Pulsating Pretoria!

A few years back I lived in Pretoria CBD, except for the State Theatre as far as I know there was nothing much going-on in the city centre then - I could be wrong. We use to go to Brooklyn, Menlyn or Hatfield for fun, night life fun that is. Sometimes even Johannesburg. This is slowly changing as the inner city is becoming a place to be. All the cool kids  (the creative lot) spend more and more of their time in the city centre. Art galleries are popping-up in places you'd never have thought of six years ago. As I surf the internet I see more picturesque images of the city captured by young photographers. There is life in the beautiful City of Tshwane ( Pretoria).

There is this inner city revitalization hype going on at the moment, property developers are renovating old buildings creating urban spaces usable for a variety of functions.  You will be amazed at the venues available in the inner city these days, whether you are looking for space to host an intimate party, a corporate function or an art show etc.

 Image: 012central

One of the buildings revived is 012central, this building block is right in the city centre on a very busy street in Pretoria. I have no idea what this block was called or used for prior its renovation.

According to their website "012central comprises a number of closely situated buildings that enable diverse, rich experiences for people or companies that need a venue for their event. Whatever you can imagine can be brought to life in one of our multipurpose venues".

 

 

 

012central hosts The Social Market every first Sunday of the month from 11h00 to 18h00 and every last Saturday of the month hosts a market from 11h00 to 18h00 organised by the Market at the Sheds. The market hosts a variety of stands selling and showcasing clothing, arts & crafts, gourmet street food, wines & cocktails etc. Plus, there usually are live performances from Afro-soul, jazz, rock & blues singers and bands. 

On Saturday, 25 June, my friends and I went to the 012central for the first time. Best believe we had a good time, the place was inviting, vibrant and colourful. There was so much to see,  photos below tell a story of how our day looked liked. 

 

 

 

The food

 

I ate the most delicious Beef Prego Roll. There were a few food stands, everything looked delicious. There were also stands selling drinks only, from coffees to cocktails to wines.

  

 

 Marvelas Works

This young man was selling these beautiful leather and beaded goods, find him on instagram @marvelasworks

 

 

Hesey Designs

 

Beautiful African print designed bags by Hesey Designs. Find them on instagram @heseydesigns_sa

 

 



 

Afro Tunics from Lu Pearl Designs

 

 

 Azura

 

Handcrafted jewellery from Azura, find them on instagram @azura_luxury_handcrafts.

 

 

There were more stands that I didn't go to, some I did but I didn't take any pictures. I would say there were not less that sixty (60) stands at the market day of 25 June 2016.

 

 

The Muffinz gave a stellar performance

 

 

The spacey 012central provides facilities for children and for those that prefer the outdoors. Outside the main hall you will find a small courtyard - suitable for family picnics, more tables& chairs, jumping castle - for kids entertainment and another dining space where more food and drinks are sold.

 

 

 

If you are in Pretoria, do take time and visit 012central during one of its market days.  You will not only enjoy a beautiful afternoon there but you will also get an opportunity to sample and buy goods at affordable prices. You may also meet some of the instagram / online boutiques and be able to purchase products you can see and feel plus have an advantage of direct customer engagement. 

 

 

Image: 012central

 

 

 

If you are looking for a venue or wish to exhibit your product/s visit the sites linked below.

http://012central.co.za/

http://www.marketatthesheds.co.za

http://thesocialmarket.co.za

 

 

 

 

 

*All photos are mine unless otherwise stated*

 

ARTFLUX Exhibition 4 June - 3 July 2016

This past weekend I attended the ARTFLUX Opening Exhibition.

Poster by Pretoria Art Museum 

 

 

The exhibition curated by Capital Arts Revolution and hosted by the Pretoria Art Museum is currently showing works of three artist; Reatile Maolusi, Gert Potgieter and Stompie Selibe.

The exhibition will run for a month with a seminar planned for 25 June 2016. I managed to speak to two of the artists about their beautiful work.

 

Reatile Maolusi:

Reatile’s inspiration came from the accidents on our roads and the increasing number of roadside memorials.  Having lost a relative in a car accident also contributed to his series of "Roadside Memorials".  This is four years of his work but he started working on this particular series last year. Already he is working on the next series concentrating on mementos, things that loved ones leave behind,  like watches, shoes, even body parts left behind after clearing of accidents. Reatile has exhibited in many collective exhibitions and he currently has body of work showing in France.

The Pretoria Street Photography co-founder from West Rand is a Photography student at the Tshwane University of Technology.

 

Gert Potgieter:

Gert’s art has always concentrated around contemporary South Africa, he looks at day to day problems faced by ordinary South Africans. Matters concerning the poor, inequality, generally social issues. His current body of work deals with South Africa's poor who still find themselves at the same place they were 20 years ago.

