I am honoured...

...to be part of ezine 002!!! Congratulations Erin!!! http://designformankind.blogspot.com/ It looks really good and so inspirational! I just love it and am very honoured to be part of the second issue! I have the special place of being on the last page. = ) So check it out, download it http://designformankind.blogspot.com/2008/02/inspiration-e-zine-issue-two.html

and read it! It's GREAT!

strijdom van der merwe

Attended Strijdom van der Merwe's exhibition opening on Saturday at Dorp Street Gallery in Stellenbosch. The concept is really interesting, and this is basically the preparation work for the installation of land art. The installation will be taking place at the Klein Karoo Kunste Fees in Oudtshoorn. So if anyone is there and sees this installation PLEASE take some pics and send them too me!!! As I find Strijdoms installations are awesome!

Strijdom has asked 45 South African authors to write some Haikoes, these are about the land, the people, etc, all in afrikaans. These will be displayed in the landscape as illustrated. I think it will be very powerful!

design indaba - streetwires

Well this was probably one of the most interactive stands at the indaba! The kids loved it, feeding the sheep and sitting on the lawn. This was a great idea, and even I meandered between the sheep! = )

Dylan Lewis is my hero!

Now seriously... Dylan Lewis is an AMAZING, PASSIONATE, INSPIRATIONAL artist! http://www.dylanlewis.com/
I attended a talk that he gave at the Sasol Museum in Stellenbosch last night and... WOW! First of all he is a really good public speaker. He gave us the same presentation that he made at Christie's, pre-auction, and wow! His inspiration, dedication and passion is so honest. He is such a craftsman, he relies on his skills and is extremely competant and perfectionistic. He does not adhere to trends, and what he is saying with his art is amazing! His link to nature and the wilderness is great and so critical for humankind in this day and age, more so than ever before...

I have been admiring his work for a long time (I work near the Everard-Read Gallery where they have a few of his sculptures outside), but after listening to him, and talking to him, his work has taken on a new life and meaning. I must admit I thought he would be a lot older, looking at the high standard of his work. A book has just been published on his work, which I really want to get a copy of.
http://www.parduspublishing.com/about.asp

He has also evolved from the cat form to the female figure, which is equally amazing. Like a true artist his work is evolving all the time, unlike some artists who become very commercial due to popular financial success, following a successfull recipe.

One thing that really excites me is that a passionate, honest, dedicated artist is being financially rewarded for his work! Allthough that also means that I might never be able to own a Dylan Lewis...

a first time... (spier continued)

Well I have to confess... yesterday I made rice for the first time in my life (at the ripe old age of 31 - "wat 'n skande")! AND I made bobotie from scratch - also for the first time. Now this is really a momentous occasion, as I don't cook, well I don't really enjoy it at all. But we were playing bridge at my house, so I have to make a plan for dinner... Unfortunately I don't have any photographic evidence of the food, but I at least had three witness, and I even received a few compliments! = ) And I must say it almost tasted as good as my mom's!

Ok, then as promised a few more pics of the actual gallery space at spier...

Follow the trees... to the gallery location...

I think the containers with the tensile structures in between create a super space. It makes it light and permeable - almost like land art!

spier contemporary

We went there on Saturday, and what a great installation! The exhibition still runs until February 20th. So if you have time get there, I really think it is worth it! There are a couple of art pieces which I think are just stunning - like the two "balls" below... I also bought a hardcover catalogue - for only R130! Which I thought was very very reasonable and very comprehensive. It catalogues each art work with a description by the artist, and at the back there are all the artist's biographies. Tomorrow I will post more on the actually "gallery" space. But if you can, get there, it is worth it!

updating...

I am currently updating my architecture portfolio. So I thought I would share a few pages... The first project is unbuilt, a surfer's get-away just outside Elansbaai. The site is awesome.

Then, still my favourite... you probably know it really well by now! = ) A couple have been living in it for about a month, while house-hunting, and their comments have really been very complimentary - so I am very happy to hear all the positive feedback!