Coming of  Age is a retrospective exhbition of Artist Proof Studio (started by Kim Berman and Nhlanhla Xaba in 1991). For more on Artist Proof see  http://www.artistproofstudio.co.za/ .   There are also many works by more established artists – both South Africans as well as visiting international artists.  With many sub-sections put together by different curators, the exhibition is overwhelming to take in on one visit – and that is certainly no complaint!  So be prepared to go back twice and more. Also the printing processes are many, varied and complex and it really helps to see the actual processes before going round the exhibition.  So before starting to view the works, my advice would be to make your way down to the basement level and turn left (ie to the eastern part of the building) where,  in the far corner, you will find artists from the Studio demonstrating  the various printing techniques.  For a non-printmaker to begin to internalize the complexities of the processes before confronting the works is really valuable.  And once one has only the most superficial of insight and understanding into the consummate skill of these artists, the images inspire even greater awe.   It is a real gem of an exhibition NOT to be missed. With another two months to go make sure you leave time to go back 2 or 3 times.   The exhibition runs until the 6th July. You are in for a treat – enjoy. I certainly will be going back. 

For more information on the background to the exhibition see  http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=29903 

CraigPark Residents’ Association  

The CRA is driven by an amazingly energetic and hard working Committee – one the most pro-active, effective and visionary Residents’ Associations in Joburg.  These extraordinary people carry out their portfolios with commitment,  passion and hard work. To name but a few: Ryan Roseveare (Chair); Wendy McAllister (Vice Chair and Communications), Paulette Malcomess (Civic Affairs and Environment); and Bianca De Roland Phillips (Town Planning), Mack Rogan (Traffic), & Sue Harris (Community Affairs).  They and others on their team have been leaders in managing refuse collection, town planning  & environmental aspects, and work tirelessly for our neighbourhoods at issues  ranging from potholes, to security, to domestic watch training sessions. For more on their work  see www.cra.org.za.  There are also regular updates on community issues on   http://www.facebook.com/craigparkresidentsassociation.

South African woods,  a quick lesson in making cheese and finding the perfect honey

The really very special mix of Craighall Park was particularly evident at Saturday’s event. While Craighall Park is very much a suburban neighbourhood, there are also many small owner run businesses located along Jan Smuts and in several local shopping centres such as The Colony, The Lancaster, 9 Grafton Ave, and the Valley Shopping Centre.  Seeing many of these owners at their stands on Saturday, brought home to me what a sense of locale and community we have in Craighall Park.

Fabulous aromas wafted from various food stalls offered by the likes of Casalottis (fabulous thin based pizzas), the Market Place (tasty home cooked food), Fatima’s great samoosas (yum – wish I’d brought some home with me), Steers fast food,  (consistently good), Hodges family run restaurant in the Colony, Helen’s cakes, (great croissants and muffins too), lamb on the spit from Mannie’s excellent Craighall Park Meat Supply (also make wonderful chicken thigh kebabs); and many more. And I even learnt all about cheese from Pepe who makes goat’s cheese (right here in Lancaster Avenue) using non-pasteurized milk which he gets from the goats kept by Onderstepoort Veterinary  Faculty near Pretoria. 

I bought vegetable seedlings (bok choi and swiss chard) from Danielle at the Vegetable Club (which is holding a vegetable competition next Saturday 12^th down at the REEA Foundation) and I treated myself to a wonderful handmade wooden pen made from Leadwood by Frans Joubert.  Frans uses all sorts of Southern African woods – Tambotie, Wild Olive, African Blackwood, African Red Ivory – to make his pens and pencils. Great presents!    And of course I found the perfect honey. See  http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/like-pooh-bear-i-have-searched-for-the-perfect-honey-pot  

Two local residents had tracked down Peter Rattray, the great great grandson of William Rattray who developed the townships of Craighall and Craighall Park. Peter hand-drew a  map of the old Craighall Park with a key to the sites of yesteryear, which created a lot of interest.   I have written briefly on the history of Craighall Park http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/exhilarating-air-of-peace-and-calmness-accommodation-in-craighall-park and there is more information on http://www.cra.org.za/index.cfm/p/pages.history-overview.htm.  Given William Rattray’s strong Scottish connections it was fitting that there was a wonderful pipe band which added to ceremony and atmosphere of the day on Saturday.