This interesting piece is a tree made out of human limbs, Gert explained that this work is a follow-up on the work he did on the Marikana incident, he went on to explain that after the Marikana experience he was left feeling morbid as one would after such a sad situation. To lift up his spirits he started working on this tree symbolising rebirth. He also wanted to depict how close life and death are.

 

     

I was interested in the bottom piece, Gert  explained this piece as addressing the disillusioned in the community.

  

 

Gert  a sculptor with a studio in Pretoria, studied Art at the University of South Africa in the late 80s and specialises in welded metal.

I didn't get a chance to speak to the third artist, Stompie. Below is his work, I love how he  played with  the splash of colour complementing the distorted part of this piece.

 

Stompie who works from his studio in Johannesburg is described as a visual artist and a musician who is very involved with outreach programmes.

 

I found all three works intriguing and challenging.  I moved from Reatile's photos to Stompies paintings and worked the gallery to the middle where Gert's sculptures are.  Three set of emotions can be evoked as you recognise loss of life from the roadside memorials to three pieces with a splash of colour that will immediately colour your mood without even understanding the intended meaning of the collection to abstruse sculptures.

 

If you have time,  do visit the Pretoria Art Museum in support of the three artists but more especially in support of the young artists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* All photos are mine unless otherwise stated*

Fracking in the Karoo: The Industrial Karoo - FEAR&LOSS

The other day I received an invite from the Pretoria Art Museum to the opening exhibition:

The Industrial Karoo - FEAR&LOSS

a powerful collection of artworks curated by Katie Barnard du Toit (4 March)

The exhibition closes on Sunday, 26 April 2015. Museum hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 10:00 to 17:00 Closed on Mondays and public holidays Cnr Francis Baard (Schoeman) and Wessels Streets, Arcadia Park, Arcadia      Tel: 012 358 6750

 

 

An amazing collection was shown at this exhibition, showcasing work of more than 80 artists illustrating various themes around FRACKING and the environmental destruction of the Karoo. Below are some of the works on display.

 

Now, I’ve heard of shale gas, its extraction and the economic possibilities such an exercise could bring to the Karoo and South Africa in general. Imagine my surprise and new found curiosity when I arrived at this opening. I honestly didn’t have enough knowledge on the subject (fracking, shale gas) I actually do not believe my ignorance in this regard. I decided to go read up on the subject and the predicament faced by South Africa and the residents of the Karoo.

This is what I found out

According to Investopedia FRACKING is:

“A slang term for Hydraulic Fracturing. Fracking refers to the procedure of creating fractures in rocks and rock formations by injecting fluid into cracks to force them further open. The larger fissures allow more oil and gas to flow out of the formation and into the wellbore, from where it can be extracted.”

The process is extremely water intensive requiring about four million litres to complete a fracked well in a single direction.

The Karoo is the largest ecosystem in South Africa and is home to a fascinating diversity of life, all having adapted to survive an unforgiving landscape.

THE ENERGY REALITY

According to Consultancy Africa Intelligence (CAI):

·        Energy demand continues to rise worldwide; the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global energy use grew by 39% between 1990 and 2008.(6) Brent crude oil prices have also been on an upward spiral from about US$ 96 to US$ 113 a barrel from January 2011 to September 2012. This has pushed a lot of research into the exploration of alternative sources of energy.  A new school of thought suggests that gas is the solution, as it burns cleaner than coal. Shale gas, in particular, has attracted the greatest attention due to its success in the US and its perceived global abundance. The success of shale gas will result in natural gas prices remaining below US$ 5 per 1,000 cubic feet until 2023, according to the US Energy Information Administration's 2012 Annual Energy Outlook. It is also considered that shale gas might generate more fossil energy than all global oil and coal combined.

·        A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the US found that, in 2009, the oil and gas industry supported 9.2 million jobs and contributed 7.7% of gross domestic product (GDP). According to the Shale Gas Market Report 2012-2022, the global shale gas market is quite lucrative, having been valued at US$ 36.95 billion in 2012. Many countries are beginning to examine the potential of shale gas as an alternative source of fuel as part of their energy security strategies.

South Africa’s benefits

·       The country faces an imminent energy crisis as its current demand exceeds supply. Shale gas could very well be a long-term solution to South Africa's dire power problems as 85% of the

      nation's electricity currently originates from coal.

·        Shale gas will uphold South Africa's efforts of reducing its carbon emission by 42% by 2025 under the Copenhagen Accord.

