Nando’s joins the Loeries to celebrate design Design from Africa and the Middle East finally gets the recognition it deserves with the expanded Nando’s Design category at the Loeries in 2019. This year’s category has been extended to recognise design from a much broader range of creative professionals. “We’ve expanded the design category beyond only brand communication to include areas of design such as retail furniture and product design, fabric, wallpaper, lighting, architecture and interior design, and even the design of signage programmes,” says Loeries CEO Andrew Human. He adds that the Loeries has long been recognised as the highest accolade in advertising and brand communication.

“A strong design award has been lacking for our region and this is a great opportunity for all designers to showcase their work and achieve recognition.” Design is woven into the Nando’s DNA, making Nando’s a natural partner for the Design category. “Design and creativity have been an intrinsic part of the Nando’s way of doing business.

Nando’s is the first local brand to collaborate with local designers at the scale it does,” says Deirdre King, Nando’s Brand Experience GM. She adds: “Putting our support behind the design community is important to doing business well. Our PERi-PERi power has charted new paths and careers for many local artists and their art. Putting that same fire behind the extended Design category for the 2019 Loeries gives us a chance to spice things up for the wonderful designers who will imprint their names onto this exciting category. According to Gaby de Abreu, Loeries board member and creative head of Switch Design, the awards are invaluable because they offer a chance for designers to showcase their work to a far greater audience.

“The Nando’s Design category at the Loeries is an opportunity to showcase excellence across disciplines in countries throughout Africa and the Middle East. For independent designers, it’s a unique chance to achieve recognition across the industry, reaching creatives internationally,” says de Abreu. “For a furniture designer working in an independent workshop or a graphic designer outside of the agency network, this year’s Loeries offers a chance to show the world what you’ve achieved,” he adds. The Nando’s Design category at the Loeries is open to designers across all the main disciplines. The entry deadline is 15 May and more information can be found on loeries.com.

About Nando's: While proudly South African, Nando’s is an international flame-grilling, PERi-PERi chicken restaurant group. We offer a twist of Afro-Portuguese with an upmarket and comfortable dining experience. Two friends, Robert Brozin and Fernando Duarte, opened the first Nando’s in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa. All Nando's PERi-PERi chicken is marinated for 24 hours, locally sourced and never frozen, ensuring our customers only get the finest flavours.

Our unique PERi-PERi recipe includes herbs, spices, garlic, lemon juice and bird’s eye chilli. Nando's authentic PERi -PERi has captivated its customers all over the world, making it the largest South African restaurant group to expand internationally. DEADLINE FOR 2019 LOERIES ENTRIES EXTENDED TO MAY 31 About Loeries Africa Middle East: The Loeries, a non-profit company, is Africa and the Middle East’s premiere initiative that recognises, rewards, inspires and fosters creative excellence in the brand communication industry.

As the highest accolade for creativity and innovation across our region, the Loeries promotes and supports creativity by helping marketers, agencies and consumers appreciate the value of ideas and fresh thinking.

Culminating in the biggest creative gathering in Africa and the Middle East, Loeries Creative Week Durban brings together the best innovative minds from our industry for a festival of networking, inspiring minds and recognising great work. Our region's creative economy is world-class and has great potential to grow and to offer employment both to our talented youth. The growth occurring throughout Africa and the Middle East is very exciting, and a major focus of the Loeries is to increase the standard of brand communication in the region.

Major Partners of the Loeries: DStv Media Sales, Gearhouse Category Partners: AB InBev, Barron, Brand South Africa, Facebook, Gagasi FM, Google, JCDecaux, Nando’s, Tsogo Sun, Woolworths Additional Partners and Official Suppliers: AAA School of Advertising, Antalis South Africa, Aon South Africa, Backsberg, BEE Online, First Source, Fresh RSVP Guest Logistics, Funk Productions, Gallo Images, Grid Worldwide, Hetzner, Mama Creative, Newsclip, Paygate, Rocketseed, Shared Value Initiative, Shift Social Development, Vega School, VQI Communications Nigeria Endorsed by: Association of Communication and Design, Brand Council South Africa, Commercial Producers Association, Creative Circle, EXCA, IAB, South African Institute of Architects, IID Official Media Partners Between 10and5, Bizcommunity.com, Book of Swag, Brand Communicator Nigeria, Business Insider by Pulse, Campaign Middle East, Film & Event Media, Modern Marketing The Redzone. Twitter: @loeries Instagram: Loerieawards Facebook: The Loeries

Distributed on behalf of the Loeries by: Riana Greenblo Communications: 011 3256006

For more information, interview requests or high-res images please contact: Gina McLoughlin: 0113256006 (mornings only)or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Riana Greenblo: +27 82 5675159 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In 2019, UJ Arts & Culture embraces the power of the arts to ignite the passion of its students and audiences.

