Your chance to catch up with SA’s visual artists

Published on 29 June 2015

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][FESTIVAL NEWS] Ismail Mahomed, the Festival’s Artistic Director, recently listed the artists who have begun arriving in Grahamstown to set up their shows ahead of the Festival opening on 2 July. We’re sure you’ll agree it’s a striking line-up – and one of the strongest Visual Arts programme in recent years.

The National Arts Festival has created the opportunity for you to attend a series of art walkabouts in the company of artists or visual arts experts:

Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for visual art Kemang Wa Lehulere and his team of Joost Bosland and Gemma Garman are in Grahamstown to install Kemang’s exhibition HISTORY WILL BREAK YOUR HEART in the Monument Gallery.

  • Walkabout:  Friday 3 July 10am*, Sunday 5 July 12 noon*, Saturday 11 July 2pm

Curator and visual arts management guru Les Cohn returns to the Festival to install Keith Dietrich’s exhibition FRAGILE HISTORIES, FUGITIVE LIVES in the Ntsikana’s Gallery.

  • Walkabout: Friday 3 July 12 noon*, Saturday 4 July 10am*, Friday 10 July 2pm

Artistic Committee member and curator Brenton Maart arrives with Jodi Bieber to install Jodi’s BETWEEN DARKNESS AND LIGHT in the Grahamstown Gallery at the Albany History Museum.

  • Walkabout: Thursday 2 July 4pm*, Friday 3 July 4pm*, Wednesday 8 July 12 noon

The SMAC Gallery makes their debut on the Festival Main this year with curator Shona van der Merwe and artist Themba Shibase installing Themba’s solo exhibition in the Grahamstown Gallery at the Albany History Museum.

  • Walkabout: Friday 3 July 2pm*, Saturday 4 July 12 noon*, Tuesday 7 July 10am

Michael Godby arrives to install his exhibition BATTLEGROUND in the Standard Bank Gallery.

  • Walkabout: Sunday 5 July 10am, Monday 6 July 12 noon, Thursday 9 July 2pm

Monique Pelser has already been setting up in the Alumni Gallery at the Albany History Museum with her exhibition CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER.

  • Walkabout: Sunday 5 July 2pm*, Tuesday 7 July 12 noon*, Thursday 9 July 10am*

On Saturday, inaugural featured curator Lerato Bereng and artist Simon Gush moved into Fort Selwyn to install NINE O’CLOCK.

  • Walkabout: Monday 6 July 10am*, Wednesday 8 July 2pm, Friday 10 July 12 noon

Artist Francois Knoetze is already here working on his THE CAPE MONGO (free screenings on the hour every day of the Festival in the Commemoration Church in Bathurst Street).

Performance artist Gavin Krastin is already on his way to Grahamstown with his co-creator Alan Parker to work on Gavin’s ON SEEING RED AND OTHER FANTASIES (Book here).

A comprehensive exhibition of the best of EASTERN CAPE VISUAL ARTS is in the foyer of the Albany History Museum.

  • Walkabout: Sunday 5 July 2pm*, Tuesday 7 July 12 noon*, Thursday 9 July 10am*
  • Walkabouts cost R30 and last about 50 minutes. Meet at the exhibition venue. 
  • * Denotes that the artist or curator will be in attendance.

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