Iziko's Museums
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Iziko Museums' Free Days
Iziko Museums of Cape Town is committed to making our museums accessible to all South Africans and invite you to visit any one of our 12 museums on the following commemorative days – free of charge:

Human Rights Day
21 March
Freedom Day
27 April
International Museum Day
18 May
Africa Day
25 May
Youth Day
16 June
National Women’s Day
9 August
Heritage Week
22–28 September
National Aids Awareness Day 1 December
Emancipation Day
1 December



Strengths and Convictions


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's on at Iziko Museums
January / February / March 2010

Event Listing:

Download the entire Whats on catalogue [PDF]

Iziko South African National Gallery

Strengths and Convictions: The life and times of the South African Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, F.W. de Klerk, Nelson Mandela

Until 28 February

The recent award of the Nobel Peace Prize to US President, Barak Obahma, has once again drawn international attention to the world’s most prestigious award and its long list of laureates. The Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, has produced this exhibition and it is presented in collaboration with Iziko Museums. Occupying five galleries, this large-scale and topical exhibition consists of a broad selection of contemporary artworks by South African and international artists. It includes 60 rare portrait photographs and seven new documentary films, and has been designed to engage viewers of all ages with artistic responses and interpretations of South Africa’s good and bad times. Iconic works such as Song of the Pick (1946/7) by Gerard Sekoto, African Guernica (1967) by Dumile Feni and Carnage II (1988) by Noria Mabasa, as well as rare and recent works by Michael Goldberg and Araminta de Claremont, help to narrate the history from which South Africa’s laureates emerged. Strengths and Convictions offers both South African and foreign visitors an opportunity to see some of the best South African art and photography.

A 200-page, fully illustrated publication presents the acceptance speeches of each laureate on receiving this prestigious prize, as well as contextual essays by the writers, Antjie Krog, Albie Sachs and Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian Foreign Minister, and exhibition curator Gavin Jantjes.

Read the Press Release >>

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Iziko South African National Gallery

Dada South?

Until 28 February
Rooms 7, 8, 9 and 10


Founded in Zürich in 1916, the Dada movement
rejected traditional artistic and cultural values.
Through its radical ‘anti-art’ stance, artists
associated with Dada disrupted the conventions of
the modernist age and had a profound impact on
future forms of creative practice. The resurgence
of Neo Dada movements in the 1960s rejuvenated
these radical ideas.

Dada’s legacy is one of fierce political potential
through radical disruptions of accepted forms. For
some South African artists working during the
decades of oppression and isolation of the apartheid
era, Dada strategies were a significant influence on
their resistance tactics, and one which is finding its
way back into the expressions of a new generation
of young, contemporary practitioners.

Curated by Roger van Wyk and Kathryn Smith, the
exhibition draws together works by South African
artists dating from the late 1960s to the present,
representing a range of avant-garde positions in
the aftermath of Dada, including works by Wopko
Jensma, Neil Goedhals, Jane Alexander, Lucas
Seage, Candice Breitz and Kendell Geers, among
others. In an adjoining space, original Dada works,
including films and publications, will be assembled
for exhibition in South Africa for the first time.

Read the Press Release >>

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Iziko South African Museum

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009

Until 13 March

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition
is an international showcase for the very best
photography featuring natural subjects. The
competition is owned by two UK institutions that
pride themselves on revealing and championing
the diversity of life on Earth – the Natural History
Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine – and is
brought to South Africa by NHU AFRICA.

Being placed in this competition is something
that wildlife photographers, worldwide, aspire
to. Professionals win many of the prizes, but
amateurs succeed too. And that’s because
achieving the perfect picture combines skill,
vision, originality, knowledge of nature, and luck.

Each year thousands of entries are received and
judged by a specially selected expert panel. From
vivid, colourful landscapes, to intimate portraits
of animal behaviour, the Wildlife Photographer of
the Year exhibition offers an extraordinary insight
into the beauty, drama and diversity of the natural
world.

