» Tourist attraction

A destination guesthouse: Satyagraha in Orchards

liz — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 09:04:23 +0000

Ghandi's statue in Ghandi Square Central Joburg

Ghandi’s philosphy of Satyagraha (non-violent non-cooperation) was born in South Africa and more specifically in what was then the Transvaal, in the first decade of the 20th Century. Ghandi arrived in Johannebsurg in 1893 and stayed at various places during the 12 years he was in Johannesburg. For more on this see Eric Itzkin’s excellent book Ghandi’s Johannesburg. One of the places where Ghandi lived in Johannesburg has been restored by a French Travel Company as a guest house and heritage resource – a really wonderful example of adaptive re-use and sustainable heritage. The Kraal at 15 Pine Road in Orchards was built by the famous architect Hermann Kallenbach who was a great freind of Ghandi’s. C ompleted in 1908 Gandhi and Kallenbach lived there until the end of 1909.

Free tours of the house are available, with or without lunch. It is open from 8am to 5pm, Mondays to Sundays. Book a 45-minute tour on 011 485 5928.

Sat 26 Nov:Here’s your chance to catch up with the changes in Braamfontein

liz — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 06:44:46 +0000

Interesting to compare this pic taken when the sculpture was first installed to how it looks today. The plants have grown and it looks more settled in the urban landscape.

Have posted before on what is new and happening in Braamfontein. The ‘Renaissance’ includes: the Neighbourhood Goods Market , the South Point building refurbishments for urban accommodation (sorely needed for Wits students), and the public art, starting with Van den Berg’s iconic Eland marking the entry into Braamies from the north and including the quirky metal trees that dot the pavements (See http://www.joburgnews.co.za/2007/jul/jul6_trees.stm)

There is an opportunty to see all these new developments with a walking tour lead by Alex Parker and Clare Eisenstein of the Parktown Westcliff Heritage Trust on Saturday 26th November. The tour starts at 9.30. Meet at the Holy Trinity Church, 16 Siemens Street, Braamfontein (diagonally opposite the Eland). NB if you park there cars will have to be moved not later than 1.00 pm because there is a wedding taking place that afternoon.

It’s difficult to keep up with what’s happening at Maboneng Precinct in the eastern Inner City of Joburg

liz — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:01:10 +0000

In 2008 Managing Diretctor and developer Jonathan Liebmann purchased the old DF Corlett Construction offices and warehouses and worked with architect Enrico Daffonchio on converting them into the space that is now Arts on Main – a mix of galleries, [Goodman Gallery, David Krut, Seipel, Goethe Institut] private artist studios, [Kentridge, Leiberman, amongst others] advertising agencies and retail spaces. The company’s next major development was Main Street Life, which transformed a 1970s industrial building into a mixed-use complex with studio, 2-bed apartments and penthouses. Features include creative workspaces, retail shops and a restaurant, independent cinema, a rooftop events venue and a boutique hotel. The ’12 Decades Johannesburg Art Hotel’ is situated on the top floor of Main Street Life and consists of 12 rooms conceptualized by some of South Africa’s most celebrated artists and designers to represent the past 12 Decades of Johannesburg’s History.

Arts on Main and Main Street Life all form part of the development of the ‘Maboneng Precinct’ and the latest addition is Revolution House which will provide larger open plan residential spaces as well as commercial spaces including band rehearsal rooms and film studios. For the months of June and July, Maboneng Precinct is offering these spaces for free for shoots, rehearsals and recordings so that they can get public feedback – great initiative.

Upcoming Events

“Circle” starring Tau Masermule at POPArt 8- 12 June 2011, at 7: 30pm After sell out performances around the country, Tau Masermule is bringing his one man show “Circle” to POPArt. “Circle” follows the life of a young man, Michael. It is deep yet comical and promises to be a brilliant evening’s entertainment.
Encounters Documentary Film Festival 10- 16 June 2011After a very successful 2010 festival, The Bioscope is proud to welcome back Encounters in 2011. The festival will run from the 10th to the 26th June, with all screenings taking place at 8pm. Download the full program on www.thebioscope.co.za

Continuing exhibitions & Events:

MSL rooftop: Sculptures by Barend De Wet
Hotel Floor: “12 Decades Photowalk” JHB photowalkers

Floor 6: “Narciso Road, Eldorado Park” Raymond Marlowe

“Curvi Linear” Leon Krige

Floor 5: “Between Heaven & Earth” Marcus Neustetter

“Taxi Crash” Gordon Froud

Floor 4: “Making order out of Chaos” Bronwyn Lace

“Faces of Maboneng” Rudi Jeggle

Floor 3: Furniture Design by 4WhiteWalls & Ethno

“Urbanet” Hobbs/ Neustetter

“Human Jewels” Daniel Selibe

“Present Disappearance” Lehlogonolo Mashaba

Floor 2: “Look” by Anisa Mpungwe & Robyn De Klerk

“Huisgenoot: 1972″ Hannelie Coetzee

Entrance: “Public Perception” Andrew Robertson

“Maboneng 1:200″ UJ Architecture Students

Exhibition Spaces are open from 8am – 8pm and can be accessed by checking in at the 12 Decades reception

Every Tuesday night at Pata Pata Restaurant there is jazz from 8pm

The Main Street Life rooftop bar is now open to the public every Sunday from 10am – 6pm, with a special DJ set from 3pm.

