Botanical art show at museum
AN EXHIBITION of botanical art from private collectors and new work by members of the Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa, featuring rare and endangered plants on the Red List of South African Plants, will come alive at UCT’s Irma Stern Museum from July 6-27.
Curated by Mary van Blommestein, it aims to encourage engagement in sustainable conservation to ensure their continued survival. The event is described as collaborative, with an interactive programme, including walkabouts, workshops for children, and choral music.
An online catalogue of botanical art on sale can be viewed at www. irmasternmuseum.org.za
More than 2 500 plant species are threatened with extinction in the country, making it one of the top biodiversity hot spots in the world, said organisers.
In 2003, a sustainable conservation initiative, Crew: Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers, was established under the auspices of the SA National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi).
A partnership between the professional botanists of Sanbi, and volunteer citizen scientists from the Botanical Society of SA, Crew aims to document and monitor the status of threatened plants and contribute towards the annual updating of the Red List.
To date, 25 new species have been discovered while others, such as Serruria furcellata, formerly thought to be extinct, have been re-discovered, propagated and successfully reintroduced to the wild.
On Wednesdays, a pop-up tearoom will be open at the Irma Stern Museum, in Rosebank, from 10.30am-12.30 pm and walkabouts will be offered at 11am.
Vox Cape Town, a group of performers under the direction of John Woodland, will present a bouquet of botanically inspired choral music, including Benjamin Britten’s Five Flower Songs, on July 20 and 27 at 11am at the museum.
Tickets for the Vox performance are R150 and include entry to the museum and a complimentary glass of wine.
For bookings email hello@ voxcapetown.com