A division of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the Arts & Culture department is gearing up to present another exciting programme set to appeal to audiences with diverse sensibilities.

“Few things in life is as passion-driven as the practice and enjoyment of the arts. Creativity is not the preserve of artists alone. The arts form the social fibre of our nation and deserve to be elevated and nurtured as part of the holistic human experience,” says Head of UJ Arts & Culture, Pieter Jacobs. “It is rare for students from across a university to have access to participate in the arts in the way they are able to do at UJ. Generally, these opportunities are exclusively reserved for students registered for undergraduate courses in the arts. UJ takes the holistic development of its students seriously and recognises the value of student engineers, teachers, accountants, economists, and many more, developing the soft skills required to thrive in the ever-changing world,” he continues.

Over the past 14 years, UJ Arts & Culture has earned its spot as one of the key role players on the arts and entertainment landscape and prides itself on numerous awards. In 2018, this legacy continued with UJ Choir being crowned world champions in the Folk Music category at the World Choir Games while its student production Choir Boy received an Encore Award at the National Arts Festival as well as a nod for best student production by the South African Theatre Magazine. Its flagship interdisciplinary project that involves more than 300 FADA students received nine Broadway South Africa awards for its rendition of Reza De Wet’s African Gothic.

Through the UJ Arts Academy a range of free opportunities to develop creative skills are made available to students, staff and alumni. A key component of the Arts Academy is the 66-member UJ Choir. Other music opportunities offered include the UniJoh Chorale, Jazz Band, Drumming Group and Orchestra. Dance classes in latin, ballroom, ballet, hip hop, afro-fusion and contemporary dance are offered as well as acting classes and poetry sessions.

UJ Arts & Culture hosts University events and external events including large meetings, strategic breakaways, conferences, lectures, concerts, festivals and theatre productions at its venues. Facilities operated include the Art Centre on the Kingsway Campus with a 428-seater Theatre, an 18-seater conference room and two studios; the Experimental Theatre, also on the Kingsway Campus, is a flexible space primarily used for and by students; and the 180-seater Con Cowan Theatre with adjacent studios is based on the Bunting Road Campus. Venue bookings for 2019 and 2020 is currently open.

The 2019 #FollowYourHeART programme includes an exhibitions programme, a stand-up comedy series, theatre and dance seasons, a music concert series, UJ Weekend of Jazz, UJ Youth Arts Festival and the Izimbongi Poetry Festival: 

#LoveYourHeART Exhibitions ProgrammeA partnership with the Embassy of Brazil will see UJ Art Gallery host Rodrigo Petrella’s photo exhibition, Mekaron, in February.  Following Farieda Nazier’s 2018 PhD residency at UJ Arts & Culture, Post Present Future, will be hosted at the Apartheid Museum and the popular PPC Imaginarium will return to the University’s Gallery in April. Curating the Cube is a 21-year retrospective exhibition, reflecting on Curator Annali Dempsey’s tenure at the Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit and then UJ after its amalgamation. Yannis Generalis’ solo exhibition will be followed by another 21-year celebration presented by the Ampersand Foundation. South African heavyweight Diane Victor’s solo exhibition will be followed by a collaborative showcase comprising works of both the UJ and MTN art collections. 

#ListenToYourHeART Music Concert SeriesKicking off the series is the popular South African songstress, Anna Davel in collaboration with the Bruckner University Big Band, followed by the avant-garde duo, La Musa, from Vienna. UJ Choir will join forces with South African gem, Gloria Bosman and will tour to Potchefstroom, Nelspruit and Sasolburg and will mark the end of the year with its customary Celebration Concert. The UniJoh Chorale will present a Mother's Day concert and participate in the City of Johannesburg Choral Festival. The music programme will end on a high note with the hugely popular gala fundraiser, A Grand Night for Singing, in support of the Dean’s Bursary Fund.