Rosebank gets a facelift

liz — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:54:48 +0000

To check it out, go to http://www.jhblive.com/reviews/other/mad_about_malls_-_rosebank_revamped/60842

The Jozi Art scene has woken up after the festive season shut down: what’s on for Feb/March 2011

liz — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 10:12:22 +0000

Scottish painter George Devlin will be exhibiting his European Summer works at the Everard Read Gallery (6 Jellicoe Ave) during February. Also at the Everard is Thea Soggot’s ‘Earth and Ink’ from 10 February – 9 March.
Dylan Lewis is showing his recent body of mythological figures sculpted from clay and cast in bronze at CIRCA on Jellicoe 15th of February to 9th of March
A retrospective of the work of octogenarian photographer, J.D. Okhai Ojeikere at Gallery MOMO in Johannesburg 03 Feb 2011 – 28 Feb. Titled ‘Sartorial Moments and the Nearness of Yesterday’, the exhibition features a selection of images that interact with notions of modernity and nationalism through fashion. Ojeikere began his photographic career in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, in 1950, with a camera that he got for two pounds sterling. He now has over 5000 photographs in his archives; and his artistic images of hairstyles like ‘Onilegogoro’, have acquired an iconic status.
No Romance an exhibition showing individual and collaborative works by Ghada Amer and Reza Farkhondeh is showing at the Goodman Gallery from 17th Feb to 2nd April
Showing at David Krut Projects is Maja Maljević in her solo exhibition, Bubble and Leak, consisting of a series of large oil paintings and selected prints. On from 10th Feb to 19th March
Super Boring by Wayne Barker, who is anything but super boring, is showing at the Standard Bank Art Gallery from 2nd Feb to 9th April Renowned for his re-interpretations of paintings by the Afrikaner nationalist artist, JH Pierneef, for this Barker has produced a new body of work that confronts and questions the new South African culture. ‘Super Boring’ was initially a curatorial collaboration between SAMC Art Gallery, Andrew Lamprecht and Barker. There is an accompanying catalogue contextualising his new work in relation to earlier bodies of work.
Gabrielle Goliath’s Exhibition Murder on 7th at Nirox Projects, Arts on Main 3 -27 feb
As a body of work, Murder on 7th is styled according to the murder mystery ‘whodunnit’ tradition. Seven rooms, typical of the suburban domestic residence are presented as potential crime scenes – to be investigated by the viewer. The image of each room, a titled portrait set in its corresponding environ, is presented within a black CCTV-like structure or housing. This reference to surveillance is suggestive of the potential threat of crime, as well as of the pervasive culture of security in suburban South Africa.
Bonile Bam Recognition 2000-2010 at Seippel Gallery, Arts on Main 6 February 2011 – 10 April Comprises 10 years of black and white photographs of urban scenes and landscapes
Estudio Campana at the Goodman Gallery Projects, Arts on Main 5 February – 9 April The two brothers Humberto and Fernando Campana are Brazilian designers who have been working together since the 1980s producing a range of industrial design pieces
South African Photography at the Bailey Seippel Gallery, Arts on Main 10 February 2011- mid April Includes a selection of works from major SA photographers, such as Bob Gosani, Cedric Nunn, Sam Nzima, Paul Weinberg among others.
Figures of Speech at Jozi ArtLab, Arts on Main 25 February- 8 March Curated by Eva Seufert & Claudia Shneider this exhibition presents works by South African and German artists: Ingo Gerken, Bandile Gumbi, Sharlene Khan, Alexandra Ross, Eva Seufert & Claudia Shneider. During the exhibition at Arts on Main, other discursive events, workshops and interventions will take place at the Hector Pietersen Museum Kliptown Centre in Soweto, Keleketla! Library at Drill Hall in Johannesburg, and the Polokwane Art Centre. Other Views is an African art exhibition currently on view until 11th March at the Origins Centre Gallery, Wits It challenges some of the entrenched views of classic art history that see African art as peripheral, and frozen in primitive and traditional pardigms. Tracey Rose’s first large scale solo exhibition to be held in South Arica, Waiting for God, opens at the Johannesburg Art Gallery on 20th Feb at 4pm. In her performance-based practice, Rose examines the roles given to Africans, to African women, and to women in a male dominated world. Drawing on theatre conventions and the carnival condition her work often makes satirical comment. This exhibition will include an extensive photographic and video work archive of past live performance works.

Coffee Shop at the Apartheid Museum now open

liz — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Since November 2010 the coffee shop at the Apartheid Museum has been re-opened. Even better news is that it is run by Mrs D’Angeli, who together with her son Dario ran Yum in Greenside for a number of years. With an interesting and varied menu, the coffee shop is accessible even to those who are not visiting the museum. Dario himself now runs a restaurant called Cube in Parktown Heights, on the corner of 4th and 7th Avenues in Parktown North. It appears to be more of an experimental kitchen, along the lines of The Fat Duck run by Heston Blumental in the UK which features regularly on DSTV.

