Capetonians are very familiar with the city coming alive on the first Thursday of every month. Starting in 2012, the monthly event hosts a programme of art galleries, cultural attractions and bars that stay open to the public until late.
Tomorrow night, on 6 October 2022, the first Thursday of October will be the second of the Spring 2022 programme. Don’t forget to grab a map, available from most participating venues, to find your way around.
Here is what will be going on:
Food and drink
SALT Food Market:
SALT Food Market is a new food and beverage market in the CBD. The market has a range of vendors, with food offerings as well as drinks from the SALT Bar.
Vendors at the market include KOBE Sushi Bar, Didi’s Mexican, Indian Express, Cairo Shawarma, Rack & Grill, Maw Raw Fresh, Seattle Coffee Company, and SALT Cafe.
- Address: The Box – 9 Lower Burg Street (Corner Riebeek Street)
- Closing time: 9pm
Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room:
Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room is a Cape Town favourite. Always buzzing, especially on First Thursdays, Clarke’s is great for its all-day breakfasts, burgers, and classic cocktails.
- Address: 133 Bree Street
Infinite Café:
Infinite Café is a part of the Infinite Foods Group, creating delicious plant-based meals.
Infinite Café believes in encouraging everyone to add more plants into their diet in creative ways, not just those who are strictly vegan and vegetarian.
The menu includes burgers, wraps, salads, bowls and more that are all 100% plant-based.
- Address: 4 Commercial Street
- Closing time: 10pm
Tjing Tjing House:
Tjing Tjing House is a three-storey building with delicious Japanese street food downstairs at Tjing Tjing Torii, and cocktails and electro-indie beats upstairs at the Tjing Tjing Rooftop bar.
- Address: 165 Longmarket Street
The Gin Bar:
The Gin Bar’s entrance makes you come through a chocolate café, with the bar hidden in a courtyard. This is their 7th year running, and have over 140 different gins on their menu. The bar is known to make arguably the best gin cocktails in town. They also have a selection of wine and beer on tap.
- Address: 64A Wale Street
- Closing time: 2am
LOCAL at Heritage Square:
LOCAL is a market and eatery that aims to emphasise local producers in daily shopping experiences. The idea is to integrate this with casual dining scattered through Heritage Square.
You can explore casual eating options like La Cantina, or go upstairs to Mazza for a delicious meal of middle-eastern foods.
- Address: 100 Shortmarket Street
- Closing time: 10pm
Addis in Cape:
Addis in Cape is a much-loved, local favourite Ethiopian restaurant. They have just reopened in a new location in Loop Street, after being closed for two years due to the pandemic. The restaurant’s menu features gluten-free, halaal-friendly and plant-based options.
- Address: 168 Loop Street
- Closing time: 10.30pm
Ouzeri:
Ouzeri is a new casual dining restaurant, that started as a string of pop-ups in Cape Town, serving contemporary interpretations of traditional recipes from Cyprus and Greece. The seasonal menu is sourced from local producers and balanced with selected wines.
The owner wants to put Cypriot cuisine in the limelight and present a version of Greek food that South Africa has not seen before.
- Address: 58 Wale Street
- Closing time: 9.30pm
Also read: 6 Restaurants to get you into just the right First Thursdays mood
Culture
Goodman Gallery:
The Goodman Gallery presents ‘Restitution of the Mind and Soul’ by Yinka Shonibare CBE RA.
Shonibare’s first solo exhibition, comprised of quilts, masks and sculptures, stems from his interest in the legacy of African aesthetics and is curated as a way of responding to the fact that “the African contribution to modernism has never really been celebrated in the way it ought to be.”
In a direct response to Picasso’s collection of African artefacts, Shonibare considers how African aesthetics have shaped western modernist expression through juxtaposing icons of classical European antiquity with these artefacts.
These new works speak to the influence that African imagery had on twentieth-century artists and western art movements, such as Cubism, Dada and Surrealism.
- Address: 37A Somerset Road
- Closing time: 8pm
Aspire Art:
Aspire Art is hosting the group exhibition ‘A Good Time’ curated by Michaela Limberis.
A Good Time celebrates the careers of a group of local artists over the past decade. The exhibition reflects parallel and intersecting journeys and aims to question how value is commonly determined – what constitutes a ‘good time’ in an artist’s career.
The title also references the social element involved in exhibitions, particularly following the pandemic’s consequential virtual art experiences.
The featured artists include Rory Emmett, Alice Gauntlett, Bonolo Kavula, Sepideh Mehraban, Heinrich Minnie, Lena Dewaegenaere, Siwa Mgoboza, Nobukho Nqaba, Gaelen Pinnock, Jake Singer and Sitaara Stodel.