So well done to all the people who worked so hard to make this such a success with special mention to Wendy and Bianca. 

Tickets R120, R150, R180, R230

Another re-run is Somewhere on the Border which runs until 12th Feb at the Main Theatre at the Market.  Exactly 25 years after the play first performed in Grahamstown, André Odendaal’s production opened at the 2011 National Arts Festival. Leon van Nierop concluded his review on Artslink saying “the play performs an open heart surgery on the South African psyche. It is timely, finely acted and forcefully directed. See it at all costs.”
Tues – Sat @ 20h00, Sun @ 15h00
Ticket prices: Tues – R66, Wed & Thurs – R95, Fri & Sat – R160, Sun – R120
Special: 11h00 performances @ R50 only from 10 – 13 January 2012

Following its success at three South African Arts Festivals and a tour of Holland, US playwright Dael Orlandersmith’s love story, Yellowman, is back at the Laager Theatre. Yellowman is a contemporary tragedy with the parts played by David Johnson as Eugene (Gene) and Mwenya Kabwe who won Fleur Du Cap for Best Actress for her role as Alma. Ticket prices: Tues – R66, Wed & Thurs – R90, Fri & Sat – R140, Sun – R100

There are two musicals showing at the Joburg Theatre. If ABBA is your thing then The ABBA Show is for you! – Showing until 5th Feb.     I heard P-J Powers being interviewed on her role as Dusty in You don’t have to say you love me; The Dusty Springfield Show.  Sounds like a fun production. On until the 12th February.  

At Pieter Toerien Monte Casino Main Theatre, Agatha Christie’s classic Whodunit is on until 26 Feb and the long-awaited production of  Broadway’s longest running musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera opens at Teatro Monte Casino on 31st January.

Straight from sold out seasons in Cape Town, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival and the Hilton Festival Gaetan Schmid’s comedy Body Language is showing the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square until 4th February.

Jonah Sack’s Reading Room  (below left) runs until the 29th October at AOP 44 Stanley, Auckland Park

 A Means to an End,  an exhibition by Patricia Driscoll opens at Gallery Momo Parktown North on 20th October at 18.30. It runs until 14th November . 

Stephen Rosin’s first solo exhibition opened at the ABSA Art Gallery 161 Absa Towers North on 12th October  

Images of Africa , a photographic exhibition by Kobus Van Niekerk  Upstairs at Bamboo, Melville on until 20th October

At Kim Sacks Gallery in Parkwood From the table, to the wall, and back, Clementina Van der Walt’s exhibition of her recent ceramic works.

Lettie Gardner’s People on the Edge is showing at Thompson’s Gallery 78 3^rd Ave Melville. There will be a panel discussion on Sunday 16^th Oct at 4 with Professor Douglas Irvine (a collector of Gardner’s work), Joyce Ozynski, art critic and art historian, and journalist Fiona Lloyd.

Resolution gallery (142 Jan Smuts Ave Parkwood) presents Rodney Place’s Tasche du Sac, which runs throughout October to 5 November

There is always lots on at Arts on Main .  SEIPPEL GALERY is hosting a new groupshow with sculptures from Kevin Brand (Cape Town), Danelle Janse van Rensburg (Pretoria) and Robert Schad (Germany) as well as prints of the series “50 Stories” by Colleen Alborough. Showin until 19th November.

Showing at GoetheOnMain at Arts on Main is Fragments from the City Abdulrazaq Awofeso.  Awofeso uses combustible, organic matter – the discarded pallets he collects in Johannesburg where he works – to carve statues of the faithful. Closes 31 October .