Before I die I want to… write on a wall.

Bucket lists have been all the rage ever since 2007, when Nicholson and Freeman teamed up and jumped out of a plane, and as anyone who has ever drawn up a list already knows, there’s always one thing, one ‘to-do-item’, that is more important than anything else. Vega Brand Communications, together with Moses Mabhida Stadium, is offering Durbanites the opportunity to share these all-important personal aspirations with their family, friends and country-men via the “Before I die I want to…” wall.

 

Not such a novel concept, the Durban “Before I Die” wall is part of a greater global art project that is aimed at bringing communities together, fostering communication, and inspiring creativity. The movement has its roots in an abandoned house in New Orleans – a seemingly unlikely space that artist Candy Chang used to explore the relationship between public spaces and community. According to Chang “Public spaces can nourish our wellbeing and create a more valuable and meaningful kind of life”.

Our local installation forms part of a larger thesis project by Vega student Marissa Jade Whittle that addresses “re-creating community in public spaces”. The public is “invited to share their aspirations, reflect on their lives and connect with others in a beautiful public space – the Moses Mabhida Stadium”. If you haven’t already, then we suggest you share today. All you have to do is head on over to the stadium where you’ll find a 9m chalkboard painted on a wall near the SkyCar; one where people can write their ambitions and responses to the prompt “Before I die I want to…”

Artbeat Profile: Bron Stofberg

A favourite amongst South Africa’s top designers, Bron Stofberg produces contemporary pieces that dance with colour and breathe new life into the living space. The distinct “wet look” of her paintings is achieved using a unique formula that combines oil based paints and canvas in such a manner that the reaction flows, pulls, blends, speckles and merges. The final result is beautiful; an amazing sheen that begs to be touched.

Bron’s fresh take and unique style can be found in many up-market homes in South Africa and abroad. So appreciated are her talents that, in 2007, Bron was commissioned to create a custom piece for a Post Production House co-owned by Madonna in Soho, London. The piece 2 paintings, mirror images of each other running in opposite directions, highlights Bron’s love for a challenge with the client’s tight brief limiting not only the theme, but also the dimensions and colour pallet.

When it comes to original artwork, Bron creates each piece to meet size, colour and style choice of the client. Each piece is therefore a one-of-a-kind experience that is never to be repeated.

Catch Bron this Saturday, 4 August 2013, at the I Heart Market, Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban. Alternatively, you can take a peek at her portfolio online or join her on Facebook.yle choice of the client. Each piece is therefore a one-of-a-kind experience that is never to be repeated.

Art in the Park 2013

Tom's Art Verno: bringing the world's top artists into your home.

Looking to add class and elegance to your home or business? Then, welcome to South Africa’s premier art vendor: Tom’s Art Verno.

With both local and international branches, Tom’s Art Verno offers clients quality pieces from some of the world’s top artists. From ornate frames and oil paintings, to ceramics and furniture, they have an extensive collection that ranges from the Abstract to the Classical. But, it doesn’t stop there.

With a commitment to helping their customers find the best-fit, they willingly provide the services of their team of profession interior decorators. Together you and the team are able to take a comprehensive approach to interior design and choose those pieces that, not only appeal to you, but also don’t clash with the couch.

Click here to discover more about this art treasure trove or you can always contact Gideon at Tom’s Art Verno via 082 445 3662. 

Delicious #PantonePairings

David Schwen describes himself as "a creative based in Minneapolis, with a focus on Illustration, Design and Art Direction. He's an active pinner, tweeter, grammer, dribbbler and an all-around likeable guy." More recently, he has introduced a fresh approach to foodstagramming.

No longer just satisfied with taking Instagram photos of his meal, he has taken to creating #PantonePairings.  Drawing on Pantone's Colour Matching System as inspiration, David's creating art by matching our favourite food and/or condiment combinations. So, go on and enjoy some milk and cookies or, if you're on diet, a healthy dollop of peas and carrots. 

Shadow art: Evoking the spirit of Africa

"Something I made for a place I love." That's how an Italian wildlife vet in training described his latest creation. A product of wire, clay, LED lights and some ingenuity, this piece of shadow art  is truly remarkable.

