A whale of a time for Hermanus arts
THE next major event in Hermanus does not have anything to do with whales, but there are some big names involved. The inaugural Hermanus FynArts art festival and winter school, which is on in the Overberg’s seaside town from June 7-16, involves some of SA’s best-known sculptors, ceramicists, painters, photographers, authors and musicians, who will present their work, discuss it and offer workshops over 10 days that celebrate “art in the company of fine wine and great food”.
“It’s a hospitality event, which means every exhibition, concert, workshop, recital and interview is built around great food and wine,” says the event convener, Hermanus Tourism chairwoman Mary Faure. “We’ve put together the best possible programme and some excellent tourism packages to delight and entertain visitors.”
The opening concert will be performed in the Dutch Reformed Church by 16-piece orchestra Camerata Tinta Barocca. It will feature one of SA’s best-known conductors, Richard Cock, who will also conduct a massed choir of 80 later in the week and talk about the world of orchestra in Conduct Unbecoming.
The music programme also includes soprano Zanne Stapelberg and pianist Kathleen Tagg, who will perform their flamboyant show, Soul Of Fire.
Award-winning opera director, producer and singer Angelo Gobbato will present a collection of songs he has not performed in public for almost 60 years — Songs My Mother Taught Me.
Art will be exhibited in nine galleries in the town and on eight wine farms on the Hermanus Wine Route. Sculptures by Dylan Lewis (pictured above), Nikki Swanepoel and Wilma Cruise will be installed at various points, while Guy du Toit’s Talking Hares exhibition can be viewed around the lake at Sumaridge Estate. The work of Ardmore Ceramics and some of Lewis’s smaller pieces will be exhibited in The Marine hotel. That of 10 other leading ceramicists will be shown at the Windsor Hotel.
“We’ve also put together an interesting line-up of vintage Hollywood movies and some classic South African films,” says Faure. “We look forward to showing off the hospitality of Hermanus and its great food and wine, and the creativity of some of SA’s best artists.”
www.hermanusfynarts.co.za