We are already planning our trip back, but even though there was lots we didn't see, and Nim's car broke down (and is currently in Polokwane), it was a glorious holiday. I have decided that active holidays are the way forward. We managed to get in at least one walk a day, at least one hour long, and often 2 to 3 hours.
Madi A Thavha was our first stop. We are not sure if this means blood from the mountains, or water from the mountains, as there seem to be different interpretations. Either way, it was soul quenching stuff. This guest farm is fair trade accredited, up against the South side of the Soutpansberg, luscious, and beautifully presented. We rented a self catering cottage attached to the main lodge building. Very cute. The farm is only 10kms from Makhado/ Louis Trichardt and just lovely. From there (Makhado) we managed to get in a long walk (3 hrs ish) in the Hanglkip reserve at the top of the town of Makhado, that ended up being a surprise through indigenous forest, with a culmination up a staircase onto a valley. Really spectacular.
One day we also followed Marcelle, one of the lodge owners, to some local sculptors and crafters. Lucky who does this christian stroke venda stuff, David Murati who had some great big scupltures, as well as lots of smaller, cheaper stuff. Then the car packed in. I did manage to buy a large pot from the pot factory near Elim, which is quite an experience in itself. I made up for it by spending big at the craft shop at Madi a Thavha which benefits from Marcelle networks and great eye. She sources from all the crafters in northern Limpopo so the money ends up going to a good cause.
We managed to get a hire car and drove that to Kurisa Moya, which is always spectacular. There was a group of 8 of us for the weekend, with lots and lots of grazing, which luckily was slightly (but not entirely) offset by lots and lots of walking there too.
I will post some pics this weekend when i can lay my hands on them.
The dogs were totally blissed out, although we are still pulling ticks off them. They are in a minor depression now we are home. I know how they feel.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
nirox rocks
So we finally made it to the Nirox Art Foundation this last weekend. Blindingly hot day, gorgeous park-like gardens, a curator who gave us great insight into the art in the landscape, all meant it was a fabulous experience.
Nirox is not strictly speaking open to the public. They do, however, have open day events and this was one of them. The artists in this exhibition included Willem Boshof, Willie Bester, Strydom Van der Merwe, and Deborah Bell, amongst others (Thomas, the star man; Brett Murray; Kentridge of course).
I love this kind of landscape art. Interestingly (perhaps not surprisingly) much of it has an environmental message too - about our human footprint in the natural world. Strydom's work with dew and frost, and sticks in trees is so gentle, but very effective. His red 'bench' block placed on the grass (not so gentle) makes a very loud statement. But part of its intent is to show what happens to the grass underneath it when there's no sun.
I love Deborah Bell's work. The curator - Neil -mentioned that some people don't like the historical and classic imagery. I do. I particularly liked her sculpture of 'crossing' - which has a personal link for her to her father's death. It's a figure standing above a canoe (OK the traditional West African version, definitely not a contemporary Western canoe). And then there's a baby great dane sculpture on another (so no wonder i loved it). They are both positioned on an aqueduct which is the original one for water from/ to the river.
We heard they are planning an opera some sunday afternoon soon, with the music being performed on the lake. No doubt a very modern unusual one. I can't wait. Phew, such a relief to find somewhere beautiful in a green outdoorsy way, and inspirational in an artsy way, close to home. Enough of the urban jungle and every-increasing road rage. Now i can escape to Nirox, when they'll have me. And yes, it's very bourgeois and no, not the gritty harsh joburg we all know, but that's OK too. As one of the artists (I think it's Brett Murray) puts it on a blind which offers the pavilion overlooking the lake some shade, "pass me the cucumber sandwiches, we are having a picnic darling" or something to that effect.
Nirox is not strictly speaking open to the public. They do, however, have open day events and this was one of them. The artists in this exhibition included Willem Boshof, Willie Bester, Strydom Van der Merwe, and Deborah Bell, amongst others (Thomas, the star man; Brett Murray; Kentridge of course).
I love this kind of landscape art. Interestingly (perhaps not surprisingly) much of it has an environmental message too - about our human footprint in the natural world. Strydom's work with dew and frost, and sticks in trees is so gentle, but very effective. His red 'bench' block placed on the grass (not so gentle) makes a very loud statement. But part of its intent is to show what happens to the grass underneath it when there's no sun.
I love Deborah Bell's work. The curator - Neil -mentioned that some people don't like the historical and classic imagery. I do. I particularly liked her sculpture of 'crossing' - which has a personal link for her to her father's death. It's a figure standing above a canoe (OK the traditional West African version, definitely not a contemporary Western canoe). And then there's a baby great dane sculpture on another (so no wonder i loved it). They are both positioned on an aqueduct which is the original one for water from/ to the river.
We heard they are planning an opera some sunday afternoon soon, with the music being performed on the lake. No doubt a very modern unusual one. I can't wait. Phew, such a relief to find somewhere beautiful in a green outdoorsy way, and inspirational in an artsy way, close to home. Enough of the urban jungle and every-increasing road rage. Now i can escape to Nirox, when they'll have me. And yes, it's very bourgeois and no, not the gritty harsh joburg we all know, but that's OK too. As one of the artists (I think it's Brett Murray) puts it on a blind which offers the pavilion overlooking the lake some shade, "pass me the cucumber sandwiches, we are having a picnic darling" or something to that effect.
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