Grahamstown Festival

Grahamstown Festival 2011

I have been living in Cape Town longer than anywhere else, so I consider it my home, and yet I have never been to the Grahamstown Festival.  This year I decided it was high time and booked the accommodation the beginning of the year.  Unfortunately Hugh had a course on and couldn't accompany me, so my mum and Aneta went with me.

There was a lot of great theatre, music, film, art, food, etc., the ones I particularly enjoyed were
THEATRE:
Paper Boy: about a young man believing his mom is a movie star, his rounds in the town delivering newspapers, and a few accidents.  Excellent acting, engrossing, good storyline.
Purgatorio: There are two actors one a shrink, the other the patient, they switch roles.  The patient becomes the shrink and the shrink the patient.  They are in purgatory and they have to learn to forgive each other.  Very strong performances from both actors.
Body Language: a Belgian tells us that we give many hints and clues away with our bodies if you know what to look for.  Very energetic and entertaining presentation.
Mind Games: A sweet young man showed us some magic.
Ropes and Silks: Was great from a number of perspectives, the shadows on the wall behind the artiste, was almost as good as the things she did on the tightrope/silks.  The break in between the two bits was too long and people got tetchy.  I would suggest partnering with another artist to do something else while you set up the next piece.
Reed Dance: The coming of age of a young woman.  Good storyline, lovely voices and dancing, but became a bit tedious with not enough variation.
Petticoat Chronicles:  These two young women were very well matched in voice and acting, depicting the various situations women get into, and the various stages women go through. Excellent!

FILM:
Wild Grass: Weird French Film with many twists and convolutions. Very intriguing.
Creative Power of Women: Don't remember

THINKFEST:
Zapiro: The day we went the lights went out.  Zapiro spoke about his role in South African politics. Thank you Jonathan Shapiro for what you do for the country.
Criticism and Critics: I wanted to ask some questions here, but wasn't given the chance.  They seemed to only ask the people they knew would ask un-challenging questions  The first speaker read her notes. Remind me not to do this when I give a presentation.  She was saying that she was part of the creative process as critic. The two men also had things to say, but nothing contentious really. I was left with more questions than answers afterwards.  I was hoping to get something to take home with me with regard to art and writing critique that isn't just critical, criticism, and breaking down what others create, but a way of finding a place where we can support budding artists whatever medium they choose, whether it is visual, literature, or other.

Read more here...  Critics, Critiques and Criticism

ART:
There was a lot of very predictable art, whether the people are technically competent or not, nothing exciting, different, or would warrant a second glance, and then there were others of course that did have something to say, some with greater artistic ability, some with more interesting processes, presentations, or concepts...

The CO-MIX  exhibition was fun, weird, strange, bizarre, depending on whose work you were looking at. Standard Bank had a class act, and the museums, galleries, and other art venues had thought-provoking work.

I am hoping to have many of these interesting, exciting, innovative, and ground breaking artists on my new website African Arts and Crafts - - - If you know of anyone who you think should be there, please ask them to contact me.  I would love to exhibit their work. - - -