Click here to discover how "itwvet" captured the spirit of Africa.

The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design - 500 iconic designs in one box!

The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design features 500 graphic designs including newspapers, magazines, posters, advertisements, typefaces, logos, corporate design, record covers and moving graphics from around the world, which have set a benchmark for excellence and innovation.

Compiled and researched by experts, and illustrated with up to six images per entry, including rarely seen historical and contextual material, The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design is the ultimate reference guide for the design professional and enthusiast alike. Designed with exceptional production details and rich with information, this book also becomes an object that appeals to the creativity and imagination of the reader.

Born of the traditions of fine art and printing, graphic design is a form of visual communication that seeks to inform, identify or promote through the combination of word and image. But unlike the written word or a work of art, a graphic design operates exclusively in the context in which it will be seen, and mediates between the wishes of the client and the expectations of the public. Moreover, a graphic work is created for mass reproduction. 

The field of graphic design, as we know it today, has its roots in two developments: the invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century and the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, both of which contributed to the process of graphic reproduction. Today, trade, commerce, communications and culture continue to feed the need for graphic design, and technological developments – most notably the computer – are constantly broadening its possibilities. Of all the arts, graphic design comes closest to our contemporary daily life, as we interact with graphic design on an almost continuous basis.

Five hundred graphic designs created since the advent of mechanical reproduction, are showcased in this archive – from the Gutenberg Bible and Nuremberg Chronicles of the fifteenth century, to the cutting edge magazines, posters and ephemera of today. It is the authoritative selection of newspapers, magazines, advertisements, typefaces, logos, corporate design, record and CD covers and moving graphics from around the world, which have created a benchmark for excellence and innovation.

This phenomenal collection is available directly from the Phaidon online store (click here to go shopping). 

Truths revealed at the Spier Secret Festival

The Secret Festival is a weekend event at Spier Wine Estate exploring the latest in food and wine trends. Secrets of all kind will be revealed – from secret ingredients and family recipes to South Africa’s best-kept wine secret, Chenin Blanc. The festival includes art installations, talks, presentations, workshops, tastings, unforgettable meals, Secret Home Dinners, a Saturday food and wine market, mini cookbook fair and Sunday braai-off.*

When: 28 – 29 October

Where: Spier Wine Farm

Visit www.spiersecretfestival.co.za for more info.

*This blurb was snatched from an article on the Spier website: www.spier.co.za. 

Clover Aardklop National Arts Festival: 02 – 07 October 2012

In its 15^th year the Clover Aardklop National Arts Festival continues to bring its visitors the very best in South African and Afrikaans culture. The programme is packed with more than 70 productions and includes everything from opera to theatre to dance and more. And let’s not forget performances by Sandra Prinsloo, Steve Hofmeyer and Chris Chameleon.

So, take some time off work and make your way to Potchefstroom for a week of cultural bliss and brilliant entertainment.

When: 02 – 07 October 2012

Where: Potchefstroom

Book your tickets via Computicket or visit www.cloveraardklop.co.za for more info. 

The Witness Hilton Arts Festival: 21 – 23 September

When: 21 – 23 September 2012

Where: Hilton College

Enquiries: 033 383 0126 | theatre@hiltoncollege.com | www.hiltonfestival.co.za

Kentridge, Goldblatt to headline Prince Albert Art Festival – PArt – End September 2012

Prince Albert Gallery Press Release

Die Hel Interior by David Goldblatt

To mark the town’s 250^th birthday celebration and the Prince Albert Gallery’s tenth anniversary, more than 30 of South Africa’s most renowned visual artists will be participating in the village’s first art festival.

The festival is scheduled for the weekend of the 28^th of September 2012 and interrogates the theme of The Vulnerable Landscape. Artists will explore all aspects of landscape: interiors, the mind, urban renewal and destruction, the veld and closer to home, the beautiful and vast landscapes of the Karoo.

In addition to the Gallery, housed in the historic Seven Arches Building, other venues around the architecturally acclaimed village will be in use. “We wanted to include as much of the town as possible” said Gallery owner Brent Phillips-White. “We’ll be offering lectures and workshop as well as the exhibitions in some of these venues.”