#CelebrateYourHeART Festivals ProgrammeUJ Arts & Culture’s urban music offering, UJ Weekend of Jazz, will return in 2019 as well as the UJ Youth Arts Festival and the Izimbongi Poetry Festival. UJ Arts & Culture’s offering at the National Arts Festival will include Kafka’s Metamorphosis adapted for the stage by Steven Berkoff, directed by Alby Michaels with Khutjo Green, Ameera Patel, William Harding and Craig Morris as well as a new one-man production developed in residence, iNDUKU. UJ Arts Academy students will present the classic, Lord of the flies, under guidance of debut-director Ayanda Bulose.

#MakeYourHeART Theatre and Dance SeasonsOut the Box Comedy, presented in partnership with POPArt and Goliath and Goliath, is a series of stand-up comedy shows leading up to Out the Box Comedy Special, bringing together some of South Africa’s funniest comedians to the Art Centre Theatre in October. The theatre line-up includes seasons of Metamorphosis, iNDUKU and Lord of the flies.Let the right one in, an ambitious project undertaken as part of the FADA interdisciplinary project, will enjoy a development run in October. Moving into Dance will be hosted at the UJ Art Centre Theatre for two weeks bringing the company’s 40th year celebrations to a close. This will be followed by an international collaboration between Tribhangi Dance Theatre and a UK-based dance company. 

#LiveYourHeART Residency ProgrammeRight of Admission, a collaborative work between Alberta Whittle and Farieda Nazier, will be developed in residence at UJ Arts & Culture during 2019. Performance Artist, Kieron Jina, will create a new piece entitled Rise of the African Queer Deities and Ayabonga Makanya, a new creative voice, will collaborate with award-winning director and UJ Arts & Culture Production Manager, Jade Bowers, on iNDUKU.For more information visit UJ Arts & Culture website and venue booking system at www.uj.ac.za/arts. 

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

About UJ Arts & CultureUJ Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA) produces and presents world-class student and professional arts programmes aligned to the UJ vision of an international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future. A robust range of arts platforms are offered on all four UJ campuses for students, staff, alumni and the general public to experience and engage with emerging and established Pan-African and international artists drawn from the full spectrum of the arts.In addition to UJ Arts & Culture, FADA (www.uj.ac.za/fada) offers programmes in eight creative disciplines, in Art, Design and Architecture, as well as playing home to the NRF SARChI Chair in South African Art & Visual Culture, and the Visual Identities in Art & Design Research Centre. The Faculty has a strong focus on sustainability and relevance, and engages actively with the dynamism, creativity and diversity of Johannesburg in imagining new approaches to art and design education.   

The culture of an organisation defines how it engages with its customers Johannesburg, South Africa 05 April 2018:  RubiBlue, intelligent business solutions provider, has redesigned its core values to redefine business growth and enhance its business culture.

The organisation underwent a lengthy process to refine these values that are now embedded within the company and fundamentally influence its mindset. “Our goal is to provide our customers with intelligent business solutions that drive business efficiencies and save them time, money and stress,” says Chris Ogden, Managing Director, RubiBlue.

“When you consider how our business is built around helping our customers achieve their goals and ambitions, we felt it was important that we had a clearly mandated philosophy that ensured we could support our clients and our employees to the best of our abilities.” This commitment saw the 13-year-old company invest in creating the RubiBlue values which would ensure consistent client engagement through measurable actions and targeted service delivery. The four pillars that uphold these values are: Commitment, Lead, Efficiency and Wellbeing.

These enhance the company’s core competencies of strong developmental skills and superior support services.

“When we first started out, we were purely a network support and sales provider, but since then we have evolved as a company and as a service provider,” says Ogden. “We have a range of satisfied clients who have benefitted from our consultancy, solutions development and Microsoft Network skills and we have always had a strong company culture to support these skills and this vision. Now, however, we have further refined this culture and the values that define it to take our business even further.”

