First Thursdays

First Thursdays: Always a Fun Outing

 One of my favourite monthly events in Cape Town is First Thursdays when the city centre comes alive, galleries are packed and restaurants and bars spill over into the streets. There is a palpable energy coursing through Bree, Loop and Long Streets as locals and visitors mingle in front of works of art and socialise over a glass of wine or a craft beer and enjoy some of the best food that Cape Town has to offer. The great thing about this event is that it encourages ordinary people to get their asses off their couches and experience the dynamic world of art, created by both local and international artists. And you don’t have to be an art aficionado to appreciate the exhibitions; you simply have to let the art speak to you – which sounds pretentious but it is that simple.

One of my favourite galleries is the Jan Royce Gallery on Church Street. There is always a sea of people at the gallery which speaks to the appeal of the space and the quality of the works therein as well as the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the owner, Kees, and Ian, who also heads up the Jan Royce Foundation. According to the gallery’s website, "The Jan Royce Gallery recognises the importance of supporting local talent and believes that the development of the Arts in any community is paramount in creating a society with character and soul." The gallery also supports the aforementioned Jan Royce Foundation, a trust that supports local artists and helps to develop both visual and performing arts. A percentage of the wine sales at the gallery goes to this foundation, which is a wonderful initiative in my opinion. My favourite exhibition at Jan Royce was last year's stunning sculptures of Beneath the Surface by Stanislaw Trzebinski, whom I met at the exhibition’s opening night event; a humble and exceptionally talented young artist.

Another popular gallery is 99 Loop, located on the corner of Loop and Church Streets. This gallery never disappoints with its diverse collections of contemporary art. On 1 September Jameson presented the 100 x Closer exhibition which comprises photographs of kaleidoscopic whisky crystals as seen through the lens of a microscope, courtesy of microscope-enthusiast Elden Swart. Jameson also treated visitors to the gallery to a free drink, served by dashing (and friendly) bartenders. My whisky, ginger and lime cocktail was a winner and that’s high praise coming from someone who never drinks whisky. The art on display was also intriguing. However, I loved the work of two artists, currently on display: Veiled Threats by Ilené Bothma and welcome to the internet I will be your guide by Katrine Claassens.

Each gallery has copies of maps to orientate and guide visitors, ensuring that no gallery is missed. Several shops also take advantage of the crowds and keep their doors open until the evening reaches its conclusion. So if the art did not lift your spirits after a tough day (or week), perhaps some retail therapy will do the trick. In addition, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to dinner options, or perhaps a late evening snack slash sweet treat. On my most recent outing, I enjoyed some post-gallery gastronomy at Bocca, which offers "Neopolitan pizza and Italian-inspired food in an informal contemporary space in the centre of Cape Town", specifically the corner of Bree and Wale. Despite being very busy, the service was great and the food was amazing. My only regret is that I didn’t have room to try one of the tempting desserts on the menu.

My one complaint, one that I make very vocally every time I drive into the City Bowl, is that there are not enough parking spots. The City really needs to step up and make more spaces available or redirect traffic or something to make parking the least important issue when considering First Thursdays. It is wonderful that there are extra public security officials on duty but circling block after block for 30 minutes is frustrating because it uses up time that could have been better spent viewing remarkable art.