The opening event on Thursday 6 October will include a raffle in partnership with Krone and Early Friday to support the Michaelis 2022 Grad Show.
- Address: First floor, 37A Somerset Road
THK Gallery:
THK Gallery presents the group exhibition ‘Open Plot’, curated by RESERVOIR.
The title uses the double meaning of ‘plot’ as both a narrative device and a designation of space. The exhibition comprises of the work of ten artists against the backdrop of a vacant plot in a way to explore questions around distance and memory of the landscape.
The exhibition is guided by a strong sense of drawing and boasts vernacular images that remain anonymous to the viewer and even the artists.
The featured artists include Alex Coetzee, Nonzuzo Gxekwa, Oliver Hambsch, Jeanne Hoffman, Bella Knemeyer, Pardon Mapondera, Mikhailia Petersen, Jonah Sack, Ben Stanwix and Xhanti Zwelendaba.
- Address: 52 Waterkant Street
- Closing time: 8pm
Association for Visual Arts:
The Association for Visual Arts presents ‘The Ripple Effect’ by EITZ, and ‘All Empires Fall’ by MJ Turpin.
‘The Ripple Effect’ is a climate change exhibition run by a group of artists, EITZ, committed to acknowledgement and engagement with climate change. Featured artists include Tracy Megan, Taryn Millar, Katherine Glenday, Josephine Grindrod, Anne Graaff, Mary Anne Botha and Erica Elk.
MJ Turpin’s ‘All Empires Fall’ continues his previous work surrounding deconstruction, the history of artefacts stolen from Africa, and the violence of the Western gaze. The exhibition asks questions such as: what does it mean to decapitate a legacy? How does one deconstruct privilege? What is left after legacy and privilege have been taken apart?
- Address: 35 Church Street
- Closing time: 8pm
Cape Institute for Architecture:
The Cape Institute for Architecture presents Aldo Brincat’s ‘desirelines’.
A desire line is a path created from erosion caused by human or animal traffic, and represents the shortest route between an origin and a destination. Desire lines have been metaphorised for anarchism, individual creativity and the wisdom of crowds.
The exhibition houses a collection of large charcoal drawings with notions of organic matter: feathers, bones, muscle, etc. The drawings’ bits of localised scenery that invite the observer in become large panoramic views when looked at from further back.
The interplay between micro and macro, inner and out journeys, is marked in these drawings to connect landmarks of memory along unpredictable paths of desirelines.
- Address: 71 Hout Street
- Closing time: 8pm
Also read: WATCH: A taste of First Thursdays in Cape Town – where art, food and vibes collide
The Cape Gallery:
The Cape Gallery presents ‘Cape Town; the people, stories, and places’ – an exhibition focusing on the diverse cultural heritage of the CBD, as seen by local artists.
Strand Street, Wale Street, Buitengracht and Buitenkant Streets were the limits of the old City of Cape Town. Although there is much more making up the city centre today, a hint of past exploits, endeavours and conquests still remains: statues of past rulers, war memorials and murals, passive reminders of the rich and diverse cultural history of the city.
- Address: 60 Church Street
- Closing time: 7pm
EBONY/Curated:
EBONY/Curated presents Feni Chulumanco’s first solo exhibition ‘Imiyalelo’.
‘Imiyalelo’ directly translates to ‘Instructions’, but refers to the family values and morals that are passed down through generations, influencing the decisions we make and how our identity is shaped.
With domestic objects on display, Chulumanco exhibits elements that were used to decorate the home space by his parents, and how this signified status and played a significant role in his upbringing.
- Address: 67 Loop Street
- Closing time: 8pm
Alliance Française du Cap:
Alliance Française du Cap presents ‘FABRICation (fabric action)’ by Nusenu Prince Mawuli.
Born in Ghana, where textiles are given as a rite of passage, Mawuli uses fabric cut-offs and pieces them together on sustainable canvases. Mawuli combines the cultural significance of textiles with environmental consciousness.
- Address: 155 Loop Street
- Closing time: 8.30pm
Artist Admin:
Artist Admin presents Danielle Jordaan’s ‘Marvellous Mundane’.
The exhibition takes you into moments in passing from Jordaan’s life, as she finds meaning in the seemingly meaningless. She puts life into lifeless objects as a means to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
- Address: 79 Roeland Street
- Closing time: 8.30pm
Worldart:
Worldart presents the opening of ‘as you were’ by Geena Wilkinson.
Wilkinson curates a series of hand-cast resin and ceramic artworks that deal with memory, nostalgia and history.
- Address: 54 Church Street
- Closing time: 8pm
School of Explorative Architecture:
The School of Explorative Architecture presents ‘Learning Through Making’ by The MAAK.
