The annual ‘Franschhoek Creates’ event, which begins today and runs until 7 November, welcomes art aficionados and collectors to its week-long celebration of artistic innovation and the region’s wealth of imaginative spirit.
The experience includes thoughtfully curated art exhibitions, immersive showcases, and the usual culinary delights of Franschhoek. Attendees can tailor their own itinerary, punctuated by wine tastings or a leisurely meal at a local wine estate.
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Prominent local galleries such as ‘Art in the Yard’ and ‘Everard Read Franschhoek’ extend a warm welcome to guests from various locations. Everard Read is hosting a new solo exhibition by Angela Banks, who captures ephemeral beauty with lasting brushstrokes, artfully detailing the complex relationships between humans and animals.
Boschendal joins the art scene through a unique collaboration, Boschendal x Brundyn, showcasing premium exhibitions and art-focused educational events. Featured artists Gabrielle Kruger and Peter Cohen challenge viewers to reevaluate their relationship with both natural and man-made landscapes.
The Gallery at Grande Provence offers an impressive collection of outdoor sculptures in the estate’s iconic gardens. Here you’ll find pieces by artists such as Anton Smit, Carol Cauldwell, Rudolf Rosochacki, Danie Nell, Theo Megaw, Heidi Hadaway and Uwe Pfaff. Additional artwork and unique African artefacts are displayed in the shop.
Please note that the estate will be closed for a private event on Saturday, 28 October, so plan your visit accordingly.
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Additional gallery contributions include Bordeaux House’s dual exhibitions, ‘Night is the Mother of Thoughts’ by Galia Gluckman and ‘Reimagined Futures’ by Wole Lagunju and Franck Kemkeng Noah. An intriguing furniture design showcase, MŪVEK, will be launched at EBONY/CURATED, originally founded in Cape Town.
Adding an unconventional flair to the art scene, the Farm Sanctuary SA will feature ‘Pigcasso,’ the pig artist. Discovered by owner Joanne Lefson, Pigcasso’s talents were nurtured, and she has since become an artistic sensation, weighing in at nearly 500 kilogrammes and selling her artwork globally.
For those interested in the artistry behind winemaking, a guided tour by Babylonian museologist Elsa Vogts offers an interactive journey through the new wine museum, The Story of Wine. This immersive experience, complete with virtual reality, reveals the history and complexities of winemaking.
Booking through babylonstoren.com is required, and the estate’s standard entrance fee applies. The tour takes place on 27 October 2023, at 10am and accommodates 15 guests per session, lasting for 60 minutes.
The week promises to be a vibrant showcase of local talent and a celebration of Franschhoek’s rich cultural heritage. To see the complete 2023 schedule, visit here.
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Picture: Supplied / Leeu Estate by Mike Hall