Enquiries: Hamish Robertson, Tel. 021 481 3849
or email hrobertson@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko at the Castle of Good Hope

Not Alone: An international project of MAKE ART/STOP AIDS Medicine Man for Cape Town

Until 31 January

Not Alone: An international project of MAKE ART/
STOP AIDS is a travelling exhibition featuring the
works of artists from Brazil, the United States, India
and South Africa. Through international artistic
solidarity, the far-reaching consequences of the
AIDS epidemic are shown, and the importance of
access to treatment is promoted.

Artist, Daniel Goldstein, who created the “Medicine
Man” sculpture featured in the Not Alone exhibition,
has constructed a similar sculpture at the Castle of
Good Hope. The new sculpture, like the original, is
constructed from hundreds of empty ARV medicine
bottles. In the first sculpture, the bottles belonged
to the artist and his collaborator, John Kapellas.
The new “Medicine Man” is made from bottles
belonging to South Africans living with AIDS, and
addresses the subject of the side effects of ARVs.
The completed product is on display for the duration
of the Not Alone exhibition.

Enquiries: Shanaaz Galant, Tel. 021 464 1276
or email sgalant@iziko.org.za,
Esther Esmyol, Tel. 021 464 1262 or 083 712 7423
or email eesmyol@iziko.org.za,
or Lalou Melzer, Cell. 073 179 6708.

Read Press Release >>

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Iziko South African Museum

Darwin and the Cape

Until April

2009 saw the 200th anniversary of the birth of
Charles Darwin, as well as the 150th anniversary
of the publication of his book, On the Origin
of Species. His theory on the evolution of life
through natural selection provided a scientific
foundation for understanding how life diversified
on Earth, and it is the theory that holds biology
together. Darwin visited the Cape in 1836 on his
journey around the world on the HMS Beagle.
He corresponded with naturalists at the Cape,
including previous staff of the South African
Museum. This exhibition provides an overview of
Darwin’s life, his contribution to biology, and his
relationship with the Cape.

Enquiries: Olga Jeffries, Tel. 021 481 3897
or email ojeffries@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko Slave Lodge


Not Alone: An international project of MAKE ART/STOP AIDS

Until 31 January
A magnificent artwork, the “Keiskamma Altarpiece”,
is on display in the foyer of the Iziko Slave Lodge.
The work forms part of an international art
exhibition on HIV/AIDS called Not Alone which is on
at the Castle of Good Hope.

The “Keiskamma Altarpiece” was made by 130
women and men of the Keiskamma Art Project,
over a period of seven months. The Altarpiece can
be read as an expression of the hope, endurance
and strength of the people fighting against the
devastation of poverty and HIV in Hamburg and the
surrounding villages in the Eastern Cape.

The three-hinge-paneled work depicts three themes,
as experienced in the everyday lives of the people.
The stories that unfold on the panels begin with the
Crucifixion, showing people struggling through the
pain of poverty, disease and death. The second panel
represents Resurrection, showing images of hope,
redemption and restoration. The third panel, called
Reality, consists of life-size black and white images
of grandmothers and their grandchildren.

The embroidery on the panels consists of various
and intricate techniques such as the threedimensional
wire beadwork, appliqué and stumpwork
embroidery, all layered in the separate panels.
The Altarpiece measures an impressive 4.15 metres
high and 6.8 metres wide.

Enquiries: Esther Esmyol, Tel. 021 464 1262
or email eesmyol@iziko.org.za, or Shanaaz Galant,
Tel. 021 464 1276 or email sgalant@iziko.org.za.

Iziko South African National Gallery

Alexis Preller: Africa, the Sun and Shadows

Current, Rooms 1 and 2
Until 28 February.


Alexis Preller: Africa, the Sun and Shadows is a long
overdue retrospective of the work of Alexis Preller
(1911 –1975). During the course of his 40-year career,
Preller concentrated solely on his art, working daily
in his Pretoria studio and producing a vast number
of exuberantly coloured, imaginative compositions.

Alexis Preller: Africa, the Sun and Shadows
showcases a wide selection of the artist’s work,
as well as a number of artefacts, documents and
photographs relevant to his life. A contribution
to understanding Preller as one of South Africa’s
pre-eminent artists, and as a pioneer who defined
an African style in the 20th century, the exhibition
follows the last major exhibition of the artist’s
oeuvre – the Retrospective Exhibition at the Pretoria
Art Museum in 1972.
The exhibition is accompanied by Alexis Preller,
compiled by art historian, Esmé Berman, and
artist, Karel Nel. This comprehensive monograph
on the artist consists of two volumes: an extensive
biography of Preller and a collection of his works.