Two Great Shows in Joburg- not to be missed

liz — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

If you did not get Madame Zingara’s the first time around now is your chance as the show has now been extended at Melrose Arch until 14^th May. Fab show – not to be missed. Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams is housed in an 80-year-old Spiegelpaleis called Victoria. Audiences are treated to a four-course meal and extraordinary performances featuring acrobats and gymnasts from all around the world. Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams is sold out until February but tickets are now on sale for shows in March and April. To book http://www.madamezingara.com/madame-zingara-south-africa-contact-details.php http://www.madamezingara.com/madame-zingara-south-africa-contact-details.php

Ditto the Cirque de Soliel Saltimbanco on at the Coca Cola Dome from 9^th March to 3^rd April is billed as a breath-taking spectacle of what the human body can do. Book through Computicket.

Force behind Newtown Heritage Trail recognized

liz — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:23:24 +0000

See http://www.jhblive.com/news/arts-and-culture/force_behind_newtown_heritage_trail_recognized/55356

Take a ride out to Nirox sculpture park in the Cradle

liz — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 05:47:07 +0000

I have blogged before about one of Jozi’s best kept secrets – Nirox Sculpture Park out in the Cradle … http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/76 and http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/taking-cultural-symbols-out-of-context-nirox-sculpture-park , and now there is another opportunity to go out and experience this gem of a parkland. Do yourselves a favour and make a trip out there to see Eric Pladevall’s massive sculptures in his exhibition entitled The Mystery of the Elements which runs from 9 October to 15 December. So don your hat and walkings shoes, pack your hamper with some chilled white wine, great cheeses and breads, and be prepared to be blown away by both the sculpture and the setting. There will be a parallel exhibition of Pladevall’s work at Circa Gallery from 7-28 October.

EVENT + CITY THE CITY REIMAGINED ARCHITECTURE.ZA 2010

liz — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 06:47:23 +0000

After a week way to busy with SPRING FEVER of maintenance here at Liz at Lancaster (watch this space), I woke up a bit late to the amazing events surrounding SA’s first architecture mega-event AZA 2010 which runs in Johannesburg from September 21 to 28. Intending to bring architecture back to the public domain there is both a multi-disciplinary conference for delegates only, as well as various photography and architecture exhibitions, drama performances and live music, poetry readings, and films, which are open to the public. See programme of public events http://www.aza2010.org/documents/festival_program.pdf

But best news of all there are some exciting walking tours:

Fietas: Fietas is made up of two small suburbs – Pageview and Vrededorp – and used to be a multiracial area until the late 1970s when most of the residents were relocated to far away suburbs in the apartheid scheme of separating the races under the Group Areas Act. The two-and-a-half hour trail is led by former residents and includes the nearby Braamfontein cemetery. (Saturday September 25 and Sunday September 26. Bookings on 082 447 8080. R80 per person)

City Centre Walking Tour by Atelier Altshuler: More than 50 sites are highlighted in a city that is vibrant with activity. The selection of items includes a mixture of old and new structures that provide clues to the development of Johannesburg from a late Victorian and early Edwardian town, to a neoclassical and early modern city, to a modern and art deco metropolis, to a late modern and post modern megalopolis, to a current old and current new metropole. The tour lasts three-and-a-half hours and starts at Museum Africa in Newtown. (The walk is conducted from 14h00 to 17h30 on Saturday, September 25 and from 9h30 to 13h00 and 14h00 to 17h30 on Sunday September 26. Cost is R100 with a reduced price of R80 for students. For the walk the South African Council for the Architectural Profession Category 1 CPD Credit Value is 0.4 credit. Bookings on 011 442-7584)

Constitution Hill tour: See the art and architecture of the area with tour guides Jane Lane, curator of the art collection of the Court and Paul Wygers, architect from Omm Design Workshop, architects of the Court. (The tour starts in front of the Court building on Saturday September 25 at 15h00 and on Sunday, September 26. They take 90 minutes. Cost is R150 which includes drinks and refreshments at the bookstore afterwards. Booking with Melissa Kruger on 074 5666 704. Constitution Hill is situated on the corner of Hospital and Sam Hancock Streets in Braamfontein. Parking is available in the basement and on the site with access from Hospital and Joubert Streets.)

Marianne Fassler Maboneng and Mai Mai walking tour – Designer Marianne Fassler leads this informative tour. The Maboneng Precinct is located in the eastern quarter of Johannesburg’s historic Central Business District. Maboneng (Place of Lights) refers to the city’s humble beginnings as a mining camp. It includes Jewel City, across the road from Arts on Main, which is the headquarters of South Africa’s diamond industry. The nearby Mai Mai Bazaar is the oldest traditional African market in Johannesburg and has operated since 1920. (Meet at Canteen at Arts on Main at 11am on Saturday, September 25. R70 per person (cash on the day). Book with Faeeza Khan on 082 648 9781.