07 Aug A Guide to First Thursdays | August

It’s First Thursdays and the weatherman says it is going to be a beautiful windless, rainless evening (which doesn’t happen too often). Tonight over 30 participating galleries, shops and studios in the city centre are staying open late and with only four hours to navigate your way through the masses it can be overwhelming, so here’s a guide to some of the must-see stops. If you pass by a spot that’s not on here, pop in anyway. So gear-up, get out and good luck! See you on the other side.

 

Stop 1 | SMAC

 

Viewing room #02: ARCHITECTURE brings together a unique selection of works around a structural theme. Featured artists include Abrie Fourie, Kate Gottgens, Helen A Pritchard and Sandile Zulu.

 

 

In-Fin Art Building (Cnr of Buitengracht & Buitensingel Streets).

 

Stop 2 | Michaelis Gallery

 

Between Subject and Object, curated by Josephine Higgins, Kathryn Smith and Penny Siopis is opening at Michaelis Gallery.

 

 

31-37 Orange Street.

 

Stop 3 | Friends of Design

 

A custom skateboards exhibition, showcasing comic heroes cast in wood under the direction of professional illustrators at the previous HERO workshop, held last month.

 

 

186 Bree Street.

 

Stop 4 | #WDC008 Pop-up Space

 

As part of the WDC celebrations, a multi-functional pop-up space is opening in town, showcasing over 460 Cape Town World Design Capital projects with exhibitions, pop-up shops, pop-up kitchens and a design shop selling some of Cape Town’s finest design products.

 

 

150 long Street.

 

Pit Stop | Honest Chocolate

 

In case you haven’t heard, Honest Chocolate are raising funds via Thundafund to open Cape Town’s first Chocolate Cafe. For First Thursdays they will be hosting the first event in their new space. Come draw on the walls (tell ’em what you want from the Chocolate Cafe), try their speciality pancakes and spin the Chocolate Wheel of Fortune for instant Thundafund rewards.

 

 

The soon to be Chocolate Cafe at 64 Wale Street.

 

Stop 5 | Commune1

 

State of Blackness by Ayanda Mabulu is opening in Gallery I and Groot Geraak by Gordon Clark is opening in Gallery II.

 

 

64 Wale Street.

 

Both exhibitions run 07 August – 10 September 2014.

 

Pit Stop | Max Bagels

 

Owners Andrew Kai and Matthew Freemantle from Gusto are opening Max Bagels, an authentic New York style bagel bar, on Bree Street. Local designers Dale Lawrence and Ben Johnson created the corporate identity and will be showing some of their ‘Bagel Art’ in the shop especially for First Thursdays. The shop-fitting was done in large part by Jakob Basson, with some bespoke pieces by Xandre Kriel, so be sure to check it out.

 

 

120 Bree Street (opposite Clarke’s), from 5pm – 9pm for First Thursdays.

 

They’ll be open from 7am – 4pm on weekdays.

 

Find them on Facebook for updates and see their website for more info (and some great gifs).

 

Stop 6 | SAM

 

A Winter Sale at the South African Market (SAM).

 

 

107 Bree Street.

 

Stop 7 | Red Bull Studio Live

 

Red Bull Studio Live presents An Oppikoppi Retrospective, an exhibition of photography from Sydelle Willow Smith, Rowan Pybus and Tyrone Bradley of the Red Bull Studio Live Stage at Oppikoppi over the past four years as well as a live performance by minimalist, experimental band, Original Swimming Party.

 

 

103B Bree Street.

 

Stop 8 | StateoftheART

 

ARIA, a solo exhibition by Catherine Ocholla is opening at StateoftheART.

 

 

61 Shortmarket Street.

 

Stop 9 | Pop-up Exhibition

 

Fantasme, a pop-up exhibition showing works by Gerda Louw is opening at 78 Hout Street.

 

 

78 Hout Street.

 

Stop 10 | The Pan African Market

 

A showcase of the Pre-Autumn / Winter 2015 ARNREUBY Women’s Collection with Fine jewellery by JINN will take place in the ornate Foyer of The Pan African Market.

 

 

76 Long Street.

 

Stop 11 | Black Box Gallery

 

Immigrants at the border by Adolf Tega is opening at Worldart’s Black Box gallery.

 

 

52 Church Street.

 

Stop 12 | The AVA Gallery

 

Artist Jan-Henri Booyens is utilising The AVA gallery space between 4 July and 21 August 2014 as a studio.

 

 

52 Church Street.

 

Stop 13 | Church Square

 

Open City takes place on Church Square, encouraging citizens to take ownership of public spaces. There will be loads happening, including #anotherlightup (an installation and awareness campaign), a poster exhibition by Agri meets Design, A Pop-up Birthday party for August Babies hosted by Alex Jongens with free Cupcakes, The Slave Tree (remember the slave history of Cape Town, write a message on a leaf and hang on the tree), Meisies Kitchen Food Truck, Suleyman the Tailors Mend and Darn, Short&Sweet will host a film screening in collaboration with artist Nosana Sondiyazi, the African Arts Institute will host a Marikana Community Photographic Exhibition & Public art intervention information session.

 

 

Join the Free Voicemap Walking Tour. You’ll need headphones and an iPhone, download the app and you can start whenever you like.

 

Church Square (Cnr Spin & Parliament Streets, across Adderley).

 

Stop 14 | African Image

 

The first in a series of four African Literature sessions on Africanism and Womanism.

 

 

Church Square.

 

Stop 15 | 6 Spin Street Gallery

 

AFRICANUS, an exhibition of wall plates by Clementina van der Walt is opening at 6 Spin Street Gallery.

 

 

6 Spin Street (Church Square / across Adderley Street).

 

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Join the First Thursdays Facebook Event, #FirstThursdays on Twitter, or go to the First Thursdays Website for the full lists of monthly highlights.