The Bonfire of the Vanities

Last edited: February 04, 2010

Posted by Business and Arts South Africa

The Cultural Development Trust (SA) in collaboration with Keleketla! Library (SA) and Tilburg Cowboys (NL) presents The Bonfire of the Vanities.

The bonfire of the vanities was a late 14th century practice in Italy that called for the burning of all objects that ‘brought one to sin’. The bonfires of this mid renaissance period resulted in the burning of many books, paintings and musical instruments among other things.

The Bonfire of the Vanities, hosted by the Cultural Development Trust in association with the Keleketla! Library is a bonfire with a twist, encouraging the development of art, music and literature through collaboration, exchange, discussion and participation. The project comes to a head this February at the Drill Hall, Johannesburg. Community outreach projects, a youth prisons project, poetry exchange, visual art exhibition and music session are all part of the bill.

‘The Bonfire’ starts with a book making workshop to be held with local kids at the Keleketla! Library at the Drill Hall in Joubert Park on 13 February 2010, from 10:00 to 14:00. A second workshop will be held with incarcerated youth on Monday 15 February (not open to the public).

The exhibition opening will be held on 18 February at the Point Blank Gallery at the Drill Hall. Opening 18:30 for 19:00. All attendants are encouraged to bring donations for the library to the opening. Special donations of volunteering your time can be made at the exhibition. A poetry exchange between Quaz (SA) and Hans D’olivat (NL) will feature at the opening.

Sound Skape is the last leg of the Bonfire of the Vanities projects. A listening session hosted by Keleketla! will be held at the Drill Hall on 19 February from 6pm. The line-up includes various DJs and bands including DJ’s zakesmixmaster, Matseleng and Joe, musicians Planet Lindela and Mongezi Ncaphayi and a special appearance by the band Silver Dolla from New Jersey via Skype.