KNYSNA NEWS - Artists are getting ready to display their talents at the Premier Hotel later this month when the Knysna Arts Festival kicks off.
Not only will there be 50 local and national artists displaying their paintings, sculptures, ceramics, pottery and bronzes from 21 to 24 February, but the public can follow an art route of a further 19 venues in Knysna where artists will be exhibiting.
“A feature of the festival has been the opportunity given for artists and the public alike to share their ideas and techniques.
"You can attend any of the demonstrations and workshops at no charge. There are usually a couple going on all the time every day," says festival organiser Owen Roberts.
This year's organiser of the performing arts sector Dr Phil Golson says, “I have strived for variety.
"Come to our gala evening and you will see what I mean. There will be some lovely classical music as this my forte, but there will also be ‘fun’ music by the incredible vocal and instrumental talent we have locally.
"There will also be tasters from our shows. Whatever you do, don't miss our Potpourri Musical Evening on the Thursday night.
"I have scoured the town to ensure much of Knysna’s best musical talent is on show."
On the fringe
During the Knysna Arts Festival there will also be a host of programmes presented around the festival, organised by Joan Huskisson
Fringe programmes are presented for various reasons at festivals, often giving the less-known professional or fledgling artist the opportunity to exhibit their talent in a mainstream festival setting.
Tony Durrheim, who painted this coastal landscape, is one of the many artists who will be exhibiting during the festival.
However, the Knysna Arts Festival Fringe programme is essentially to invite locals and visitors who may not be art lovers to participate in talks and expeditions loosely associated with the festival through another discipline, mainly science.
In so doing, many Fringe participants will bring more footsteps through the halls of the Premier Hotel in February, and will no doubt stay and admire the outstanding array of visual art in the halls around them.
The diversity of subjects will not only be of wide interest to attendees but, on reflection, many topics will be recognised as having an artistic component – after all, birds are more than ornithology, beautifying the environment, and classic cars are more than interesting engines.
"To quote Herman of the All That Jazz coffee shop who will be giving a demonstration of artisanal bread making to festivalgoers, 'Art is a way of life'," says Huskisson.
* View the full festival programme at www.knysnaartfestival.co.za.
Book for shows at 044 382 5510 or at Knysna Tourism in Main Road.
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