He said art lovers will find work by painters, photographers, ceramicists, print-makers, sculptors and land artists at the festival.

Prince Albert Gallery co-director, Mary-Anne Botha explained: “The arid Karoo is vulnerable to climate change and human intrusion. Water for food and settlement is scarce. Fossil water held in deep aquifers is irreplaceable.”

Cloud Shadows by Joshua Miles

New work will be on display by David Goldblatt, William Kentridge, Hylton Nel and Hermann Niebuhr. Other artists exhibiting include Standard Bank Artist of the Year 2012 Mikhael Subotzky, internationally celebrate Philip W. Badenhorst and land artist Strijdom van der Merwe.

An exhibition will be curated featuring Karoo artists’ response to the threat of fracking. Workshops will be on offer by photographer Louis Botha, Jill Trappler and reduction woodblock printmaker Joshua Miles. Art-related movies and lectures will be presented in the evenings. Artist JP Meyer and designer Jacques Erasmus will offer a cooking course at the town’s recreational cooking school. Restaurants around the village will host dinners with guest artists.

The Gallery will be updating its website regularly with additions to the programme.

For further information contact: Brent Phillips-White E: karoogallery@intekom.co.za | T: 023 541 1057 | C: 082 749 2128

Set aside 10 Days in September for the Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival

Johannesburg is set to undergo an incredible transformation during the first ten days of September, becoming a canvas and/or stage on which the country’s artists, actors, directors and musicians can display their remarkable talents. This visually enticing extravaganza will provide audiences with the best in South African arts and culture. There’ll be dancing and music, poetry and puppetry. And that’s just the start. To find out more about what’s on the go where visit the Arts Alive website.

Ignite your creative spark at the CORE Mixed Media Exhibition.

The exhibition runs from 6 – 28 September 2012. For more information contact the Museum Gallery on 083 325 3322 or greg@museum-gallery.co.za, or visit the exhibitions official Facebook page. 

Local design showcase Southern Guild 2012 at Everard Read Gallery in August

The extremely successful Southern Guild is in its fourth year and will take place from 2 August to 9 September 2012 at the legendary Everard Read Gallery in Johannesburg. A showcase of the best in South African contemporary art and design this year’s collection is said to be “the most significant yet”. Work from a record number of 109 participants, including some of the country’s top artists, designers and architects, will be featured in this year’s event. 2012 also marks the introduction of a section dedicated to South African Ceramicists and this year’s event will include a series of interactive events like the Southern Guild Talks programme and guided gallery tours for the public and schools.

For more information on Southern Guild 2012 visit the Southern Guild and Everard Read Gallery websites, or contact Lezanne Van Heerden on Lezanne@southernguild.co.za.

Stars in the Grass

New to the Everything for the Home directory is Stars in the Grass, a collection of detailed pencil sketches, appealing watercolours and life-like oils from local artist Judith Malan.

Born in Botswana, raised in Zimbabwe and now living in South Africa, it’s not surprising that Judith’s artwork conveys a deep love of Africa. She sees it as her privilege to capture the passion, healing prejudices and astounding compassion of her adopted nation and countrymen.

Judith started painting before she reached her teens and rarely goes a week without holding a brush. Despite her pint-sized stature, she is often described as fearless, undaunted by a large “canvas”. In fact, the bigger the better is her motto, with larger-than-life murals being a particular penchant.

To find out more about Judith or to take a gander at her portfolio visit her blog .

Drawing Classes at Fat Tuesday

WITH JEANETTE GILKS

Date: Sat August 11, 18 and 25th
Time: 9am - 12.15pm
Cost: R450 for 3 sessions

This class is suitable for Beginner and Intermediate students

* stimulate lateral thinking
* promote the value of creative process
* develop flashes of inspiration
* generate new ideas
* develop continuity within innovation
* stimulate cross pollination of ideas between people

The aim of the workshop is therefore not to teach new skills but to explore some alternative approaches to drawing.

Jeanette Gilks has been teaching for over 40 years and has run drawing workshops countrywide for advanced students. Booking is essential as classes are limited to 10 students.

