Misael, a new concept store that showcases art, design and fashion opened this month in central Cape Town. Set up by Ayanda Holo, a communications expert, and Leonard Shapiro, a craft and design “activist”, it’s a new style design showroom in partnership with an Italian based company. The space has a bar and will shortly be providing food and promises to be a great hangout. It’s well attended opening featured the Cape Town musical legend Jimmy Dludlu. Check it out at 103b Bree Street.
Youngblackman is a new gallery which has opened on 69 Roeland Street. Concieved by the artist and self styled enfant terrible, Ed Young and writer Matthew Blackman, it is based on a “business model of gross capital loss and aims to exhibit artists”. Its inaugural exhibition on the 29 September featured Sue Williamson’s video installation – “Better Lives”. In a series of six video portraits, migrants, exiles and refugees listen to a previously recorded version of their life story for the first time. The subjects portray, in their facial expressions and poses, the seriousness and pathos of their stories. An established artist who has had many major local and international exhibitions as well as having published notable books on South African art, Williamson launched her much-awaited book South African Art Now at The Book Lounge that evening.
The Lethabong Dance Studio opened on the 8th Floor, 71 Loop Street and is managed by dancer/choreographer Owen Manamela. It hosts tango classes run by Tango Cape Town and belly dancing amongst others.
