4th joburg fringe: watch this space!

hi to all you artists, artist initiatives and associations as well as galleries!

a reminder about the next

Joburg Fringe

which will take place in september 2011, as usual concurrently with the Joburg Art Fair.

we will be offering affordable exhibition spaces in an exciting venue characterizing the crest-of-the-best of the art market.

if you are interested to know more, email us

joburgfringe@gmail.com

the joburg fringe has grown legs, wings and riding on the world cup drawcard is making some noise at the

D21 KUNSTRAUM LEIPZIG

http://www.d21-leipzig.de/2010/06/private-viewing-south-african-video-art/

PRIVATE VIEWING - SOUTH AFRICAN VIDEO ART
	Bridget Baker Peter Jones Aryan Kaganof & Nicola Deane Kemang Wa Lehulere Steve Kwena Mokwena George Mahashe Kyle Southgate Johan Thom Robert Weinek + Claudia Shneider
Exhibition in Cooperation with JOBURG FRINGE, ZA. June 12 - 25, 2010 Opening: June 11, 2010, 7 p.m. Opening hours: Thu - Sun, 1 - 7 p.m.
D21 art space | Demmeringstr. 21 | D-04177 Leipzig | Germany | www.d21-leipzig.de

for those who lost the plot: here's our press brief:

VIDEOart! at Joburg Fringe 2010

Joburg Fringe is presenting a two team line-up of local and visiting video artists at various venues around the city during the Joburg Art Fair.

Through this the Joburg Fringe offers the opportunity for some great artistic extra curricular activities to be viewed – taking chances not risked at the art fair.

Galleries pay huge amounts of money to formally participate in art fairs. Galleries being there to make money from sales – ergo they are naturally inclined to show works capable of generating serious commercial incomes.

Not so for a fringe – it can pop up and vanish – strut its stuff on floor space that costs a fraction of the fair’s. At the fringe it’s mainly the artists – those up and coming, those ignored by commercial galleries, the discoverables who cough up work for no commercial gain – who relish the possibilities for exposure. Established and well-known contributors often join fringe events giving themselves an edgy platform to be shown on and new talent to show with. Fringes and fringers are by their nature opportunistic – they happen around the buzz that is generated by the staging of an art fair – busking to the audience who came for the fair. The stage is set, the public is in an art-frame-of-mind and the international buyers are in town looking for cool work looking to the fringe for new little-seen-before talent.

Globally fringes have gained a special place – like the fringe at the Edinburgh Festival. And anyway what respectable art fair doesn’t have its fringe? With time art fairs are linked to their fringes; Art Basel (Liste, Volta4 and Scope), Art Cologne (Rheinschau, Tease Art), Art Basel Miami Beach (Nada, Pulse, Scope, to name 3 of 23+ accompanying fairs!) and Art Forum, Berlin (Kunstsalon, Berliner Liste, Preview). Locally - the Grahamstown Arts Festival and her gorgeous fringe draw the crowds with their double bill performance.

Irritating as fleas to the body of the great talking dog act, it can’t be denied the scratching stimulates growth.

In 2008, at the time of the first Joburg Art Fair, Fouad Asfour, Sharlene Khan and Claudia Shneider came up with the idea to do a fringe show to take place concurrently with the first time JoburgArtFair. They co-founded the show titled Esikhaleni – Spatial Practices in collaboration with the Dead Revolutionaries Club and the Afrika Cultural Centre. It consisted of a curatored show and four galleries from the vanguard of the South African art scene.

Contributors to this first fringe show included fearless exhibitionists from the vanguard of the South African art scene – Blank Projects, Spaza Art Gallery, Outlet Gallery, Worldart, Gugulective and The Bag Factory. Artists performing solos included Johan Thom, Sharlene Khan, Claudia Shneider, Senzo Nhlapo, Bev Price and Jonathan Garnham.

Blank Projects commissioned a manic fresh road video piece filmed by Jeremy Puren and Daniel Naude “the movie” - en route to the fringe. It epitomised fringeness.

In 2009 the name of the Joburg Fringe was registered.

