Billie’s back at Afronova
We couldn’t get enough of her moving and finely detailed delicate tapesteries last time round, we’re delighted to see that Billie Zangewa is back at the quaint Afronova gallery in Newtown with a new showing of her talent till the 13th December… it’s the perfect opportunity to combine a visit to the When life Happens Festival and the Afronova Gallery in the wonderful Newtown precinct… finish it off with dinner at one of the MANY restaurants in the ‘hood. For more info on Billie, read our interview with her in May last year here. GO GO GO. Based in London and traveling extensively, Billie Zangewa has been feeding on her experiences and brings a whole new bag of stories revealing her appetite for life and awareness of the world. More than ever, in her new silk tapestries, Billie comes out as a triumphant African woman, conscious of her roots and fully in touch with her environment. Her intimate universes meet the public realm in daring and original silk tapestries with strong narratives and presence. The cut silk collage and cotton embroidery offer a rich medium with precious textures and sensitive palettes, feminine but never quaint nor decorative. Stitch by Stitch Solo exhibition by Billie Zangewa from 18:00 to 20:00 Exhibition runs until Saturday 13 December Gallery Hours Tuesday to Friday : 13 :00 to 19 :00 Saturday 13 :00 to 17 :00 Contact afronova@tiscali.co.za www.afronova.com +27 (0) 83 726 59 06 The gallery is just across the Market Theatre entrance Safe parking corner Miriam Makeba and Gwigwi Mrwebi St – Newtown Po box 3205 – Parklands 2121 – Johannesburg – South...
When Life Happens: HIV and AIDS Arts & Culture Festival
We’re warmed by the notion behind the term ‘When life Happens’, specifically with regards to HIV and AIDS, it takes away the stigma, negativity and fear that cloud the disease, demystifying it into something that does happen, has happened and can happen, to thousands of people around us. In support of those millions of people to whom ‘life happened’ and who are living with HIV and AIDS, make sure to get down to Arts and Culture Festival in Newtown the first week of December, featuring some of SA’s most intriguing cultural artists like choreographers Gregory Maqoma and PJ Sabbagha, DJ Khenzero, singer Fifi and lots lots more… When Life Happens: HIV and AIDS focused Arts and Culture Festival 3rd to 14 December 2008 Newtown, Johannesburg Program follows: VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION 10am to 5pm daily @ Museum Africa from 3rd to 14th December An exciting exhibition by a group of talented emerging artists, who have each been specially commissioned to create several new works for the 2008 Festival. Artists exhibiting include Phumzile Buthelezi, Happy Dlame, Michel Mhlungu, Yvonne Harvey, Vusi Mfupi, Themba Mofekeng and Mandla Manana. The commissioned artists were invited to contribute new works with the intention of exploring, investigating and communicating their thoughts and perspectives on the current HIV and AIDS situation in South Africa. MURAL In creation from 4th December @ the corner of Miriam Makeba Street and Carr Street, Newtown The visual arts curators for the 2008 When Life Happens Festival, Mandla Manana and Themba Mofekeng, will be creating a new HIV and AIDS-focused wall mural from Thursday, 4th December. Each year, When Life Happens has made a contribution to the growing collection of murals in Newtown. This year, the area’s street children will participate in the mural project. MASS ART INSTALLATION/INTERVENTION 5th and 6th December @ Mary Fitzgerald Square, through the day Bronwyn Lace and a team of performers and artists from the Bag Factory will be creating an exciting and provocative outdoor performance intervention and mass installation artwork. A first for Newtown, this commissioned, site-specific land art installation will unfold and unravel over the course of two days on Mary Fitzgerald Square. Watch that space! PERFORMANCE POETRY AND MUSIC Thursday, 4th December @ The Bassline from 7.30pm till 11pm Over the past four years, this event has grown into one of the highlights of the festival programme, attracting maximum-capacity audiences of free-thinking and spirited revelers and activists. This year will be no different: an insightful, provocative and entertaining party with a message. The musicians, DJs, poets and wordsmiths throwing themselves and their art behind the cause include DJ Khenzero, Fifi, Pokah, Nomsa Mazwai, Ntsiki...
Support South African Crafters in Newtown
We always feel *happy* after a Saturday in the sun in Newtown, downtown Joburg city, with all the wonderful eating spots available, the theatre, the shops, the vibe is well worth a visit: A great way to celebrate Spring and the city is to head down to The Zasekhaya Market, which takes place on Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown on Saturday 27 September from 10am. The market sets itself apart as the crafters and artists that sell at the Zasekhaya Market offer trendy and cutting edge products that range from jewellery, shoes, bags, felt animals, mirrors, accessories, clothing and visual arts. The crafters are some of the top artists in the countries and often their products are exclusive and one offs. It’s a great outing for a Saturday, safe and secure parking is available on the square and there are many restaurants nearby to provide...
