It's Fashion Week SA

I really do not know much about the Fashion scene in Joburg, much less South Africa. I have a confession to make. I haven't bought any clothes since I've been here! None. I brought so many clothes with me from the US - most of which I still haven't even removed from wardrobe boxes in the garage - that I have not had to. And I have yet to take the walking tour of the vibrant Fashion District offered by JoburgPlaces. In fact, the sum total of what I know about the South African fashion scene is zero. Bupkus. Nada.

So when it came to figuring out which runway show I wanted to attend, I was somewhat stymied. I have done a little window shopping walking around 44 Stanley and Market on Main in Maropeng. I really like the clothes I've seen there by Joburg's Black Coffee, but their show was by invitation only and window shopping is low on the priority list for invitations apparently because I never received one.

I did not recognize any of the other names on the roster so I opted to even the playing field and go see the Renault New Talent Search. It was like watching a season of Project Runway in an hour with none of the drama.

The program listed nine semi-finalists which had been even further narrowed down before the show to the five who would walk the runway.

The winner would receive a huge boost in exposure, a sizable cash prize, a Renault to drive for a year, a trip to Berlin Fashion Week and more.









The five finalists were

• Take Care. structured shapes, very modern, metal and neutral colors.
• Mej.Lues by Hanrie Lues.  an updated 50's silhouette, white with orange turquoise & green trims.
• Cutterier by Laz Yani. most African looking. flowing, clinging and draping poly abstract watercolor fabrics.
• Anmari Honiball. the collection was inspired by "traditional African crafts and the strong primary colors they used", but I saw a strong Asian influence. more  like a homage to the silk kimono. 
• Erre. French Renaissance meets Spanish flamenco meets Russian Cossack. lacy leather ruffles. *my fave!

The winner? Laz Yani.

Into Africa

New Yorkers alert!
I know I don't have to tell you, but go see:

Into Africa: Photographs by Peter Beard

@ Christie's on October 3.

You may never have an opportunity to see them again ....

Peter Hall Artist

Saw a great presentation by artist / photographer / all-around-creative-person Peter Hall.

Peter spends an inordinate amount of time camping in Kruger Park and in the Kalahari photographing wildlife and landscapes.

(I am green with envy!)



He has an attitude that is contrary to the typical tourist Big Five goal on safari. He doesn't go to Kruger to see things. He goes to see what Kruger wants to show him. In that way he is totally open to whatever comes within his visual framework.

oil on canvas

Many of his photographs are meant to be stand-alone works of art. But he also uses his photographs as a basis for his paintings and charcoal sketches.

mixed media

charcoal on paper

oil on canvas

I find his work depicting downtown Joburg quite compelling. Maybe it's because it reminds me of New York in the 70's.






 

Here is a tip Peter gave us that I will definitely try out next time I am on safari this winter summer and it is rainy and dull.

"Something worth trying if you're in the bush and it's rainy and dull. Set the camera to a very low shutter speed and overexpose the images."


That is of course if Kruger wants to show me a "young baboon doing a cartwheel."



To check out his work, you can friend him on Facebook. Peter Hall Artist

US Government Shutdown!

Not that it's all about me, but ...

Grateful to find out today that the American Embassies and Consulates are not caught up in this US Government shut down mess.

Vince had been waiting for the second passport he applied for from the American Consulate in Joburg weeks and weeks ago. (He needs two passports so he can travel with one while his other one sits in another foreign Consulate somewhere languishing waiting for a work visa stamp.)

He is leaving for Hong Kong on Sunday and the second passport finally arrived at the American Consulate in Joburg today!  The first day of the US Government shut down in the States. This would have played out very differently had he applied for that passport in the US rather than South Africa. The passport agencies there are closed.

I certainly do not want this blog to turn into a political platform. I just want to say I hope the President and Congress can reopen negotiations and find some kind of resolution thereby enabling the government to reopen quickly. God bless America.

Restaurant Week South Africa

 

It's Restaurant Week in South Africa from October 24 through November 3!

Restaurant Week was always a special time in New York City. Some of the most exclusive (read expensive) restaurants in the city would present a set menu for lunch and dinner at much more affordable prices. It was still an effort to get a reservation for said restaurants, but with so many participating, you were bound to strike gold somewhere. It started with a week in normally slow February, grew to a second week in slow July, and then expanded into almost two Restaurants Months.

I am not sure how this is going to play in Joburg ... or South Africa for that matter. First of all the restaurants here are so reasonable (read cheap). And the ones I have been wanting to try, like Linger Longer and DW Eleven 13, are not participating. In fact, there are only about 100 restaurants signed up in all of South Africa and only 23 in Gauteng. And about half of those are in Pretoria.

But at R175 for a three course dinner or R95 for a two course lunch, I am willing to try one or more of the participating ones. Booking starts October 7 at 20:00. But if you "friend" them on Facebook, you get VIP booking a week early. Bon Appetit, South Africa.

Join Hands and Sign the Petition

On October 6, hundreds of Joburgers will join hands around the Zoo Lake Bowling Club (ZLBC) in protest of the City of Johannesburg's attempt to privatize and evict the ZLBC and the adjacent lands.

The protest will begin at 11:30, Prince of Wales Drive in Zoo Lake Park.

Want to know more?

Check out their Facebook page, Save Our Zoo Lake Bowling Club or see my post Save Our Zoo Lake Bowling Club

Sign the petition to Save the Zoo Lake Bowling Club

Sick

instant shot of vitamin c