Reflecting the zeitgeist of 2009 the Joburg Fringe retreated to a one man show in a collaboration with Right on the Rim and Arts on Main to stage a Pre-Exhibition fringe event in the raw theatre presented by the incomplete building site of Arts on Main. Claudia Shneider built the Living and Dying in Africa instalative dead elephant sculpture from global shoppers. 

Claudia Shneider, Living and dying in Africa, global shoppers,  Arts on Main, Joburg, 2009

Again little reviewed by the main stream art press its memory lives on in the minds of those lucky enough to see its brief existence next to the first floor deceased lift shaft at Arts on Main.

This year’s list of venues reflects the growth of the Joburg Fringe. It includes The Bioscope, Canteen at Arts on Main, The Bag Factory, Mofolo Art Centre Soweto, Anglo Gold Ashanti and a Sandton venue to be announced. The spread of venues should ensure that the videos can be viewed by as many people as possible across Joburg’s huge area – and includes the possibility of a car boot in a well known parking lot in Sandton.

In 2010 curatorial direction is kept to a minimum. Participants have no set themes to follow and no time limits imposed. The works provide diverse viewings of what is out there; eye candy, serious short narratives, lyrical non-performances based on various messages and some classical gems from the masters of contemporary European VIDEOart!

One day this fringy fringe will expand to the whole continent – says founder Claudia Shneider: “Joburg Fringe will eventually provide an African venue for exceptional, under-exposed work”.

at the Joburg Art Fair we find this article in Sunday 28/03/10 copy of the Daily Artheat

that tells us

it ain't art and it ain't fair

http://artheat.net/2010/03/fringe-binge-from-daily-artheat-at.html

In the audience we spot at least 3 journos. Now and again the audience applauds a particular video. The weather obligingly remains perfect, the reception of VIDEAart! is prêt-ty good.

Right: that was just the first day.

we have scheduled the official opening at the canteen at arts on main (with of course the obligatory glass of wine) and so that is where we head for next: Eric the manager meets us – he has set up the viewing amongst the olive trees in the courtyard: weather is perfect so The Bioscope takes place in heavenly late summer open air. 19:00 the videos begin…

artists come and go: looking in is berlin artist in residence beate spitzmueller

Ilya Karilampi @ the BAG FACTORY 26.3.10 @ 3pm

our technician rob who’s brought his own equipment, is already setting up. It’s a great venue, because, apart from being THE Bag Factory Artists Studios (http://www.bagfactoryart.org.za/), the floor’s just been newly painted in a reflecting (and strong smelling) grey floor paint, which doubles the whole fringe so we see all the films in real and mirror-vision!

saw it on the way to Mofolo Art Centre in Soweto 23.3.10

no time to finish them as the next viewing start at 15:00 at the Bag Factory: right on the other end of town, and james is already calling to hear ‘what’s going on?’

in our haste down Mahlatini Street we ride over a black bag that bursts and scatters a cloud of snow-white polystyrene in our wake…

with the 3^rd copy of the dvd in our fringe-kit, rush off to the other end of town to the celebrated Troyeville Hotel which has reached cult status as the dining-room and watering hole of artists…(been a favourite artists hang-out). Lawrence- the boss, currently in Australia, who’s fearless and cool, and believes in the avante guarde art scene, introduces us to Matthew who takes care of everything. so having ordered 3 portions of sardines in advance with our telephonic confirmation for today’s showing of the fringe, we’re ready to go: and Swan Lake (Markus Wirthmann)’s first act booms out into the bar. Heads turn and up turned glances light on a little remote-controlled boat-swan, turning wheelies on the water while we sip cold beers…

still from Ilya Karilampi's ' The Chief Architect of Gangsta Rap'

then Friday 26: a busy day for everyone in the art scene, but especially the Joburg Fringe. panting, with last minute edits to the dvd hot in our hands – we scoot into downtown joburg for the first viewing of the day taking off at the Gold of Africa Museum Gallery at AngloGold Ashanti, appointment to set up at 11.30, screening beginning at 12:00 midday…

thanks to Mammone, Ms. Wills (all in b/w) and Mr ‘mobile man’ Christopher Till, and his fill in Mark, who welcomes the Fringe in on his way out to the main fair, well isn’t that just the way of the art world?