Enquiries: Hayden Proud, Tel. 021 467 4676
or email hproud@iziko.org.za.

Read Press Release >>

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Iziko South African Museum

African Dinosaurs

Postponed until further notice

The first phase of this exciting exhibition opened
two years ago and included a huge skeleton of
a herbivorous dinosaur called Jobaria, as well
as the massive skull of the carnivorous dinosaur
Carcharodontosaurus. The entire exhibition is
about to open and now includes the skeleton
of a weird-looking large carnivorous dinosaur
called Suchomimus, as well as beautifully crafted
dioramas of dinosaur scenes. The exhibition
provides the complete story of dinosaurs, with
supporting fossils on display. The emphasis is on
dinosaurs that lived on the land that now makes
up the African continent, from some of the oldest
known dinosaurs discovered from fossils in South
Africa, to some of the largest dinosaurs known from
fossils uncovered in Niger and Morocco.

Enquiries: Hamish Robertson, Tel. 021 481 3897 or email hrobertson@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko South African Museum

Subtle Thresholds: The representational taxonomies of disease

Ongoing

This exhibition by artist, Fritha Langerman, aims
to draw attention to some of the contemporary
debates surrounding biomedical visual and material
culture. Drawing on the collections of the Iziko
South African Museum, the University of Cape Town,
the Wits Adler Museum, and including new works by
the artist, the exhibition is primarily concerned with
the visual representation of disease.

Situated in the gallery between the social history
and natural history displays, the exhibition aims
to create a conceptual bridge between the two
areas within the museum by presenting a complex
visual network of the inter-relationships between
zoological, human and microbial worlds. In doing
so, Subtle Thresholds seeks to expose some of
the cultural and historical mythologies that have
contributed to the perception of disease as a state
of otherness and separation.

Enquiries: Hamish Robertson, Tel. 021 481 3897
or email hrobertson@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko Planetarium

Davy Dragon’s Guide to the
Night Sky

6 February – 21 March
Saturday & Sunday – 12:00
Extra show! 22 March – 12:00

Come and join Davy Dragon as he learns all
about the sky above so that he can fulfil his
dream of becoming the world’s best flying
dragon! This is a playful introduction to
astronomy. Just right for inquiring young
minds. For children aged 5–10.

For the School Holidays!
Sunshine Simon and the Dark Day
27 March – 11 April
Monday to Friday – 12:00 & 13:00
Saturday & Sunday – 12:00

One day Mister Sun didn’t come up! So
Sunshine Simon, a brave little sheep, and his
friend Robert were sent on a quest to fetch
Mister Sun. Did they succeed? Join them on
their adventure and find out! For children
aged 5–12.

Suitable for Teenagers & Adults
The Sky Tonight
Saturday & Sunday – 13:00
22 March – 13:00

An interesting live lecture on the current night
sky is presented every Saturday and Sunday.
You will receive a star map and be shown
where to find the constellations and planets
that are visible this month.

Bad Astronomy:
Myths and Misconceptions

Until 11 April
Monday to Friday – 14:00 (excluding
1 February, 1 & 22 March)
Tuesday evening – 20:00 (& sky talk)
Saturday & Sunday – 14:30
22 March – 14:30

Were the Apollo visits to the moon actually
a hoax? Have aliens landed on Earth? Can
you tell your future by the stars? Join the
‘Bad Astronomer’ as he takes a critical look
at popular myths and misconceptions to
show audiences how science can be used to
evaluate questionable claims.

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Izkio Education and Public Programmes

Free Gallery visits for schools in February

Schools can apply for fully sponsored visits to the ISANG
to explore the exhibition: Strengths and Convictions:
The life and times of the South African Nobel Peace
Prize laureates.
These excursions include interactive
gallery activities, a practical art-making session and
learning resources. The sponsored package covers the
cost of transport, entry fees, learning resources and art
materials. Twenty schools will be selected. Closing date
for applications is 25 January. Enquiries: Ayesha Price
and Kathy Coates.

