RED EYE RETURNS!
Initiator and creative director of Red Eye Durban, Suzy Bell, is bringing Red Eye back to Durban. Red Eye, a legendary arts project born in Durban, originally took place at the Durban Art Gallery back in 1998 and attracted record crowds who flocked to the gallery to celebrate art. It is now returning to Durban as #REDEYEDURBAN every first Friday of the month, kicking off on Friday November 7 at The Bakery in the cultural precinct of Khuzimpi Shezi Road in Umbilo from 6pm to midnight.
“There is a beautiful big fat building on the top floor of a bakery, just across the road from acclaimed artist, Andries Botha’s art studios and opposite the iconic Sugar Terminals on Durban’s harbour in downtown Umbilo. This historic building was home to the Durban Rickshaw Pullers where they originally set-up shop in the early 1900s and the original traditional Zulu Beer Hall is in nearby Dalton Road. It’s a culturally historical and wonderful, culturally-diverse community for Red Eye Durban,” said Suzy Bell, cultural activist and creative director of this highly successful, multi-media, art-soaked project.
For the upcoming relaunch of Red Eye Durban on November 7, Bell says we can expect a celebration of art and music with Squeaky Takkie Studios doing Red Eye sound for the music line-up which includes “sublimely talented brothers and crunching hip-hop heads,” MINDCOAST ISA from Equatorial New Guinea. Also performing are THE SISTERS [of famed Black Math] with their “messy Garage-Stoner” grooves,the “super-sonic all-girl band,” THE VOLSUNGA SAGA and SATMA isicathamiya nominees, THE KHOLWA BROTHERS.”
Bell says it will get further: “flicked up” with the talented LOUD LUNGS , DJ RAWS and MVSTVBV as well as the dance crews Amaguyz, The Goodfellas and Zoey Dudumashe.”
For Red Eye Performance Art, there’s a dark and funny performance in Mr Skaireeeee (Sibo Masondo), devised by Durban theatre legend Gisele Turner. There’s fresh comic art with Red Eye Youth from the up-and-coming talents of: Findlay ‘Rapscallion’ Atkinson, and the well-known Deon Lange.
“There will be live graff-bombing, light painting, and photography and graphic art for sale. There’s kick-ass poetry and arty T-shirts and jewellery on sale as well as fashion photography , digital films and video installations,” –enthuses Bell.
Bell’s grand idea back in 1998 was for a monthly, full-on, multi-media, culturally-diverse arts experience taking place in one space, on one night only.. Red Eye has since travelled as a creative concept around the country and has attracted international attention as well as emulation as far afield as Chicago and Fort Lauderdale.
“The aim now is to further stimulate Durban’s creative community into a creative economy,” said Bell. “In 2015 we want to run creative and arts marketing workshops under Red Eye mentors and then create a Red Eye App as a tool to market ourselves professionally.. The idea is to empower young emerging artists to create their own creative projects, brand more professionally and generally offer a higher standard of art as merchandise to the buying public,” she added.
“Red Eye , together with numerous arts activations happenings in the city, will actively work towards Durban becoming one of the most creative and liveable cities in the world,” concludes Bell.
RedEyeDurban takes place on Friday 7 November 2014 from 6pm to midnight at The Bakery, 106 Khuzimpi Shezi, formerly Williams Road. Tickets: R100 Webtickets.co.za or R100 at the door / students with card: R80.Children 12 and under enjoy free entrance. Family-friendly time: 6 - 8pm. Early bird parking for 80 vehicles inside. Security provided. Food on sale and The Winston run a cash bar. HOW TO GET THERE: Taxi: The Workshop catch Umbilo 7 taxi. Hop off on Blake Road, walk down towards the Harbour, turn right into Khuzimpi Shezi, formerly Williams Road and The Bakery is 20 metres down on the RHS.
For more info online: Facebook: RedEyeDurban Twitter: @RedEyeDurban Google Plus: RedEyeDurban Instagram: RedEyeDurban Artists may send their artist bios for future Red Eye Durban participation or to become a member to: suzybell@redeyedurban.com.
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