Well-renowned as Durbanville’s cultural hub, Rust-en-Vrede Art Gallery has been hosting its popular Painting With Words poetry evenings since 2006. These informal, mostly bilingual events usually include live music and are well supported by local residents as well as appreciators of art, poetry and music travelling from as far as Fish Hoek, Stellenbosch and Wellington.
Esteemed and award winning writers such as Breyten Breytenbach, Gert Vlok Nel, Deborah Steinmair and Danie Maraishave have previously performed in the intimate atmosphere of the old homestead art gallery, which is situated in a centuries-old garden in the centre of Durbanville.
On 24 May from 19:30, acclaimed poets Gus Ferguson, Karin Schimke and Finuala Dowling (winner of the Ingrid Jonker, SANLAM and Olive Schreiner Prizes for Poetry) will be Painting With Words at the Rust-en-Vrede Art Gallery in Durbanville.
- Gus Ferguson: A publisher, poet and cartoonist whose work the Witness describes as “witty and playful, demonstrating the writer’s verbal agility (and) idiosyncratic humour. Intelligent, original, informed, Ferguson’s work never fails to arrest attentions”. Gus Ferguson is a major figure in South Africa’s poetry circles. His published works include the poetry anthologies Snail Morning (1978), Doggerel Day (1982), Carpe Diem (1992), The Herding of the Snail, with Niki Daly (1995), Icarus Rising, Light Verse at the End of the Tunnel (1996), Stressed-Unstressed (2000), and Arse Poetica (2003). He has also published the cartoon collections Love Amongst the Middle-Aged and Waiting for Gateau
- Finuala Dowling: David Medalie in the Sunday Independent had this to say of Finuala Dowling: “the reader is drawn in by the humour, the pathos, the wry stoicism: but also by the tongue-in-cheek mischievousness, the evident delight in the swirl of words.” Finuala Dowling is an award winning poet and novelist. Her first volume of poetry, I Flying, won the Ingrid Jonker Prize and her second collection, Doo-Wop Girls of the Universe, was joint winner of the SANLAM award. Her third volume of poetry, Notes from the dementia ward (2008) won the Olive Schreiner Prize and was also short-listed for the University of Johannesburg Award and the Herman Charles Bosman Prize.
- Karin Schimke: A widely published journalist and columnist, and the Cape Times books editor. She also works as a writing tutor and mentor, an author of non-fiction, children’s books and short stories. She edited Open, an anthology of erotic short stories written by some of South Africa’s best known women writers. Her poetry has appeared in South Africa Writing, New Contrast, New Coin and Carapace magazines, and two poems have been anthologised. Her first collection of poetry was published by Modjaji in March this year, and is entitled Bare & Breaking.
The Painting With Words poetry evenings also serve as a platform for upcoming poets with an opportunity for open mic readings after the featured poets have performed.
Seating is limited and booking essential via the Rust-en-Vrede Art Gallery on 021 9764691.