Free books for school libraries

One thousand copies of the exhibition catalogue:
Strengths and Convictions: The life and times of the
South African Nobel Peace Prize laureates
has been
made available for school libraries. The hardcover, fully
illustrated catalogues present views of South African
history in the context of the Nobel Peace laureates’ lives
and the role of art and artists in society.

Public Tours at the ISANG

Guided tours of all current exhibitions are available
from Tuesdays to Fridays, at 11 :00 and again at 13:00
– free of charge. Weekend tours conducted by special
arrangement. Enquiries and group bookings: Kathy
Coates or Ayesha Price.

Dada Workshops:
Costume-making and Performance

On 16 and 23 January, school learners will participate
in practical sessions involving costume, performance,
creative writing and collage. In February a teachers’
workshop explores both the Dada movement in Europe
and the influence it had on South African artists working
in the 1970s and 80s, with the relevant links to the FET
curriculum. Venue: Iziko South African National Gallery
and ISANG Annexe. Enquiries: Kathy Coates.

Slave Lodge

If you are interested in history, enjoy stories and acting,
and are creative, then this is the workshop for you! Step
into the past with us and explore a moment in our history.
You will hear stories about the real-life characters who
lived in one of the oldest houses in Cape Town. Bring
along your active imaginations and step into these
characters’ shoes to re-enact scenes from their lives,
and create your own. Dates: 5, 6, 7 January. Age Group:
8–11 (5, 7 January); 12–15 (6 January). Time: 10:00–13:00.
Venue: Koopmans-De Wet House, Strand Street. Cost: R10.
Enquiries: Deidre Rhodes.

Discovery Room

Bring your children to the Discovery Room during the
school holidays. In this special room, children explore
their senses by touching and feeling as they get
interactive with museum specimens, such as animals
and insects.

Discover the extra special senses of some animals.
Learn how they see and hear, compared to humans.
Also, find out what it is like to live without these senses.

Young visitors can draw what they enjoyed the most
in the Museum, and in the old Entomology office (this
office of long ago had no computers), you will realise
how technology has changed the world of our scientists.

Iziko Summer School Programme
30 January–7 March

Iziko’s annual multifaceted programme includes symposia,
public lectures, excursions, workshops and film screenings.
Details will be published in the press, on the Iziko website,
and brochures which will be available at all Iziko museum
sites. Enquiries: Wandile Kasibe. If you would like to receive
the Summer School programme via email, please email
wkasibe@iziko.org.za.

Human Rights Day
15–21 March

The Iziko EPP Department will organise a multifaceted
programme to celebrate Human Rights Day. Enquiries:
Wandile Kasibe.

Iziko Mobile Museum
The Iziko Mobile Museum is an ongoing educational project
designed to take educational museum resources to rural
and urban communities who are unable to visit the Iziko
museums. Visits are free of charge, but have to be booked
two months in advance. Enquiries: Sthembele Harmans.

Enquiries: Kathy Coates, Tel. 021 467 4669, or email
kcoates@iziko.org.za. Nadjwa Jones, Tel. 021 481 3817,
or email njones@iziko.org.za. Sthembele Harmans
or Wandile Kasibe, Tel. 021 481 3804/12, or email
publicprogs@iziko.org.za. Deidre Rhodes,
Tel. 021 480 8239. Ayesha Price, Tel. 021 467 4667,
or email aprice@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko Slave Lodge

Remembering Slavery
Current

The history of the Slave Lodge dates back to 1679
when it was built to serve as living quarters for the
men, women and children transported – mainly by
the VOC (Dutch East India Company) – as slaves to
the Cape during the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Cape was maintained by the VOC to support its
profitable Asian trading operations. These included
an extensive slave trade across the Indian Ocean
between South Asia, South-east Asia and Africa
to provide labour for the Dutch settlements in the
East Indies and the Cape. The VOC brought slaves
to the Cape from regions around the Indian Ocean,
including present-day Madagascar, Mozambique,
India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesian islands such as
Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Timor.
Over time, the slaves brought to the Cape from the
Indian Ocean basin came to outnumber the colonists.
For over 30 years after the abolition of the British
Ocean Slave Trade in 1807, the Cape remained a
slave society. Slavery and colonialism left a legacy
of servitude here and in many regions throughout
the world, and today, millions of men, women and
children still live in conditions close to slavery.

