Blah Blah Bar and Ferdinando's pizza

I promise I didn't try and keep this a secret, you know I love to share...we just needed a few more visits to make sure I had the best pictures of  Blah Blah Bar 

Now a quick glance at the pictures and you'll see just what kind of wonderful this place is-

But if you need words- it's trendy, but casual in a cool artsy kind of way -

Erdmann Contemporary is upstairs.

 Regular live music downstairs, just keep an eye on their facebook page. 

It's a perfect party venue, not too big, a bit edgy, sort of like a home party in an alternative rich person's Victorian house.

and in the back.......Pizza!

I know- can this place get any better?

It's also not just any pizza, it's that pizza that I've been promising to tell you about, it's Ferdinando's pizza,

I really can't describe this little pizza kitchen to you- take a look and you'll see- but I can tell you how it makes you feel- warm and happy.

That's Ferdinando there on the floor looking for a treat.

What kind of rock star proprietor thought of all this you ask? 

 

Ja, ja- say no more, he was born to it.

I'll finish with some stunning 'drive-by's' taken by the art teacher on our way there

Jan Neethling- A Greek Goddess up to no Good

Jan Neethling's exhibition has opened at Heidi's Erdmann Contemporary.

An exciting and vibrant exhibition - bold, colourful pieces, 21 in all, my favourite below....I admit it was a difficult choice.

The artist was a  close friend of the late Robert Hodgins, he named the exhibition in memory of him and a favourite painting by him- A Greek Goddess up to no Good.

Visit soon- you won't be disappointed, but they may all be sold.

The artist in the middle

A voyeuristic peak through a window on our walk to the car- a designer hard at work in his studio, pausing occasionally to sip from a glass of red wine.

Drive by- drive home

Themba Shibase- Erdmann Contemporary

Themba Shibase's exhibition - Paint, Masculinity, Power & Violence opened at Heidi's gallery Erdmann Contemporary last night.

Themba's work explores the link between masculinity, patriarchy, power and violence as a recipe for a violent and oppressive society-  and how they occur not only in the context of state, but in other domains as well.

Catch it- on until 23 March

artist Themba Shibase

Drive by- drive home

Roger Ballen/Die Antwoord

Roger Ballen opened his new exhibition Die Antwoord at Heidi's Erdmann Contemporary. I imagine it's difficult to give a speech about your own work, but he spoke with a lovely sincerity, integrity and a poetic measuring of his words.

His photographs usually disturbing to view....confronting, dark realities, scary thoughts and all that- but with Die Antwoord, familiar subjects, there was security in the known and I lingered longer.

His naive graffiti like drawings in the photographs, on the walls and sometimes on the subjects completely intriguing, adding layers of depth.

As usual, Heidi and her great team pulled off a hugely successful exhibition, larger than any previous, gallery full to bursting, pavement and road cobbled with Cape Town's art lovers.

art teacher's drive by -  drive in

Melanie Cleary- New Years Day

Last Wednesday night Melanie Cleary's exhibition- New Years Day opened at Heidi's Erdmann Contemporary

I love her material choices, last exhibition we saw-  The Hero Within, was a look at the subculture of bodybuilding in the Western Cape, this time she's observing the ritual of the thousands that descend upon Durban's beaches over New Day.

The portraits of the little girls posing proudly my favourites, as always, a stunning turnout at Heidi's gallery - this time we were lucky enough to warm our souls with deliciously smooth  Macallan single malt whisky- winter has its perks after all.

cloudy drive by- drive home

Barbara Wildenboer- Canaries in the coalmine

Barbara Wildenboer's new exhibition opened at Heidi's Erdmann Contemporary last night.

This is the 3rd of her exhibitions that we've attended and I'm still mesmerised by the intricacy and fragility of her pieces.

Although difficult to choose, I'd have to say the above map paper cuts with clock mechanisms were my favourite,.

Her works really need to be viewed up close to appreciate her craft, the skill involved and their beauty- 'Canaries in the coalmine', see them before they all fly away.

Chinese paper- cuts

Playing catch-up with the week again.....

An exhibition of gorgeous Chinese paper- cuts opened at Erdmann Contemporary on Tuesday evening.

The charming  Chinese ambassador gave an entertaining speech explaining that paper cutting was a skill taught to young girls in order to impress prospective husbands. The paper cuts mostly depict everyday life and variations of the Chinese Zodiac.

We were treated to Macallan Scotch  whisky.....hmm, very nice - I could happily get used to it.

did anyone else see those strange orbs floating like a constellation high in the sky?