The exhibition is a presentation of spatial art inspired by a hands-on approach to architecture and pedagogy.
- Address:Union House, 25 Commercial Street
- Closing time: 7.30pm
Eclectica Contemporary:
Eclectica Contemporary presents the group exhibition ‘Girls Run the World’ as well as ‘gentili(tea)’ – a performance by Yun Young Ahn at 7pm.
The exhibition is a continued one, adding four new female artists including Adulphina Imuede and Claire Idera from Nigeria, and Muofhe Manavhela and Good Good Boy from South Africa.
‘gentili(tea)’ explores the politics of politeness, and the colonial and personal cultural notions of elegance through the act of making a cup of tea.
- Address: 56 Church Street
- Closing time: 8.30pm
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Nel:
Nel presents Steven Sack’ ‘The artist needs a hat.’
This solo exhibition is the creation of a time machine that measures time as well as researches time escaping. This is framed within decolonial contemporary, with the exhibition touching on both the future and the past.
- Address: 117 Long Street
- Closing time: 8pm
Spier Arts Trust:
Spier Arts Trust is hosting the ‘Creative Block art and wine at Union House’ –ideal for new art collectors learning to navigate the art world.
Diverse and emerging artists’ works are available to add to your collection. On a small budget, you can be among the early collectors supporting artists at the beginning of their careers.
Collectors may choose several blocks and hang them together, building an impactful, collective artwork. The operation between this process and the art of blending wine led Spier to name its blended wine range after the project – the award-winning Creative Block 2, 3 and 5 wines.
- Address: 25 Commercial Street
- Closing time: 7pm
99 Loop Gallery:
99 Loop Gallery presents ‘Our (His)story’ by Skubalisto and ‘turning thirty’ by Oda Tungodden.
‘Our (His)story’ is on display in their main gallery space and aims to honour memories, dreams and stories from our collective consciousness. Skubalisto aims to dismantle social barriers such as language and religion.
Oda Tungodden’s ‘turning thirty’ is on display upstairs, and concerns the meaning of being: how we see ourselves, and how our experiences shape us.
- Address: Corner of Loop and Church Streets
- Closing time: 8pm
6 Spin Street Restaurant Gallery:
6 Spin Street presents ‘Stilled Lives’ by Lynne Lomofsky, with textile artist Jane Solomon.
Using nature as inspiration and subject matter, and pencil on paper as her tools, Lomofsky’s recent practice developed within the pandemic, and emerged out of isolation. Lomofsky experiences a sense of freedom when wandering in nature that translates to the viewer through the beautiful flower drawings.
Solomon, who Lomofsky accompanied to several eco-printing sessions, has her eco-printed artwork included in this exhibition. Solomon also gathers plants, which she eco-prints onto fabric, using detailed, natural colours.
- Address: 6 Spin Street, Church Square
- Closing time: 9pm
RLabs House & Gallery:
RLabs House & Gallery in Mitchell’s Plain is hosting the StraART street art festival, where they take art and hope to the streets through music and culture.
Featuring visual artists include: Falko Fantastic, Drone, SethOne and Conform, with live showcases by Chelsea Firelily, Jodi Gantries, Mitchell’s Plain Krump, LNV and C-Tight.
- Address: 38 Silverhurst Street, Westridge
- Closing time: 7pm
Sisonke Gallery:
Sisonke Gallery presents Pippa Hetherington’s ‘Excavation’, curated by Nisha Merit.
‘Excavation’ is a solo exhibition presenting a cross-section of Hetherington’s artistic practice. Using photography to explore taking, seeing and relating to images, the artist invites us to reflect on our personal journeys through sharing theirs.
The artist investigates complexity by altering the state and materiality of the photograph so that we can explore its extended meaning.
- Address: 90 Bree Street
- Closing time: 11pm
Mullers Gallery:
Mullers Gallery presents ‘Introspection’ – boasting artworks that take viewers on a journey into the artist’s mind.
The exhibition explores the observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes, expanding one’s self, and experiencing enlightenment of a higher purpose.
- Address: 104 Longmarket Street
- Closing time: 8.30pm
Gorgeous George Hotel:
Gorgeous George Hotel presents Fhatuwani Mukheli’s ‘Double Exxposure & Friends’ – an extended show after the successful opening.
This First Thursday, Fhatuwani’s twin brother Justice Mukheli and best friend Sthu Manaka join him for a show chronicling their time spent together in Johannesburg.
The hotel will also have free entry to DJs Terrence Pearce, Dario Leite in The Pink Room and Nyauist and Davina Satori upstairs at Gigi Rooftop.
- Address: 118 St George’s Mall (between Church and Longmarket)
Also read:
https://www.capetownetc.com/uncategorised/things-to-do-at-kirstenbosch/