Informative exhibitions at the Iziko Slave Lodge
provide further insight into the history of slavery at
the Cape.

Enquiries: Fiona Clayton, Tel. 021 021 464 1261
or email fclayton@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko Maritime Centre

Maritime Centre

Situated in the scenic V&A Waterfront, the Iziko
Maritime Centre provides an overview of shipping in
Cape Town. Images depicting Table Bay from the
17th to 20th century give an idea of the
development of the harbour. Exhibitions include the
earliest existing model of Table Bay harbour,
completed in 1885 by prisoners and wardens of the
nearby Breakwater Prison, and a collection of ship
models and objects associated with shipping in Cape
Town, in particular the era of mail ships. A new
exhibition consisting of images, ship models and
objects gives insight into the Union-Castle Line and
shipwrecks around the Cape coast.

The John H. Marsh Maritime Research Centre
provides an archive of nearly 20 000 photographs,
depicting 9 551 ships dating from the late 1920s to
the early 1960s. It also has an online service for the
answering of queries regarding ships and for
ordering images of these ships at
http://rapidttp.co.za/museum/.

Enquiries: Thys van der Merwe, Tel. 021 405 2884
or 021 464 1261 or email marsh@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko Michaelis Collection


Michaelis Collection

Examples of Dutch art from the 17th to the 20th
centuries in the Iziko Collections include the
esteemed Michaelis Collection, as well as the Henry
van den Bergh Bequest of 19th-century Dutch art
received via the National Art Collections Fund of
Great Britain in 1948. Significant works on paper
acquired by the Iziko South African National Gallery
over the years are also on display.

While alterations are being made to the Old Town
House to enhance disabled access, visitors can still
enjoy selections from the collection that remain
on view.

Enquiries: Hayden Proud, Tel. 021 467 4676
or email hproud@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko Social History Centre

Social History Centre

The building and renovation work to the old National
Mutual Building on Church Square has reached its
final stages of completion and is due to reopen
under the new name, Iziko Social History Centre.
The project was made possible with major funding
provided by the Department of Arts and Culture, via
the Department of Public Works.

One of the final finishing touches to the building’s
Church Square façade is new security screens that
will replace the old grilles. The new installation is
to carry the approval of Heritage Western Cape,
and provides an opportunity for Iziko to introduce
innovative new signage designs.

The building allows Social History Collections to
reunite a section of its collections which were
separated during the 1960s when part of the South
African Museum’s history collections were passed
on to the former South African Cultural History
Museum. The collections of colonial and African
origin will now be integrated at the Centre to allow
for the optimal study of these rich resources.

In due course the Centre is to hold resources and
reserve collections of material culture, maritime and
historical archaeology material, and information
on Iziko Social History sites. While not open to the
general public, access to researchers and interest
groups will be available by appointment. The Social
History reference library is situated in the old
National Mutual Building foyer or banking hall. The
library and other public areas in the building are
wheelchair-friendly.

Enquiries: Esther Esmyol, Tel. 021 464 1262
or email eesmyol@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko Koopmans-De Wet House

Koopmans-De Wet House

This museum – the oldest house museum in the
country – was originally built as the home for
a well-to-do Cape family during the late 18th
century. It boasts some of the best pieces of Cape
furniture and silver in the country, in addition to
a priceless collection of ceramics. A household
such as this would only have been able to function
with its share of servants and slaves, and recent
research has brought to light the names and
professions of some of these, as well as the kinds
of activities they would have pursued.

The house opened its doors as a museum in 1914,
after the deaths of its last private owners, Marie
Koopmans-De Wet and her sister Margaritha.
Marie Koopmans-De Wet, after whom the Museum
is named, is renowned for aiding orphans and
widows of the Boer republics during the South
African War.

Enquiries: Wieke van Delen, Tel. 021 464 1265
or email wvandelen@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko at the Castle of Good Hope

William Fehr Collection

The Fehr Collection was assembled by businessman,
William Fehr (1892–1968). His first passion was
collecting paintings, prints and drawings related to
South Africa, but he later expanded the collection
to include decorative art objects such as furniture,
metals, glassware and ceramics. The objects date
from the 17th to the 19th centuries and reflect
the furnishings of well-to-do, mainly Cape urban
households.

