Crewe-Brown and Taylor exhibit at IS Art, Franschhoek

IS Art at le Quartier Français is opening a two person exhibition by Franschhoek painter Jacqueline Crewe-Brown and Pretoria based sculptor Angus Taylor. 

 ‘The beast of burden’ or the donkey is Taylor’s subject matter for this exhibition.  He uses the donkey, a simple domesticated animal, as a symbol for the anti-monument, anti-elitism – not a thoroughbred horse.  Written words, in Latin, appear on the surfaces of most of his donkeys, evoking the impression of intellectualism.  In Taylor’s eyes, creating a fallacy.  The donkey, the anti elitist animal, decorated with Latin text giving it superficial ‘content’ – much of what we see happening in contemporary art today, where meaningless work is given significance through intellectualisation, by means of clever wording.  Angus Taylor works in granite and bronze.

Jacqueline Crewe Brown’s body of work is a socio-political commentary, dealing with the issues by which we are all surrounded: those of human injustice, loss, war, detention. The trademark, large scale of her canvasses, meets these issues head on.  Her broken and damaged surfaces,  scratching , stitching and diarising and emotional use of colour, revealing the fragility of society  .  Human rights and womanhood is at the core of her work for this exhibition.

 As in Taylors work, text and the written words are integral. The text on Taylor’s work is raised relief, in Crewe-Brown’s work ,it is mainly stitched with thread, also creating a tactile raised three dimensional  effect.

This exhibition opens at IS Art on Sunday the 20^th of February 2011 at 11h00. The exhibition will run until the 22^nd of March.  Please contact Ilse or Alisha for a preview or more information on 021 876 8334 or isart@lqf.co.za. 

Harvest Festival at Mont Rochelle

The 5-star Mont Rochelle Hotel & Mountain Vineyards in Franschhoek is gearing up to host its third annual Harvest Festival on Saturday 12 March. This popular event offers a day of light hearted fun, and an intimate, hands-on harvesting experience for a limited number of wine lovers and vintners, at R490 per person.

Upon arrival at 8am guests will each be welcomed with a gift of their own Mont Rochelle T-shirt, before being served a hearty early morning breakfast. This will be followed by grape-picking among the lush vineyards, with the excitement of the new vintage in the air and the sounds of master accordionist Eric Cloete providing the vibe. Then it’s time for fun and laughter with a stint of traditional grape stomping, followed by tastings of the delicious juice-of-the-vine. Thereafter guests will be taken on a fascinating tour of the wine cellar by winemaker Dustin Osborne, with preview tastings of Mont Rochelle’s wines ‘in the making’.  With appetites piqued, guests will then sit down to a delicious, traditional South African Braai (Barbeque), in the magical garden setting of the Country Kitchen terrace.

Rounding off a perfect day, those up for the challenge may then don their competitive spirit and enter into a round of boules, with teams bravely competing for the winners’ title.

Advance booking is essential. Reservations Tel (021) 876 2770, or email sales@montrochelle.co.za.

SA to take on India in BMW International Polo Series

South Africa’s passionate and glamorous polo community will be able to witness one of the world’s most iconic polo nations in action when India tours here in February as part of the BMW International Polo Series.

On Saturday, 26 February, the lush polo fields of the Val de Vie Estate in the magnificent Paarl Franschhoek Valley will host a classic encounter between India and South Africa.

A day of elegance between man and beast will be matched by a host of celebrities and VIPs reveling in the finest Val de Vie wines, gourmet food, and a display of the latest BMW vehicles.

“Polo is an exciting sport, and we are proud to be associated with a sport that so epitomises excellence and with which we have a long and successful relationship with. People marvel at the ability of man and horse to achieve such perfect unity, and BMW shares this drive for creating perfect partnerships in the pursuit of a passion,” said Guy Kilfoil, General Manager: Communications and Public Affairs at BMW South Africa.

India will bring with them a rich legacy in the sport dating back to medieval times, and which has earned the country the status of being the cradle of modern polo.

“The prestige of this particular contest is highlighted by the fact that India rarely tours South Africa, having done so on only a handful of occasions in the past 20 years,” said Clive Peddle, the Executive Director of the South African Polo Association.

“But equally important will be overall enjoyment of a wonderful event. India are a very hospitable nation and the South Africans were treated with five star luxury on their recent trip. We aim to reciprocate by providing the Indian team with a wonderful time matched by exciting polo.”

Now in its third year, the BMW International Polo at Val de Vie has become one of the most keenly anticipated events on the Cape Town social calendar. It is arguably one of the most sleek, glamorous and sought-after tickets in town.

Chile was the first to tour South Africa as part of this series. Last year the series was highlighted by a 14 to 5 goal victory over Italy, watched by the likes of Ryk Neethling, Ard Matthews, Leanne Liebenberg, Vanessa Haywood and a host of other celebrities.

“The BMW International Polo at Val de Vie is an elegant affair where Cape Town’s elite will enjoy an exclusive, elegant and relaxing day of Polo,” said Michelle van Eyden of SAIL, the Executive Promoter of the BMW International Polo at Val de Vie as well as the highly successful L’Ormarins Queens Plate held recently.

“The gates open at 2pm and tickets are on sale at Web Ticket and at Val de Vie Estate on the day. The cost is only R50 per ticket, excluding food and drink, and we offer a variety of hospitality packages.”

The hospitality packages available from SAIL include the Chukka Club package (www.webticket.co.za) and the Champions Pavilion package (www.sail.co.za).

At R360 per person, guests of the Chukka Club will be granted access to a private area next to the Val de Vie Pavilion, where they can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine , and a limited cocktail style menu. The venue makes for an exclusive environment providing a superb view of the match.

For those seeking an even greater level of elegance and sophistication combined with unrivalled networking and socializing, the Champions Pavilion offers all of this at a cost of R1 400 per person, excluding VAT. Here guests will be able to enjoy an Indian style cocktail menu and a complimentary local bar.

From its ancient roots as the chosen sport of the Sultans of India to the polo fields of Val de Vie Estate, this will be a memorable encounter between two great polo nations.

Boules, bonbons and bring-your-own picnic to GlenWood for Valentine’s Day

Fall in love with sweet summer lazy days again at GlenWood Vineyards in Franschhoek on Sunday 13 February in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Games, old-fashioned candies, grass under the oaks to romp on and a welcome invitation to bring your own perfect picnic are yours to enjoy while sipping award-winning wines in the midst of the Robertsvlei mountains.

Humbugs, sweethearts, liquorice drops and bonbons, or platters of camembert, gorgonzola, gruyere and gouda if you’re sweet enough already; treat your tastebuds while you play at boules – prizes will be up for grabs!

Venture into the valley from 11 am onwards.
Wine tasting – R30
Wine & sweets – R50
Cheese platters – R60
Boules – free, R100 deposit
Contact GlenWood winery: 021 876 2044, info@glenwoodvineyards.co.za