As I enter the fourth and final year of my theatre and performance degree *author shivers inwardly at prospect of no longer being a student*, I am increasingly struck by how little the divisons we create in art actually mean. (i.e. the need to separate fine art from conceptual art, performance, dance, music, film). With this in mind, I have resolved to spend more time not only in theatres and cinemas, but at galleries, gigs, happenings et cetera & so forth. There are two festivals in Cape Town in the not too distant future that I am particularly looking forward to.
1. ON THE EDGE OF WRONG
Two years ago, this festival was at The Intimate Theatre, and I was the lowly bar wench. For the first few hours, I was upset that the deathly February heat was being made more oppressive by strange Norwegian men banging on drums and playing funny electronic buzzes. Needless to say, their generous tipping significantly improved my mood and by the end of the weekend I was watching every set. On The Edge of Wrong is described as the premier exploratory music & multimedia festival in South Africa. To look forward to: New in 2012 is "Conversations on the edge of wrong". Each day of the festival, the audience will meet one or more artists in conversation on stage, sharing and discussing their work and ideas. Norwegian fine artist Ørjan Moen who will be the host of "DIVERSE diverse On The Edge Of Wrong". A meeting place for artistic exchange in the festival venue in daytime as well as evenings. He invites amateurs and professionals to be creative together. The venue will be used as an exhibition in progress. Yay!
2. INFECTING CITY
A inititative of the Africa Centre & Spier, Infecting the City is an annual public arts festival (the only one of it's kind in Africa). The festival, at a most basic level, aims to make art accessible to all. Between 5 and 10 March 2012, artists will activate and energise communal spaces in the Cape Town CBD in the forms of performance, intervention, installation etc. This year the festival is curated by one of my lecturers, the ineffable Jay Pather. Hi-lights of last year included Myer Taub's Treasure Hunt & cling-wrapping public statues of controversial figures like Cecil John Rhodes. Word on the street is that Sanjin Muftic and Lance Herman are among the contributors to this year's festival: I can't wait!
