The curtain goes up
Artsy crowds flock to ‘Makhanda’
THE festival city of Makhanda – the name government announced yesterday will replace Grahamstown – is abuzz with hype, excitement and festivity as this weekend marks the opening of the 44th annual national arts festival.
Scores of people have travelled far and wide to bask in 11 days of amazing arts, culture and recreational fun for every taste and pocket.
Streets, restaurants and ample show venues around Rhodes University in Makhanda have been spruced up and turned into a hub of creativity to accommodate the crowds of festival-goers.
The thriving Standard Bank Village Green, which is a crowd-puller every year, has moved to a new home from the austere Rhodes University fields, to the more folksy Victoria Girl’s High School grounds.
The new location has given the large marketplace an informal and easy-going environment, and contains more activities for festival goers to soak up and enjoy.
The bigger market has been divided into two sections. The crafts and arts tents, which house dozens of collectors’ items from clothing to gift pieces and ornaments are stationed on one half of the Village Green, and endless food stalls to satisfy all palates and cravings are on the other side. New features at the village green include a big screen outside the beer tent to keep festival-goers up to speed with the soccer World Cup, while soaking up some festival fun.
Pop-up art and live jazz performances add to the artsy flavour. In true festival form, this year once again offers hundreds of shows, exhibitions and activities, catering for every visitor’s taste and budget.
Visual art lovers can catch art walkabouts, for a small entry fee.
The exhibition by the Eastern Cape department of sport, recreation, arts and culture looks through the window of the lives of Albertina Sisulu and Nelson Mandela, commemorating the 100th centenaries of the two political giants.
The Arena Exhibition, a free exhibition showcasing a kaleidoscope of art collections such as ceramics, drawings, photographs and paintings is also open to all members of the public.
Jazz music lovers can catch KingWilliam’s Town pianist Andile Yenana live at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival tomorrow, as he celebrates his 50th birthday through a compilation of evocative and soulful music. — dispatch.co.za