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 Mazwai, Afurakan and Blast.
READING AND DISCUSSION FORUM
Saturday, 6th December @ Xarra Books @ 2.30pm
The first event of this nature to be included on the When Life Happens programme, this open discussion forum will be led by renowned surgeon Dr. Gareth Edwards, reading from the autobiography of the late Blaise Koch, a celebrated South African actor and AIDS activist. The reading will lead into an open forum, providing an opportunity for artists, audiences and activists to share their thoughts, concerns and inspirations.
DANCE
@ The Dance Factory on Friday, 5th December @ 7.30pm
and Saturday, 6th December @ 6pm
This exciting programme of HIV and AIDS-focused contemporary dance is brought to audiences by several of SA’s most celebrated and award-winning choreographers and performers.
The programme features three commissioned works:
* Nstoana Dance Theatre in Sello Pessa’s Moving Rituals.
* The latest collaboration by dancer-choreographers Dada Masilo, Bafikile Sedibe and Songozezo Mcillizeli, titled dying, dying, dead. This work was originally a solo created and performed by Masilo whilst studying at P.A.R.T.S in Brussels. The latest version will dissect, transform and reinvent the piece to create a new work for three that retains the title of the original solo.
* Tracey Human’s Missing, created collaboratively with, and performed by, seasoned and acclaimed artists Gregory Maqoma and PJ Sabbagha.
The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative, Joburg, Museum Africa, Newtown Management District, Buz Publicity, The Bassline, The Dance Forum, Christina Kennedy, Phindamzala Art Productions and CF Zwane Promotions