One of the remarkable aspects of the collection is
the large number of oil paintings that depict views
of the Cape colonial settlement and Table Bay
maritime scenes. Though these artworks reflect a
colonial worldview, they are fascinating reflections
of life at the Cape, and the people, both free and
enslaved, who lived and worked here.

Enquiries: Esther Esmyol, Tel. 021 464 1262
or email eesmyol@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko Rust en Vreugd

Rust en Vreugd

Rust en Vreugd was built as a home for Willem
Cornelis Boers, a high-ranking official of the VOC
(Dutch East India Company) known as a fiscal,
around 1777–1778.

The house was built on Cape Town’s outer limits
(thus the name of the street – ‘buitenkant’ or outer
edge), in the transitional area between town and
the larger market garden farms of the upper part
of the city. The property originally extended as far
as the present Roeland Street. With its distinctive
canted corners, it has been described as the most
attractive surviving example of a late 18th century
Cape townhouse. Its teak woodwork is among the
finest carving done at the Cape, the work of either
the German-born sculptor Anton Anreith or one of
the other master carvers at the Cape.
iziko rust en vreugd Rust en Vreugd
After Boers, the house passed to several other
private citizens. In 1878, it was bought by the Dutch
Reformed Church and served as a teachers’ training
college. The Cape Town High School occupied the
property from 1925–1957, and in the early 1960s Rust
en Vreugd was restored and converted into a gallery
space. A second restoration took place in 1993,
and more recently, disabled access facilities were
installed at the building.

In 1965, William Fehr donated his private collection
of works of art on paper (watercolours, prints and
drawings) to the people of South Africa. This gift
is housed at Rust en Vreugd. Due to the sensitive
nature of artworks on paper only a selection of
works is on exhibition.

Enquiries: Esther Esmyol, Tel. 021 464 1262
or email eesmyol@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko at Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia: Historic Precinct

The farm, Groot Constantia, dates back to 1685,
when the land was granted to Simon van der Stel –
thus making it one of the oldest wine farms in South
Africa. Its Orientation Centre in the Jonkershuis
complex uses panel, object and archaeological
displays to give an overview of Groot Constantia
from the past to present, including slavery on the
estate. Carriages are on display in the Coach House
and in the historical wine cellar, while the Wine
Museum exhibits wine storage and drinking vessels
from antiquity to the early 20th century. The Manor
House, with its exhibition of furniture, paintings,
textiles, ceramics, brass, and copperware, provides
an insight into the life of a successful 18th to late
19th century Cape farmer.

Enquiries: Tel. 021 795 5140 for more information.

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Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum
 

Bo-Kaap Museum

Located in a house dating from the 1760s, the
Bo-Kaap Museum displays aspects of the sociocultural
life of a significant portion of the Bo-Kaap’s
community. Bordering the city centre, the Bo-
Kaap is an area of Cape Town rich in history and
heritage, especially as it relates to Islam, which was
introduced to the Cape in the 17th century. This
area has been home to people of diverse origins
and religions, but today is largely associated with
the Muslim community. The oldest Mosque in South
Africa and the oldest Muslim graveyard, the Tana
Baru or ‘New Ground’, are both to be found here.

Enquiries: Katie Mooney, Tel. 021 464 1268 or email
kmooney@iziko.org.za or Fiona Clayton fclayton@iziko.co.za.

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Iziko Friends Organisations

Friends of the Michaelis Collection

Saturday, 30 January

Andrew Putter will present an illustrated talk on
the creation of this amazing picture, one of a set of
five, that looks at the Dutch Old Master Still Lifes
through new eyes. This is followed by a garden
party presented by the Ivy Garden Restaurant
in the beautiful Old Town House garden. Both a
distinguished artist and teacher, Putter is associated
with almost all of Cape Town’s most important
collaborative and public art projects of the last 15
years, and was a co-originator of projects such as
the annual Mother City Queer Project, Softserve
at the Iziko South African National Gallery,
Public Eye and the Suburbanist projects. His work
has been extensively exhibited, including at the 2nd
Johannesburg Biennale, the Frankfurt Art Fair, and
10th Havana Bienale in Cuba.
Venue: The Old Town House. Time: 14:30.
Cost: Friends R40, guests R50. Booking and
prepayment essential.

