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