The four core values of Commitment, Lead, Efficiency and Wellbeing form the acronym CLEW, which happens to be an integral part of any sailboat – holding the sail in place and ensuring that wind flow is accurately directed. Without it, the boat would have no forward momentum, an accurate representation of how no company can move forward without core values to support it.

“CLEW represents who we are, what we stand for, our integrity in business and our commitment to our customers,” concludes Ogden.

#METAMORPHOSIS is UJ Arts & Culture’s 2018 programme of change.

“Looking at our creative programme through this thematic lens is the ideal stimulus for alignment with the University’s drive to participate meaningfully in decolonisation and transformation,” says Pieter Jacobs, Head of Arts & Culture (a division of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture) at the University of Johannesburg.

Drawing inspiration from the theme of #METAMORPHOSIS has seen UJ Arts & Culture plan to change more than its content. The 2018 programme features two brand new festivals as well as new partnerships that will increase opportunities for the university community, creative industries and the public to experience and participate in the arts. The programme is diverse, ranging from jazz, poetry and youth arts festivals to a music concert series, stand-up comedy shows, drama and dance seasons and an exhibitions programme.

"It is a great responsibility to play a role in shaping leaders of the future. And what better tool than the arts to develop the emotional and cultural intelligence to harness the knowledge and skills we acquire as we go through life,” says Jacobs. To this end, UJ Arts & Culture offers students and staff a robust programme to participate in the arts. Through the UJ Arts Academy, students, alumni and staff have access to a range of free dance and acting classes, poetry and drumming sessions or they could audition for theatre productions, the UJ Choir, UniJoh Chorale, jazz band, wind band or orchestra. Its student offering would not be complete without the hugely popular student talent competition presented annually and group tours to festivals and celebrations.

A key component of UJ Arts & Culture’s activities is its annual interdisciplinary collaborative FADA programme, launched in 2017 by the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Federico Freschi. Once again, this programme will see more than 300 students from departments across the faculty get involved in different design aspects of a UJ Arts & Culture-produced play as part of their course work.

“UJ Arts & Culture’s #METAMORPHOSIS programme is designed to advance the University’s vision of an international institution of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future. Bolstered by PhD residencies, local and international performing arts residencies, lectures, workshops and conferences, the Division strives to offer world-class opportunities to experience, participate in, and for empowerment through the arts,” concludes Jacobs.

#METAMORPHOSIS promises to appeal to art lovers with diverse interests:

VISUAL ART

Exhibitions Programme
For the fourth year in a row UJ Arts & Culture’s exhibitions programme will feature the PPC Imaginarium Awards. These awards, established by PPC Ltd, offer emerging designers and artists a platform to showcase their talent and creativity through the use of cement as a primary medium.

In May, the 300 Art Ornaments exhibition will showcase over 250 pieces collected by the UJ Jewellery Design and Manufacture Department over the past 10 years.
UJ Art Gallery in partnership with the Bag Factory will play host to Brazillian curator Daniella Géo, who delves into the Bag Factory’s alumni archives. TRANS will showcase the impact Bag Factory’s alumni have had on the art scene and the role it played in connecting the Johannesburg with the rest of Africa and the world.
UJ Arts & Culture, in collaboration with the MTN Foundation SA, presents Continuing Conversations, following the 2017 collaborative Shifting Conversations exhibition. The conversations continue in 2018, with works derived from both the MTN and UJ art collections as well as emerging artists with an addition of a mentorship and educational programme.
The 2018 UJ Arts Gallery calendar is set to close on a high with the celebration of 21 Years of The Ampersand Foundation, which rewards excellence in the visual arts by granting fellowships to young professional South African contemporary visual artists. Curator Gordon Froud brings works completed by such fellows together in this exhibition.

MUSIC

UJ Concert Series
Kicking off the UJ Concert Series is the re-launch of the University’s Steinway Concert Grand with Steinway artists Christopher Duigan, Charl du Plessis and Jill Richards featuring the rising star, Sulayman Human, in concert.

Presented in partnership with Pro Helvetia Johannesburg, Swiss group Hildegard Lernt Fliegen (Hildegard Learns to Fly) is a Swiss formation of avant-garde jazz, headlined by singer Andreas Schaerer. In 2014, the band received the BMW Welt Jazz Award, and subsequently toured Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Luxembourg, China, Italy, Finland, UK and France.

