If you love art, then best be sure not to miss conceptual wildlife artist John Moore’s stunning work at the inaugural Cradle Contemporary Art Fair, which will run at the Cradle Boutique Hotel from Thursday, November 30 to Sunday, December 3.

Moore’s exceptionally detailed and realistic works are depictions of wildlife and the poignant plight of endangered species and his style contains elements of surrealism and traditional naturalism which merge into thoughtful reflections of our age. In his most recent works, the emphasis has shifted to the myths and legends of the San, the people he believes to be ‘the original people’ whose inspirational philosophy and understanding of the environment allows us an appreciation and mutual respect for all things.

Other artists whose work will be on display at the Cradle Contemporary include:

Acun Masuku, a Swazi sculptor, who works primarily with wood, who first became well known for his inventive anthropomorphic mobiles.

Karin Dempsey Greenwood, whose naive expressionist art glows with vibrant colours depicting whimsical scenes

Manyatsa Monyamane, whose cutting edge photography has seen her a finalist at Pop Cap 2016; a winner of the

Lizamore & Associates Mentorship Programme Solo Exhibition for the Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards and a merit award winner for the Absa L’Atelier art competition.

Also “exhibiting” her amazing talent will be Pilani Bubu, a South African singer/songwriter and Creative Lifestyle

Activist who will present Out of Africa: The Folklore at the exhibition. The repertoire includes traditional folk songs with a fusion of her own self-written traditional folk soul music in an evolved fusion of jazz and acoustic soul.

Says curator Nikki Wilsworth: “The title of the opening exhibition is called Giving It Horns Wings, which relates to all the artist’s work, whether literally or figuratively, in the context of what they have produced. These are artists taking their work outside of the envelope and developing uniqueness. Giving it Wings means to inspire someone to “fly” and achieve greatness. When we let go we give way to freedom of expression. Added to which the title is apt in getting Cradle Contemporary off the ground. And there will be some horns,” she adds.

Works from all four artists will be on display and for sale, with all proceeds going to the African Digital Education Trust (ADET), a non-profit organisation which aims to give children accessible education by using technology and robotics to improve their early childhood development.

The Cradle Boutique Hotel will also open a new permanent space – the Cradle Art Gallery – during the exhibition.

To celebrate both the inaugural art fair and new art gallery, the Cradle Boutique Hotel is organising a host of events that will take place at the venue over the four days and which are aimed at art lovers, food and wine connoisseurs, music fans and families. These include:

The official opening of Cradle Contemporary and Cradle Art Gallery cocktail party with the ADET choir and dancers – on Thursday, November 30, from 18:00 to 21:00

Craft beer pairing dinner – Friday, December 1, from 19:00

Fabulous four-course wine pairing dinner – Saturday, December 2, from 19:00

Posh picnic and live music from the Cameron Bruce Band – Saturday, December 2, from 12:00

Gourmet shisa nyama – Sunday, December 3, from 12:00

Families, who attend on Saturday and Sunday, can book their children into the Cradle Explorers’ Club which will have trained guides to take them on a two-hour nature walk. The cost is R80 per child for the trail and includes a picnic box lunch.

For all bookings and enquiries telephone 087 353 9599 or email gm@thecradle.co.za

Images attached:
i) John Moore’s Making Myths, Magic and Miracles
ii)Manyatsa Monyamane’s photograph Mabel Mathibe