Iziko Friends Organisations

Friends of the Michaelis Collection

Saturday, 13 February

With the recent launch of a book on Erik
Laubscher by Hans Fransen, and with Laubscher’s
retrospective exhibition now on in Stellenbosch,
what better time to hear from two major
contributors to art in South Africa. Erik is a Life
Member of the Friends of the Michaelis Collection.
This illustrated discussion must not be missed.
Venue: The Old Town House. Time: 14:30. Cost:
Friends R40, guests R50. Booking and prepayment
essential. Refreshments will be served after the talk.

Saturday, 6 March

Braden Smulders, a matric pupil at Pinelands
High School and an art student at the Frank
Joubert Art Centre, is an acclaimed graffiti artist.
In an illustrated talk, he will explore the history
and background of this art form. He will show
examples of his and other artists’ work, as well as
demonstrating some of his skills. This articulate and
talented young man will, no doubt, make you look at
young artists in another light!
Venue: The Old Town House. Time: 14:30. Cost:
Friends R40, guests R50. Booking and prepayment
essential. Refreshments will be served after the talk.

Iziko Friends Organisations

Friends of the Iziko
South African Museum

The Friends office closes on 18 December
and will reopen on Wednesday, 20 January.

Programme for 2010

The programme for 2010 will begin on Tuesday,
23 February – details will be advised as they
become available.

Lectures

Lectures are scheduled on the last Tuesday of
each month, from February to November, and take
place in the Iziko South African Museum’s TH Barry
Lecture Theatre at 19:00, unless stated otherwise.
Lectures are free to members on presentation of a
current membership card, and non-members pay
R30, unless otherwise advertised. Drinks are served
from 18:30.

Friends of the Iziko
South African National Gallery

Meet the Artists

Friday, 22 January
Stephen Cohen
Venue: Michael Stevenson Gallery,
160 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock
Time: 11 :00
Cost: Members and non-members R20

Friday, 12 March
Ângela Ferreira
Venue: Michael Stevenson Gallery,
160 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock
Time: 11 :00
Cost: Members and non-members R20

Iziko Friends Organisations

Friends of the Iziko
South African National Gallery

Lecture Series on Expressionism
Tuesday, 9 February
An introduction to Expressionism and its
background.

Tuesday, 23 February
Die Brucke (The Bridge) and the work of Kirchner,
Heckle, Schmidt-Rottloff and Nolde

Tuesday, 9 March
Kirchner’s Berlin

Tuesday, 23 March
Der Blauer Reiter (The Blue Rider) and the work of
Kandinsky, Marc, Jawlensky and Macke

Tuesday, 13 April
Die Neue Sachlichkeit (The New Objectivity) and
Magischer Ralismus (Magic Realism) and the work of
Dix, Grosz, Beckmann and Schad
Venue: TH Barry Lecture Theatre, Iziko SA Museum
Time: 17:30
Cost: Members R40 per lecture, R160 for the series;
non-members R60 per lecture, R240 for the series;
students R20 per lecture, R100 for the series

Enquiries: For membership enquiries or further
information please contact Lizzie O’Hanlon,
Tel. 021 467 4662 (Tuesday to Thursday
10:00–14:00) or email sangfriends@iziko.org.za.

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Iziko South African National Gallery

Under Construction

Under new director Riason Naidoo, the Iziko South
African National Gallery is undergoing a period of
transition and transformation; re-thinking its position
in relation to the country’s multi-cultural society,
Africa and the world at large. The context of the
2010 FIFA World Cup coincides with an opportunity
to reflect on the country’s unique contribution to
modern and contemporary art and to offer a glimpse
of future artistic talent. Locals and visitors can look
forward to a timeline starting with painter Pierneef in
the 1930s, up to contemporary performance art group
Gugulective. Watch this space!

The Iziko South African National Gallery is closed for
re-hanging for six weeks from 1 March.