The programme will culminate in FADA’s major fundraising drive in support of the Dean’s Bursary Fund. Presented annually on the first Saturday of November, A Grand Night for Singing will feature familiar and new voices, the UJ Choir and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra.

UJ Choir

In addition to performing at more than 20 graduation ceremonies and special events, the UJ Choir will perform alongside Hope College (USA) at the Rosebank Catholic Church and with Akustika Chamber Singers at SABC's M1 Studio in May. The highlight for UJ Choir's 2018 calendar includes, competing in the much-anticipated World Choir Games in early July.

UJ Choir, Tuks Camerata, and Puk-Koor will be performing in Koorkaleidoscope at the University of Pretoria's Musaion in August. UJ Choir's annual programme wraps up with its customary end year Celebration Concert at the end of October.

FESTIVALS

UJ Weekend of Jazz
Presented in celebration of Africa Day, the inaugural UJ Weekend of Jazz, is scheduled to take place at the UJ Art Centre from 24-26 May. This urban jazz experience, is set to cast a spotlight on exceptionally skilled emerging jazz musicians who are not afraid to experiment or disrupt the notion of jazz.

National Arts Festival
Keeping up the tradition, UJ Arts & Culture will present a substantive programme at the National Arts Festival with the translation of Reza de Wet’s iconic African Gothic (translation of Diepe Grond) headlining the UJ programme, which includes Choir Boy by Tarell Alvin McCraney, a music concert and STAGED, a new play development showcase.
UJ Youth Arts Festival
The new festival will cast a spotlight on some of the best new creative voices with students from other institutions, colleges and youth groups joining UJ Arts & Culture students in a showcase of acting, singing, dancing and making music. The festival will be hosted at the UJ Art Centre as well as at the Con Cowan Theatre in August.

Izimbongi Poetry Festival
UJ Arts & Culture’s grand finale after a year-long slam poetry programme with students, school learners and the public will take shape in the form of a week-long poetry festival featuring performances by professional and amateur spoken word artists, book launches, lectures, forum discussions and workshops.

THEATRE

Out the Box Comedy
Back by popular demand, UJ Arts & Culture will again team up with POPArt and Goliath & Goliath to present the Out the Box Comedy shows, culminating in a marathon of 20 comedians performing 5-minute sets each.

Choir Boy
Comprising a combination of student and professional actors, the play tells the story of a young man who wants nothing more than to take his rightful place as leader of the school's legendary gospel choir. Can he find his way inside the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key? After its premiere at the National Arts Festival, Choir Boy will be performed at the UJ Youth Arts Festival in August.

African Gothic
Set against the backdrop of a farm in desolate ruin, Reza de Wet’s, African Gothic (translation of Diepe Grond), tells the story of the complicated, passionate, and troubled relationship between two siblings. Presented in partnership with Joburg Theatres, the play will be presented at The Fringe following its run at the National Arts Festival in July.

Metamorphosis
As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. The staging of the play will be the culmination of a year-long process that involves more than 300 students and lecturers from different departments in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) working on various design and development aspects of the work as part of their course work. Kafka’s Metamorphosis, adapted by Steven Berkoff will be tested in October with a view of undertaking full runs in 2019.

DANCE
MIDM’s 40th Anniversary Celebration Season proudly hosted by UJ Arts & Culture at the UJ Art Centre will comprise two programmes – the first will run from 14 to 16 September 2018 and the second in the following week from 20 to 22 September 2018.

SWAN, inspired by the famous ballet, Swan Lake, and the Japanese social phenomenon Hikikomori, the dance piece was built by Hannah Ma and Kesuke Mihara on Tchaikovsky’s music. SWAN will perform at the Con Cowan Theatre from 21 to 23 September 2018.

For more information visit UJ Arts & Culture’s new user-friendly website and booking system at www.uj.ac.za/arts

About UJ Arts & Culture

UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA) produces and presents world-class student and professional arts programmes aligned to the UJ vision of an international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future. A robust range of arts platforms are offered on all four UJ campuses for students, staff, alumni and the general public to experience and engage with emerging and established Pan-African and international artists drawn from the full spectrum of the arts.

