05 Jul A guide to First Thursdays & other things to see and do: CT | 5 – 11 July 2016

It’s First Thursdays time again! Visit a photo exhibition about a gruelling journey through the DRC and see a solo exhibition that walks the tightrope between fine art and graffiti as well as work by Barend De Wet, Kitty Dorje and Kendall Buster. There’s also a documentary screening, a talk with creatives and idea thinkers, and new designs to be seen at the South African Menswear Fashion Week. It’s all taking place this week so keep your coat game strong and come and see what’s going down.

Stop 1: Spin Street House, 8 Spin Street // 5pm

Crossing the Congo by Archie Leeming

Spin Street House member Archie Leeming’s opening exhibition Crossing the Congo debuts on Thursday evening. It features images from an adventure across the DRC which entailed travelling in dangerously-packed trucks along indescribably bad roads to the capital. View Facebook for more.

Stop 2: Worldart, 54 Church Street // 4pm

Orda716 by Kilmany-Jo Liversage

Walking on the line between graffiti and fine art is what Kilmany-Jo Liversage’s new solo exhibition Orda716 aims to do. She is carving out a unique style of art-making with her new series of 25 paintings consisting of mostly female portraits. Visit here for more.

Stop 3: Smac gallery, 145 Sir Lowry Road // 5pm

Black, White & Everything In-Between by Barend De Wet

Barend De Wet’s third solo exhibition with the gallery, Black, White & Everything In-Between is accompanied by a new publication. The intention of his work is to afford the audience the opportunity to create their own meaning. It’s hard not to get excited by the way his work moves between colour, scale, and form. Click here for more.

Stop 4: The Cape Gallery, 60 Church Street // 4pm

Mary Poppins by Kitty Dorje

As part of the Rain Maker: The annual Winter Solstice exhibition at the Cape Gallery, Kitty Dorje’s Mary Poppins is showing. A sequence of 12 etchings created in 2014 make up the series. “I came across Mary Poppins when I visited a friend in Dubai,” says Kitty. “She demonstrates the power of ideology that allows her to catch rides on clouds.” The series is made up of drawn still frames from the movie imposed on digital print outs of Kitty’s childhood. Visit here for more.

Stop 5: Salon Ninety One, 91 Kloof Street // 4pm

Colour Complex by Pierre le Riche

Pierre le Riche has a solo exhibition that explores his obsession with colour and how the perception thereof can be manipulated through different materials and applications. Click here for more.

Stop 6: Commune.1, 64 Wale Street // 4:30pm 

Dis-assembling utopias by Kendall Buster

Dis-assembling utopias by Kendall Buster explores the ways in which architectural structures embrace, contain shelter, and frame the individuals who inhabit them. The gallery spanning cardboard and paper Model City (Constraint) is a must-see and is of central importance to the exhibition. Click here for more.

Other things to see and do: 

Tuesday 5 July 2016

Pecha Kucha #39

We guarantee you’ll be inspired by the assortment of speakers and topics. Hear from an ex-missionary turned dominatrix, how a nun put an artist on his career path, Cape Town’s burgeoning Green Economy, rescued animals, letting go of “isms” and much more. Visit Facebook for more.

The Assembly, 61 Harrington Street // 7pm

Wednesday 6 – Friday 9 July 2016

The South African Menswear Fashion Week

Time to celebrate local menswear with 50 dynamic collections being presented over four exciting days. Surround yourself with the biggest names in fashion and maybe even get snapped for your own street style while you view first hand the best menswear from across the continent. Visit Facebook for more.

The Cape Town Stadium // 5pm

Thursday 7 July 2016

Speak Easy Sessions

Speak Easy Sessions is about creating a thought-provoking and informative hub through screening local and international documentaries and short films. The documentaries shed light on various gripping topics and aim to get tongues wagging in discussion and debate on the themes they reflect. Join their Facebook page to find out more.

7 Bree Street // 6pm