maraschino's opposite the sandton convention centre

25.3.10: also opening night of the Joburg Art Fair at the Sandton Convention Centre…

thanks to Patrick, Mark and associates of Maraschino’s for our prime posi, the Fringe was seen by a number and noticed by many.

epilogue of VIDEOart!: the Joburg Fringe 2010

can it be that it is already a week ago that we had the grande opening evening of the Joburg Fringe?

that something that has had such an exciting build-up and fizzy culmination could have dissipated so quickly?

how to sum it up on this blog site: and give a lively enough description of each achievement: it is best to let each station speak for itself.

sat morning quickie

well into the various stations of our screenings, here a few sites to check out!

http://www.thebioscope.co.za/index.php/category/specialevents/

http://www.thebioscope.co.za/index.php/2010/03/the-joburg-fringe-2010-video-art/

http://www.arttimes.co.za/news_read.php?news_id=1740

http://www.onesmallseed.net/events/joburg-fringe-videoart

http://www.artsonmain.co.za/partners.html

http://www.cultureclub.co.za

and this one of aryan kaganof's -

http://kaganof.com/kagablog/2010/03/19/joburg-fringe-2010-2/

things are getting hectic as they say in cape town*, thats why its better to go back to fridays post before continuing with wednesday

the still is from nicky newman's video 'high fly'

( isn't that mountain 'lions head' * ..?)

evite/invite/flyer

JOBURG FRINGE 2010 VIDEOart! 11 international plus 11 south african video artists from 24 - 28 March 2010 opening: c/o The Bioscope @ Arts on Main 26.3 Friday starts at 19.00 with a glass of wine at 18:00; Anglo Gold Ashanti @ Turbine Hall in Newtown; Bag Factory 26.3 Friday 15:00; JAG - Johannesburg Art Gallery 27.3 Saturday 14:00 – 17:00; Mofolo Art Centre in Soweto; Right on the Rim @ Arts on Main 27 & 28.3 sat. 10 - 20:00, sun. 10 - 16:00; Troyeville Hotel 25.3 thur. at 13:30 26-28 from 13:00 Artists: locals : Giulio Biccari, Peter Jones, Aryan Kaganof, Kemang Wa Lehulere, George Mahashe, Thando Mama, Khanyisile Mbongwa & James Tayler, Robert Mills, Nicky Newman, Garfield Taylor, Tyler Taylor, Kyle Southgate, Robert Weinek, Cisca Borgman, Ulrich Diezmann, Aline Helmcke, Audur Jonsdottir, Ilya Karilampi, Bernd Müller, Mina Novcic, Essi Utriainen, Felix Walser, Oliver Westerbarkey, Markus Wirthmann. the fringe wouldn’t happen without: AngloGold Ashanti, Canteen at Arts on Main, The Bioscope @ Arts on Main, the Bag Factory, the JAG, Maraschino’s opp. Sandton Convention Centre Mofolo Art Centre, Right on the Rim @ Arts on Main, the Troyeville Hotel, Galerie Rupert Walser.

www.joburgfringe09.blogspot.com joburgfringe@gmail.com ? = 072 3471906

if its wednesday this must be the joburg fringe!

(if its tuesday this must be belgium- a '60s movie title)

the fringe is going on the road!

already sure are the JAG - Johannesburg Art Gallery, (see our rekkie film- that was filmed on the way there), The Bioscope @ Arts on Main,

Right on the Rim @ Arts on Main, the Mofolo Art Centre in Soweto and AngloGold Ashanti in the Turbine Hall in Newtown. and hoping to bag the Bag Factory, and if only for the status, the Troyeville Hotel!

and ofcourse we are on the look-out for a space in the heart of the art week in sandton...

today its friday- time to go get a good dose of adrenalin in the jozi traffic...

the artists from inside africa

we've decided to go with the 2010 spirit, and have 11 visitors and 11 locals

here the locals:

Giulio Biccari

Peter Jones

Aryan Kaganof

Kemang Wa Lehulere

George Mahashe

Thando Mama

Khanyisile Mbongwa & James Tayler

Robert Mills

Steve Kwena Mokoena

Nicky Newman

Kyle Southgate

Garfield Taylor

Robert Weinek

and our 11th visitor: Felix Walser

sharp cool

selecting the local artists for the fringe has been hard work, but finally we have the two sides complete.
next: the list of venues
(photo: checked out the possibility of a screening at the Top Star- the Joburg landmark drive-in on top of a mine dump in Selby: half the mine dump already bitten away for re-processing)

the thing about getting the list together of the south african artists is quite complex...
that is basically the whole explanation in a nutshell.
so once again, and in the mean time, join us while we go looking for a possible venue for the joburg fringe VIDEOart 2010!

changing gear, drinking coffee

putting up our exhibition (SHOWMASTER, at the JAG) has kept us busy the past 2 weeks, it opened on Sunday 21 and we are back on track.
choosing the south african based artist’s videos is almost done and we are drinking blerrie good coffee while we wait and going on rekkies (video) and listening to stories about pot-holes in the streets (from all the rain and/or swimming pools) and what to do with them someone suggested we look at

to pass the time ‘till the last videos arrive in the post

the 10 artists from out-side of africa

its hot and muggy in joburg, the soccer ball on the pinnacle of the hillbrow tower has melted and is sliding slowly down the shaft. the artists from out-side of africa have already sent their videos, now begins the selection of the south african artists. whereby we mean anyone living in south africa, or africa for that matter: we don’t see things only in black and white, do we?

Cisca Bogman, Netherlands

Ulrich Diezmann, Germany

Aline Helmcke, Germany

Audur Jonsdottir, Iceland

Ilya Karilampi, Sweden

Bernd Müller, Germany

Mina Novcic, Serbia

Essi Utriainen, Finland

Oliver Westerbarkey, Germany

Markus Wirthmann, Germany

various venues have been offered as well as discovered, and we are on the look out for more, so that this will be a multi-venue, simultaneous show, that could well go on tour to other countries, and by that we don’t only mean in africa, for that matter.

We are proud to inform you about the Joburg Fringe.

WHAT is?

The Joburg Fringe is an independent art fair that came into being in 2009, to coexist with the first art fair in Africa – the JoburgArtFair, in happy reciprocity. It is an artist’s initiative run on high enthusiasm and a low budget.

In 2008, at the time of the first Joburg Art Fair, Fouad Asfour, Sharlene Khan and Claudia Shneider came up with the idea to do a fringe show to take place concurrently with the first time JoburgArtFair. They co-founded the show titled Esikhaleni – Spatial Practices in collaboration with the Dead Revolutionaries Club and the Afrika Cultural Centre. It consisted of a curatored show and four galleries from the vanguard of the South African art scene.

In 2009 the name of the Joburg Fringe was registered. Claudia Shneider of the Joburg Fringe together with Right on the Rim staged a Pre-Exhibition in the raw building site of the now completed Arts on Main, Joburg.

This year the Joburg Fringe will stage a surreptitious show of Video Art by local and foreign artists. A suitable venue has still to be found.

WHO is?

Claudia Shneider artist, co-founder of Esikhaleni, Spacial Practices, founder of the Joburg Fringe

Frances Potter co-founder of The New Basket Workshop, concept designer

Leonard Perlson gallerist, artistic financial advisor, New York City

Sarie Potter curator, picture researcher, founder member of South Photographs, S.A.

Wayne Barker artist, sporadic advisor

Willy Weeks advisor and word sculptor

featuring VIDEOart!

The 3rd Joburg Fringe takes place 24-28 March 2010

Venue still to be announced.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The lights are dimmed, the screen lights up, and here is our first announcement!

This year we will show art videos by South African artists, as well as 10 international guest artists. If you feel confident that your video will impress our jury, then post your contact details here. Selection ends 15 March 2010 so get reeling...

For further information watch this space

Any questions?