In addition to UJ Arts & Culture, FADA (www.uj.ac.za/fada) offers programmes in eight creative disciplines, in Art, Design and Architecture, as well as playing home to the NRF SARChI Chair in South African Art & Visual Culture, and the Visual Identities in Art & Design Research Centre. The Faculty has a strong focus on sustainability and relevance, and engages actively with the dynamism, creativity and diversity of Johannesburg in imagining new approaches to art and design education. 

Kgomotso Le Roux & Neno to Release Albums in Two Day Exclusive Song Premiere 

South Africa will experience original indigenous African music compositions by two women from two generations, influenced by jazz, soul and Tshivenda rhythms from Kgomotso le Roux and her mentor Rosy Morero Bulane aka Neno, whose sound is a fusion of mbaqanga, gospel and Sesotho traditional music. In addition to live performances, audiences will also see the première of the Khwela Factory clothing range. 

Kgomotso, whose music draws heavily from Tshivenda traditional rhythms, writes in isiZulu, Sesotho, French, English and Shona. Her debut album ‘UNOYIWAWA”, is titled after a mythical African super hero, the “Strong one who does not fall, protects communities from natural disasters and is the daughter of Nomkhubulwane, the African goddess of rain, nature and fertility. ” Nomkhubulwane is strongly related to the origins of human kind from an African mythological perspective. The record comes after 14 years of Kgomotso’s work in various capacities in the music industry having been writing since the age of 9, started her sessions as a backing vocalist in 2003 and has gone on to work with an array of artists such as Mpumi Dlamini, RJ Benjamin, Ifani, Letoya Makhene, Blondie Makhene, Tlale Makhene, Yonela Mnana, Theo Nhlengethwa and Tresor.Her love for composition has seen her produce original music for children TV programs ‘Takalani Sesame’, ‘LEGO’ and recently featured as a performer at Dr. Sello Gallane’s Pula Festival at the State Theatre in Pretoria, September 2017. 

NENO, who is 78 years, will also launch her album ‘Ha Mojela’ with the support of the Khwela Factory and Kgomotso, thus beginning the journey of having her compositions performed. Dressed by clothing from the Khwela Factory range, the musical duo will be backed by an amazing band that features Nhlanhla Neville Radebe (double bass), Yonela Mnana (keys), Mabeleng Moholo (percussions), Kgomotso (mbira/vocals), Vumile Mchunu and Musa Nkosi (vocals). Kgomotso and Neno’s relationship dates back to Le Roux’s time as an academic researcher at WITS University where she got exposed to Neno’s music during her ethnomusicology studies in 2006. Neno who had an erratic recording and performing schedule had enjoyed a successful career in the 70s having signed to Gallo Records and later left the music industry to pursue a career in acting. “If it wasn’t for Neno and Mme Seipati Bulane Hopa, I would have never given our music a chance and I am looking forward to the launch of our albums” says ecstatic Kgomotso Le Roux.  Kgomotso’s journey till this point has been hard as a young black woman artist and entrepreneur. 

Tickets to the launch cost R100 and R20 for kids under 16.

Both albums ‘‘Unoyiwawa” and “Ha Mojela” will be available for sale at the launch for R150 each and performances will start at 15:00 to end at 18:00 on both days. Networking opportunities will be available before the start of both shows. 

The launches will take place at The Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation (Est. 1912) in Soweto on 02 December 2017 and at Glory in Melville, Johannesburg on 03 December 2017. For media queries, interview requests and access to high-resolution pictures and music contact JT Comms on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 011 788 7632. Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Khwela Factory 

Notes to Editor 

Khwela FactoryThe Khwela Factory is a clothing and textile manufacturing company specializing in project management, manufacturing of uniforms and custom-made clothing.  

