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 Lonwabo Ngcwayi. Pola Maneli will also provide a separate visual presentation titled “Field Reporter” based on the sensitivities around representing black bodies for media consumption.
Thereafter, programming will switch to two short visual presentations by Victory of the Word and Gugu Peteni (Art Director and Fashion Designer) in two pop up spaces showcasing relevant content from each of the initiatives.
These presentations will be followed by a panel discussion between host Olwam Mnqwazi
Lelethu Mahambehlala, Xolile Madinda and Mkhonto Gwazela. Proceedings will conclude with the completion of the graffiti art performance, followed by an informal networking session against a musical backdrop featuring the new duo “Sibling Rivalry”
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.