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Renovations at Iziko

The Iziko South African Museum foyer project

Phase One of the upgrade of the Iziko South
African Museum foyer, funded by the National
Department of Arts and Culture was completed
in December 2009.

The project took longer than anticipated
primarily because original flooring was
discovered in both the foyer area (caustic tiles
imported from England approximately 130 years
ago) and the old shop area (possibly cedar
wood). The decision was taken to restore the
original floors. The tiled floor was meticulously
recovered by floor restoration specialist,
Jan Corewijn, who also restored the floor of
the Parliament building (which has the same
flooring type and vintage). The timber floor
was restored by Neil Terry, master carpenter
and timber specialist. Both teams worked with
extreme care and fine results are evident.
The Museum’s doors do not seal the building
from driving rain, wind and dust, as the gap
beneath the old doors is substantial. The
internal environment of the Museum needs
to be controlled, as exhibits are sensitive
to moisture change and dust. A glass box
was thus designed for the entrance porch
to create a ‘weather lobby’ outside of the
building. The approval process to install the
glass box also delayed the reopening of the
foyer. Final approval was secured during
November, allowing the upgrade project to
be completed with the installation of this
important feature.

An upgrade of both internal and external
signage and wayfinding throughout the Iziko
South African Museum will be implemented
over the next few months.
Iziko Museums of Cape Town thank our visitors for
their patience during the renovation project. We
look forward to providing our visitors with coffee,
snacks and a selection of gifts in the Iziko shop,
which will be opening shortly.

This ongoing project embodies in some ways the
spirit and underlying ethos of Iziko Museums of
Cape Town, of providing a warm welcome that will
be sure to enhance visitor experience.

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Cafe and Shops

The Gallery Shop – Iziko South African National Gallery

The Gallery Shop showcases the best of traditional and contemporary South African craft. Articles include embroidered textiles, handcrafted ceramics, basketry, “telephone wire” products and fine beadwork. The work of Queenbead, a community empowerment project in Crossroads, is on permanent display. All products are handmade and of outstanding quality. The Gallery Shop supports community projects and AIDS organisations. Open from 10:00–17:00, Tuesday to Sunday.
Tel. 021 467 4664 for more information.

Jonkershuis Restaurant – Iziko Groot Constantia
Jonkershuis Bar & Eatery is nestled in the historic core of the Groot Constantia Wine Estate, with panoramic views of the Peninsula and the majestic Constantia Valley. Our Cape Malay influenced bistro lies next to the Historic Manor House, surrounded by ancient oak trees and the legendary vineyards. Dine al fresco, while overlooking False Bay, in the courtyard under the vines, or inside where dining is elegant, yet informal.
The Function Room next to the Main Restaurant leads out to the old wagon courtyard.
Open from 09:00–22:00, Monday to Saturday, and from
09:00–17:00 on Sunday. Reservations: Tel. 021 794 6255
or email info@jonkershuisconstantia.co.za

Ivy Garden Restaurant – Iziko Michaelis Collection at the Old Town House
Well-known restaurateur, Beulah Lombard, has created a beautiful space were patrons to the Museum can have a relaxing cup of coffee or enjoy traditional Cape cuisine in between viewing the renowned Michaelis Collection. The restaurant is situated in the historical courtyard, an ideal space to spend quality time with family and friends. For more information on the Museum contact Tel. 021 481 3933.

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Iziko Commemorative Days

Come Celebrate Summer with Iziko

This summer, dive into heritage with Iziko Museums of Cape Town.
The Iziko Celebrate Summer campaign runs from 15 December
to 21 March 2010 at our 12 national museums. Exhibitions and
activities have been planned for the whole family that are sure to
help you stay cool this summer.

FREE PARKING
Park your vehicle for free when visiting these Iziko museums:
South African Museum & Planetarium, South African National Gallery, William Fehr Collection, Bertram House, Rust en Vreugd, Groot Constantia.

SUBSCRIBE
Register your details with us if you would like to receive information, invitations to exhibition openings and special events planned at Iziko Museums of Cape Town.
Contact Iziko Museums at Tel. 021 464 3280, Fax 021 461 9620,
or email info@iziko.org.za to subscribe.

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Download the entire Whats on catalogue [PDF]

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