Kgomotso le RouxKgomotso has 10 years experience in the South African business of the arts and culture landscape. Her entrance into the promotion of the arts goes back to when she was a brand promoter for Meta4 Marketing and Advertising. After graduating from Witwatersrand University with an Ethnomusicology Bmus degree, her research in Venda inspired her to embrace an understanding of African arts from an interdependent point of view. Her honours degree covered courses including Arts Marketing and Business Studies, Professional Music Studies, Digital Music Technology (studio sound engineering) and Composition. When she was not working or studying, she sang and wrote songs for Mpumi Dhlamini (Sony BMG with her song titled "Bana" topping the charts for 3 weeks), Sibongile Khumalo, Themba Mkhize, Lawrence Matshiza and Vusi Khumalo.  Her passion for the promotion of South African arts surpasses that of performing and Kgomotso really believes that her purpose is to be the best agent and creator of work for South African arts consultants and performing artists. 

Neno – Rosy Morero BulaneIn a spirited tune, Rosy Morero Bulane- better known as Neno - blows musical wisdom onto her instruments and compositions inciting an emotive response from audiences local and abroad. She is a South African national treasure and one of a few remaining artists of her generation keeping the torch burning for traditional South African music.

BILD Architects - previously known as Burg, Doherty, Bryant & Partners - is celebrating its 111th birthday this year on Wednesday the 4th of March 2015.

The firm's history began on 4 March 1904 when the architect JR Burg established the practice's first office on Pretoria's Church Square.

During its 111 year history, the firm has been privileged to have substantially shaped the cityscape of Pretoria through the design and construction of several prominent landmarks both in the city and throughout South Africa.

In Pretoria, some of the more famous designs include the SA Reserve Bank Head Office, Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, Munitoria, the Pretoria Art Museum, the CSIR Campus and Conference Centre, the Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital and Moedersbond Maternity Hospital, the Koedoe Arcade (built in 1934 as the first modern arcade in Pretoria), and extensive parts of the Pretoria CBD constructed between 1920 and the 1960's.

National highlights include the Palace of the Lost City, the Sutherland Observatory and National Accelerator Centre, the first centralised computer centre in South Africa in 1977 (for the then Rank Xerox), and several of the Kruger National Park bush camps.

With some of the firm’s current client relationships stretching back over more than 50 years, BILD Architects have also been responsible for the regeneration of the city with redevelopments such as: Menlyn Retail Park, the SA Reserve Bank, the redevelopment of the General Post Office on Church Square, several buildings on the CSIR Campus, University of Pretoria Groenkloof Campus, The hotels at Sun City, and the WBHO Old Head Office as well as their new Head Office to name but a few.

The firm is among an exclusive set of businesses in Pretoria that can celebrate a history stretching over more than a century, and the firm remains proud of a legacy of continuity, professionalism, and integrity that continues to be an advantage to its clients and their stakeholders to this day. The firm has seen the passing of two World Wars, two significant regime changes in South Africa, and severe economic recessions and shocks in the construction industry. Under the stewardship of its three current Directors - Eddie Pretorius, Des Brand, and

The firm has seen the passing of two World Wars, two significant regime changes in South Africa, and severe economic recessions and shocks in the construction industry. Under the stewardship of its three current Directors - Eddie Pretorius, Des Brand, and Heeran Deonarain - it continues to evolve to face the challenges faced by the construction industry into the future.

BILD Architects remain committed to the huge role that good architecture plays in shaping the future of South Africa and in developing and nurturing young professionals, and will steadfastly continue walking the path with its clients over the next century.

Contact:

Lise Mackey
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tell: 012 346 1295

StateoftheART is proud to present 'Asking For It?' an exhibition of paintings by Maria Patrizi on the Exhibition Wall.

This series of work is the artist's response to the excuse often given that clothes are responsible for rape. Women displaying their femininity and/or sensuality, are considered to be handing out open invitations to being verbally or sexually abused.

"By moulding clothing into evocative and anonymous female forms, the artist has given the clothes a voice, "we are just clothes, so what exactly are we asking for?"" - Maria Patrizi

Patrizi's work has often been compared to photographic negatives. "At first the comparison surprised me but after some thought, I couldn't believe I hadn't made the connection myself" she says.

The starting point for all her paintings are photographs that she have taken and then manipulated. De-cluttering and reducing the images so that she can focus solely on the shapes she finds relevant.

Opens 6th November @6pm

06.11.2014 till 15.11.2014

StateoftheART

61 Shortmarket Street, (between Loop & Bree)

Cape Town.