·        Shale gas exploration will satisfy the country's future energy needs and the significant contribution it will have on GDP, adding up to ZAR 200 billion (US$ 23 billion), and the establishment of up to 700,000 jobs.

·        The Karoo shale gas report by Econometrix economist and principal analyst Tony Twine, states that if the shale gas estimates were confirmed, the country would have 400 years' worth of energy supply.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL REALITY

·       This controversial drilling technique has instigated global protests and debate over its environmental impact.

·      Fracking  uses vast amounts of clean water fused with chemicals to split underground rocks to withdraw shale gas. There exists the possibility of polluting surface and underground water through this exercise.

·        Water in the Karoo could be contaminated causing dire consequences for an area that was already dry.

·       There has been talk of 'green' fracking fluids in an effort to reduce the potential water pollution, but because they are expensive, there is doubt that cost-cutting corporations will use them. Besides, these fluids do not mitigate the amount of water used. Can the country afford to sacrifice millions of litres of clean water required for a single well at the expense of its people and animal life? South Africa is already a water-scarce country and the Karoo is a particularly dry area. Fracking is clearly not sustainable under current conditions.

http://www.consultancyafrica.com

It is quite a dilemma, a situation that requires sound leadership. Yes, energy is a crisis in this country and we will all love to see the end of load shedding. The energy supply that is said to be the benefit of shale gas will bring about more than just light to our communities but will also create jobs thus contributing to a better life for all <-------How fantastic is that??

On the other hand, the same sound leadership is expected to listen to the voices on the ground. Listen to the voices of the people who make up the Karoo, listen to the voices of the people who make up South Africa. It is crucial that decisive research evidence on fracking surfaces. Also the amount of shale gas reserves on the ground must be confirmed before decisions of this magnitude are taken. While all that is being done the country will need to critically assess the after-effects of this type of mining.

If life was easy I would ask “what are other methods of extracting shale gas? Is there another way of doing this besides fracking?” These questions I ask as I understand the need for energy supply, economic growth as well as saving our environment.

South African Nurses Conference

DENOSA, the organization I work for hosted a Nurses Conference on 16-18 October 2013. The conference was a resounding success nurses from all spheres participated. Minister of Health, Minister of Public Service and MEC Health graced us with their presence. I had a poster presentation (presenting DENOSA International work) but spent 80% of the conference at the VIP lounge as part of the protocol team. It was SAME OLD WORK for me until the Cocktail party!! See pics below...

 

 Justice, me, Heather  and Weziwe

 

 Weziwe & I

 

Anthony Stanco Jazz Ensemble and ooh smelling delicious

Last week Monday I attended the Anthony Stanco Jazz Ensemble concert at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. Anthony Stanco Jazz Ensemble was brought to South Africa by the US Embassy on a music/cultural tour. I must say when it comes to music I prefer to hear words than just instruments.. Buuuwaa right? But these so talented gentlemen completely wowed me.

Interesting part of the evening? When I was posing for a photo with them,  Anthony goes " Wow you smell delicious". Now, I've never had anyone say that to me so I was a bit taken back, in a good way though. I could only afford  " hahaha thank you?" as a response. There is a first for everything hey?

I guess we have Stella McCartney to thank for my delicious smell as I was wearing Stella that evening. I love to smell good, I don't think there is anything I make sure I never run out of like perfumes. Stella is one of my favourite scents.

Anthony Stanco Jazz Ensemble and I

 

 

Breakfast meeting and some dose of inspiration

This morning I had to wake up at 05:00 AM so that I could be at my breakfast meeting by 06:30 AM. The breakfast meeting was at the Sheraton hotel hosted by the Rotary Club of Hatfield – my club. Today we didn’t really discuss any activity except for fellow Rotarian Gerrit who shared with us a project he is initiating, where an Index with information/centers that assist disabled individuals will be developed. This of course will assist people with disabilities find their way around, whether it is skills development, work opportunities, business opportunities etc. etc.  This is why I am in Rotary – being surrounded by inspiring people.

A young club member, Daniel, is going to Russia (only 18 people globally were chosen for Russia by Microsoft) and then wait for it… travel between Africa, Eastern Europe and the US for two years. This guy is an IT guru, he develops Apps *as they are called* for Microsoft. Another young club member, Tracy, she was in France for a month to explore business opportunities. I haven’t really had time the time to ask her about it but I can guess it was a fruitful trip. When I say young I mean less than 30 years. Inspired yet? I know I am.

With Daniel and Sune - at my induction last month.

It was a great night for me, I was inducted at the Cocktail dinner during the International Peace Forum at UNISA. Among the dignitaries present at my induction was UNISA Principal and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mandla Makhanya and he personally congratulated me. Yes I was flattered.