Email shannon@fattuesday.co.za or call 031 717 2789 to book your place

New York City’s Hidden Subway Station

Deep in the belly of New York’s subway system, a beautiful untouched station resides that has been forgotten for years with only a limited few knowing of its existence. Stunning decoration with tall tiled arches, brass fixtures and skylights run across the entire curve of the station, almost a miniature imitation of Grand Central Station… But it sounds like something straight out of Harry Potter, right?

It was opened in 1904, with the hope of making it the crowning glory of the New York subway system in elegant architecture and a place for commemorative plaques to honour the work that had resulted in such a successful underground mass transit system. It was to be the original southern terminus of the first ‘Manhattan Main Line’; however the station was closed and boarded up in 1945. The gem of the underground began gathering dust, forgotten by the general public, as passengers were forced off at the Brooklyn Bridge Stop before the train continued on to the terminus to make its turnaround.

The reason for its closure was that newer longer cars were required to match the demand of passengers that passed through the system. But as the stations tracks were severely curved, a dangerous gap between the train doors and the platform was formed making it an unsafe area. This combined with the fact that only about 600 people used it, resulted in its closure with only mythical plans of turning it into a transit museum. But this was never followed through.

However, now you don’t have to take my word that the secret City Hall Station exists, as the 6 Train will now allow the passengers who have been enlightened with the knowledge of its whereabouts to stay on the train during its turnaround and see the Station. You won’t be able to get off, but you’ll be taken for a slow tour of the platform and see what a beauty it was in its heyday!

And if that isn’t enough, The Underbelly Project has turned it into a kind-of off-limits art gallery. They are a group of street artists who have painted the walls of the unattractive concrete areas with their art in a spooky art exhibition that will be witnessed only by urban explorers who prowl the deep train system at night and Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers.

Over a hundred murals have been accumulated over time by graffiti artists, namely PAC and Workhorse (infamous NYC graffitists), who discovered the bare walls and invited others to add their art.

But if you want to go and view these art works, you will most definitely run the high risk of being arrested as venturing the tunnels is both highly illegal and dangerous! I’ll just stick to seeing the photographs as I’m pretty sure my search for art would turn into a horror story down in the black tunnels… or I’d get hit by a train.
Written by Sohpie, this article first appeared on the Travelettes blog.
Image 1 via Nag On The Lake, image 2 via Visual News, image 3 via gothamist, image 4 via 2nd Ave Sagas, image 5 via Chasing Ray, image 6 via Co.Designs, image 7 via Telstar Logistics, image 8 via Gizmodo, image 9, 10 and 11 via E-Junkie.

Grahamstown National Arts Festival

It's time once more for the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, and this year's offerings look as good as ever, if not better!

Running from 28 June til 8 July, with music, dance, performance art, theatre, exhibitions and much more, there is something for everyone on the menu. This year's line up has sparked much interest both locally and nationally and ticket sales have shown a healthy rise over last year's.

You can contact the organisers for more information, of have a look at the website for a complete programme and ticket sales.

The Elizabeth Gordon Gallery features KZN artist

Scott Bredin was born in Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, in 1973 and was educated at Hilton College.

From 1992 to 1995 he attended the University of Natal where he studied Fine Art and Philosophy. He graduated with a BA (summa cum laude), BA (HONS.)(cum laude), and in 1997 with a Master of Fine Arts (cum laude). His thesis dealt with 19th Century Topographical Drawing and Navigation.

Scott currently lives and works in Durban.

His oeuvre is dominated by observed and drawn landscape : urban, industrial, rural. These images attempt to metaphorise the landscape through paint. He often deals with places that would not be considered worthy of aesthetic attention due to the impact of human beings on the landscape. The paintings attempt to restore meaning to these sites beyond the current consensus of irreparable desecration. Tracks across the landscape are a persistent image in his work, revealing the structure of the land and expressing an animal logic.

Scott’s work is represented in public, corporate and private collections in South Africa, Canada, Switzerland and the UK. He is the recipient of numerous awards and has participated in exhibitions throughout South Africa.

Bathini Abantu