Gallery hours:

10am-5pm weekdays,

10am-2pm Saturdays.

 

The exhibition will be available to preview online through the StateoftheART website from the 4th of November. 

For more information please contact Jennifer on 0724709272 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

StateoftheART is delighted to present 'Contra Natura' (Against Nature) by Werner Ungerer. This work consists of 18 loose sheets of calligraphy and text, contained in clamp-shell box.   Contra Natura is a short story hand-illuminated in a medieval calligraphic hand "gothic textura quadrata". The digital and the archaic worked hand in hand in the production of this work which took Ungerer two years to complete.

The story follows a modern day priest teaching at a Catholic school. He confiscates an image torn from a fashion magazine from one of his pupils. The image is of a semi-naked man. The Priest is completely taken over by this image and undergoes a crises of faith. He exiles himself to an island retreat in the hope of re-connecting with his faith. In complete isolation, the power of the image grows stronger and its hold over the Priest more intense. As the depression of the Priest escalates we are drawn deeper into his internal struggle and ultimate psychological collapse. In the end he confronts himself and the story takes on a more surreal turn. He survives a violent attack by an unknown assailant (The Devil?) on the beach. He has a near death experience during which he encounters mythical versions of his mother and father. His mother is the Veiled Woman in Black sitting in a dead cornfield in the heat. His father is Legion – a mad prophet sitting on a dune in the desert, overlooking a fallen city. They serve as the Priest’s guide as he travels through the underworld and moves closer to resolve and acceptance or farther away from it.

"The title “Contra Natura” or, Against Nature was selected not only for subversive reasons. It also had a more direct meaning in that I needed to invent a new work-process for myself. I normally work very much on an intuitive level, often abandoning works mid-way and going off on different tangents. With this work I wanted to go against my own nature and submit myself to severe processes of order, structure, tradition and discipline." - Werner Ungerer

Opens at 6pm on the 4th September

04.09.2014 till 20.09.2014

StateoftheART
61 Shortmarket Street (between Loop & Bree)
Cape Town

10am - 5pm week days
10am - 2pm Saturdays or by appointment  

For more information contact Jennifer on +27 (0)724709272 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Commemorating World War 1

From the middle of July the Lindfield Victorian House Museum in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, will be presenting a special exhibition to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War a hundred years ago. Entitled ‘THE HOME FRONT’ it will concentrate on the three great wars of the twentieth centuries as they affected South Africans, both enlisted men and those left behind. The Anglo-Boer War, First and Second World Wars changed the way in which we in this country lived our lives and looked upon the rest of the world. For most of the young men serving overseas it was the first glimpse they had of existence outside their small communities. Those left at home were confronted by loneliness, loss of income, food and clothing restrictions - and a dreadful never-ending sense of uncertainty.The experience of concentration camps, exile, shell shock, rationing, years of separation - all drew a swathe of radical change through the fabric of society. At the same time the ties that bound people together – letters from the front, official care packages, postcards with the words of topical songs printed on them, greetings cards embroidered by young girls thousands of miles away for Tommies to send home to their loved ones – these too served to create a bond that outlasted the terrible years of absence and homesickness.The exhibition will give an impression of what it would have been like to care for a wounded soldier, by recreating the kind of environment found in many homes at the time, as well as to show a fascinating cross-section of ephemeral material dealing with war, its causes and its aftermath. The objects on display will be from the museum’s permanent collection, and are usually kept in storage, so this is an ideal opportunity for enthusiasts and regular visitors to the museum to see something new and interesting.  The special exhibition will be available as an addition to the normal general house tour at no extra cost, or may be viewed separately, and will be open for only three months. The museum is open daily by appointment only. To book a tour contact Katharine Love.

Museum contact details:

Lindfield Victorian House Museum

72 Richmond Avenue,
Auckland Park,
Johannesburg,
2092

Phone: (011) 726 2932
Web: http://lindfield.wix.com/museum
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{pp}The annual Makhulu Polane t-shirt design competition is open for entries. This local initiative was started by Big Blue in 2006 in a quest to discover and support fresh homegrown talent, and entries are received each year from graphic designers, fashionistas, daydreamers, students, illustrators and frustrated corporate workers who dream of design fame and winning the Makhulu Polane title.