Power Talks Eastern Cape is a series of grounding interactions between role players in the Eastern Cape with a particular interest in amplifying existing networks.
Gqeberha’s event will be hosted at The Athenaeum on Athol Fugard Avenue, a venue in the CBD of the City. Programming will begin with an opening graffiti art live performance by Fal.kab and MookLion, two of the province’s more active street writers. The performance centres around the many challenges experienced by artists practising in public spaces. This will be followed by a conversation between Litha Ncokazi and Yolanda Stamper, two gallery owners with a distinct focus on art education in their respective communities.
Followed by an artist walkthrough, led by the three selected artists Vuyo Giba, Pola Maneli and Rushnay Booysen. After a short interlude, a panel discussion will be held with representation from Alliance Français, Mandela Bay Development Agency, Mandela Bay Museum, ArtEC Gallery and GFI Gallery. Olwam Mnqwazi will serve as the host of this conversation, which is structured around the politics of accessibility. It will also serve to introduce the Goethe Institute and other European Cultural Institutions, setting the scene for their engagement with Eastern Cape communities. Thereafter, programming will switch to two, short, visual presentations by Victory of the Word (Athi Patra-Ruga) and Gugu Peteni (Art Director and Fashion Designer) in two pop up spaces showcasing relevant content from each of the initiatives.
The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion between host Olwam Mnqwazi, Lelethu Mahambehlala, Xolile Madinda and Mkhonto Gwazela. Proceedings will conclude with another graffiti art performance, followed by an informal networking session against a musical backdrop. Officials from various public and private institutions will be encouraged to engage with artists during the panel sessions and, more informally, during the artist presentations and dialogues. Artists from varying sub-genres will be in conversation with each other, both formally and informally, sharing their respective professional experiences, discerning the differences and congruences between their fields of focus. A moderated forum will be incorporated into each presentation and public dialogue, to ensure that Power Talks attendees are able to contribute to the conversations.
This programming seeks to connect significant role players/artists, bringing them into conversation with one another, facilitating discussions whose themes explore the growth/improvement of the Eastern Cape cultural community, while also pushing against the formal presentation template, whether digital or performative.
PROGRAMME
09:00 - 17:00
Graffiti Art Live Painting - MookLion & Fal.Kab
Open from 11:00 - 17:30
Booths/Pop-Up (Exhibition Room 01 & 05):
Gugu Peteni (13:30-14:30)
Victory of the Word + The Bodyland Residency Program (15:00-16:30)
10:30 - 11:30
Yolanda Stamper in conversation with Litha Ncokazi
12:00 - 13:00
Group Exhibition Walkthrough - Vuyo Giba, Pola Maneli and Lonwabo Ngcwayi
13:00 - 13:50
Lunch
13:50 - 15:30
Audio Visual Presentation:
Pola Maneli (Artist/Illustrator)
Title: Field Reporter
16:30 - 17:30
Panel Discussion:
Host:Olwam Mnqwazi
Lelethu Mahambehlala, Xolile Madinda, Mkhonto Gwazela
18:00 - 20:00
Beatology (DJ)
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