Represent Review: Joy of Jazz 08
This years line up was so juicy, we just had to get amongst one of Joburg’s (and soon to be the world’s…) premier jazz music festivals, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. Reuben ‘The Matrix’ Malema does the honours below, Nkateko Siweya tells our photostory here… 31 August 2008. The Foothills of Moretele Park – Mamelodi – Pretoria (City of Tshwane), the setting of this year’s SA Music Heroes Concert. For us (true jazz followers) it was an assortment of choice on a silver platter. As the impressive line-up of stars was flaunted, I found myself in a very bitter-sweet predicament. Looking up at the aging league of our household favourites, I gazed upwards (in peasant style) as the old guard performed, with my glazed cheeks and my broad smile; but I was saddened, as I wondered to myself what the future of South African jazz holds. Our legends are aging very quickly, from Bro Hugh Masekela to Mama Letta Mbuli, the torch is surely changing hands… but to whom? And yet, I cling on… The Event Mr. Wilson Mankuku Nkosi mashed us up with his mature trumpet sounds, following suite was Mrs. Nothembeni Mkwebana who immediately sent us on a systematic repertoire of jump action moves as we unanimously responded to her rock ‘n roll aligned musical chords. Her guitar skills drove me insane! Jimmy Dludlu with his maestro guitarist skills quelled us under his charming spell as we hummed the tunes to his famous tunes. I am such a down-beat fan! At 18:00, my favourite jazz artist, Mr. Jonas Gwangwa ascended the platform. His well known originals: Batsomi and Kgomo, had the multitudes passionately singing along: “Nna di sa fele Nka di busa, di sa fele Nka di busetsa morago…” I love this song!!! August being the end of Women’s month, it was fitting that Mzansi’s famous jazz couple (who were coincidentally celebrating their 40th Anniversary) be crowned the flagship performers of the evening. Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr. Caiphus Semenya and Ms Letta Mbuli. They are such an inspiration to me and many of their avid fans. The evening was sealed off with a colourful display of majestic fireworks. What a smoky way to enter a new season! I so wished the blossom season can be ushered in by a renewed affirmation to the nurturing, growth and sustainability of the genre by young and talented Jazz artists with a fresh new sound and long term commitment. We need to revive and preserve our country’s jazz heritage. Before it is too late. Reuben-The Matrix-...
Jazz Lovers get your JOJ tickets… fast!
This years Standard Bank Joy of Jazz looks to be sexying up jazz in SA as a slick array of global jazz favourites are jetted in to perform in the heart of Johannesburg city. Think other great Jazz festivals like Montreaux, North Sea Rotterdam, Montreal and of course New Orleans ongoing jazz extravaganza, they all started somewhere; but their defining features have to be the quality and range of Jazz muso’s in the lineup as well as the tight organisation that goes into running world class music festivals. It looks like JOJ is on it’s way up there, lets hope it becomes an international attraction. But for now, all you local Jozi people that love Jazz, hurry up and buy your tickets, if you don’t know where to start, we’ll tell you what we’re excited about and MUST NOT be missed: Roy Ayers, Joy Denalane, Asa from Nigeria, Simphiwe Dana, Max Wild and Sam Mtukudzi, RJ Benjamin, Ringo Madlingozi, Abigail Khubeka and then we’d probably really dig hanging out with the ‘developmental and emerging bands’ to spot hot new talent, like the Central Johannesburg College, George Tabor School of Music, Music Academy of Gauteng and The Tshwane University of Technology’s School of Music and bands from the Puisano Roving Jazz programme. Anyways, whatever you do, GO GO GO. The international language of jazz will see the stages of downtown Jozi go global when the annual Standard Bank Joy of Jazz runs in Newtown from August 28 to 30. Some of the world’s top jazz artists will be providing a musical mélange of sound at this not-to-be-missed jazz-travaganza. With its truly international line-up, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will incorporate all jazz styles – from Afro jazz and fusion to Latin rhythms, bebop and straight-ahead. Artists from America, Japan, Norway, Spain, Israel, Germany and Holland will be joined by top performers from South Africa and Nigeria. Giants of the jazz world include Japan’s Keiko Matsui who recorded her last album Moyo in South Africa; the Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion featuring Roy Ayers, Tom Browne, Wayne Henderson and Lonnie Liston Smith; American saxophonist Joshua Redman; guitarist Doc Powell from the US; Israel’s Avi Lebovich and the Israeli Jazz Orchestra; Spain’s Sedajazz; Holland’s Denise Jannah; Germany’s Joy Denelane and Norway’s Tord Gustavsen. Performers from the African continent include South Africa’s Abigail Kubheka, Pat Matshikiza, Mark Fransman, the 2008 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for jazz, Simphiwe Dana and Yvonne Chaka Chaka as well as Asa from Nigeria. The Mbira Stage will showcase the opening night bill on Thursday, August 28, with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) paying tribute to...
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