGE
The Book Lounge is launching the Open Shuhada Street Lecture Series, with the theme of Israel and Palestine and human rights. Their first speaker is Advocate Geoff Budlender on "The Limits of the Law: Practising Law Under Occupation."
Geoff Budlender was a founder of the Legal Resources Centre in 1979, and has been central to human rights law in South Africa ever since. I for one am very grateful to have someone of such gravitas talking on this subject which needs to be examined in the most reliable light. For those who can't bear to miss the William Kentridge talk, which co-incides almost exactly, I hope the Book Lounge publishes the talk/discussion!
The Book Lounge
Thursday 8 April 2010 @ 5.30 for 6pm
AFRIKAAPS OPENS AT THE BAXTER
Afrikaaps has been anticipated with excitement because it brings together a star ensemble of musicians, singers, rappers and poets, and takes on an interesting project which is the re-telling of the history of Afrikaans. Advance notice from the premiere at the KKNK in Oudtshoorn is that it's worth seeing for the "exquisite jazzy musical score" by Kyle Shepherd, but the staging and choreography is disappointing.
Afrikaaps at the Baxter from Wednesday 7 April
LAST MINUTE REMINDER - INDIGENOUS PLANT SALE TODAY
The Good Hope Nursery near Cape Point is offering a 20% discount on their great array of indigenous plants, just for today (Monday 5.) The sale is one of many attractions of their "fynbos family day" - see more on last week's blog.
Fynbos Family Day Good Hope Nursery on Monday the 5th of April from 10am – 4pm
021 7809299 or 0722344804 http://www.capepoint.com/
SKINNY LA MINX SECONDS SALE ON SATURDAY
Textile designer Heather Moore is holding the Seconds, Samples (& So On) Sale at her studio this Saturday and it's a very uncommon chance to pick up some of her gorgeous stuff at a discount. She has a range inspired by fifties and sixties homeware and another by Cedarberg rock paintings, all in lovely colours. There’ll be "tea towels, cushion covers and bags, some one-off samples, as well as some end-of-range stock that simply has to go."
See more at http://www.skinnylaminx.info/
The Sale is on Saturday10 April from 9h00 to 15h00 at Heather's studio 33a Buitengracht Street. Cash only.
FLOWERS AND SKIES
There are two wonders of autumn to pay attention to now, one of them needing a trip to Kirstenbosch and the other all around us every evening wherever we are in Cape Town.
I've just returned from Kirstenbosch, thanks to word from a friend that the shade-loving Plectranthus is in full bloom. This is the moment in the year that this beauty is at its peak and visitors will see dozens of kinds in "seas of white, mauve, purple, pink." The photographs at the end of this posting capture a little of this beauteous show.
And then the skies. Leaving a meeting recently, under a dramatically pink evening sky, a neighbour who is a science lecturer said, Yes, this is the time of year for awesome skies! It was news to me that such a time of year existed and I pressed him for details - apparently the sunsets are at their most spectacular from now until the end of April. Take note and look out for them!
There are two wonders of autumn to pay attention to now, one of them needing a trip to Kirstenbosch and the other all around us every evening wherever we are in Cape Town.
I've just returned from Kirstenbosch, thanks to word from a friend that the shade-loving Plectranthus is in full bloom. This is the moment in the year that this beauty is at its peak and visitors will see dozens of kinds in "seas of white, mauve, purple, pink." The photographs at the end of this posting capture a little of this beauteous show.
And then the skies. Leaving a meeting recently, under a dramatically pink evening sky, a neighbour who is a science lecturer said, Yes, this is the time of year for awesome skies! It was news to me that such a time of year existed and I pressed him for details - apparently the sunsets are at their most spectacular from now until the end of April. Take note and look out for them!
photos by Pedro Espi Sanchis
