Zolani from Freshly Ground celebrity judge for Tshisa Talent Finals!
We are delighted to announce that Zolani Mahola from Freshly Ground will be one of the judges at the Tshisa Talent Finals 2012.
We have been to every community in the Bitou Region and have found our finalists for Tshisa Talent 2012.
In the Category of Other:
Andre the Beat Boxer from New Horizons
Nthuthuzelo Nqaba from Qolweni
In the Category of Dance:
Unexpected from New Horizons
Pasadenas from Kranshoek
Fiesta Galz from Kwanokuthula
In the Category of Song:
Louisa Harker from New Horizons
Karushah Mabombo from Kranshoek
Linda Modena from Kwanokuthula
In the Category of Choir:
BC UCC from New Horizons
Masiqine Choir from Qolweni
Bitou Brothers from Kwanokuthula
Well done to all the above finalists that will be performing at The Finals! Also well done to everyone that auditioned, registered and also the winners in each Community.
The performance talent in Bitou is overwhelming, keep trying and practice hard.
The Tshisa Talent Finals 2012
Date: Sunday 27th May
Time: 19h00
Price: R130 per ticket . Canapés and a glass of sparkling wine will be included in the ticket price.
For further information or bookings please call Nadia: 071 115 0048
Meet the Formosa Primary Tree Carers!

The children of Formosa Primary in New Horizons were treated to green smiles when local NPOs Lunchbox Theatre and The Green Ticket teamed up to bring some tree magic to the school.
The Lunchbox Theatre team has developed a brand new theatre show and workshop program that celebrates indigenous trees as a vital part of our existence. Fun and interactive, The Tree Show uses song, dance and physical theatre to convey a simple yet engaging story and contains information relating to the importance of trees, the threats they endure and practical ways to conserve them.
The story takes place in a small village where the tranquility and celebration of a wedding ceremony is disturbed by insensitive, naive and greedy developers. Using a large tree puppet that voices his concern through an old man, the developers learn more about trees and so change their ways.
After the show the children took to the school ground to plant their own indigenous tree sponsored by Debbie Fermor of Ingwe Forest Adventures. The Lunchbox crew guided the enthusiastic crowd in singing the two volunteers through the steps of planting a tree.
Planting the tree is obviously only the first step and The Green Ticket will be visiting the school on a regular basis to help a selected grade look after the tree. The first follow up visit saw the very keen children receiving Tree Captain badges, a watering can and a book to keep track of the tree watering.
Formosa Primary serves as a pilot project that can hopefully be taken to all the other schools in the Bitou area once funding has been secured. Should you be interested in getting involved, please contact either info@lunchbox.org.za or info@thegreenticket.org
Site_Specific Bitou
– Land Art Book Launch
Janet Middleton reports:
Could there be a better place to launch a book on land art than the Beacon Isle Hotel. The iconic hotel is an architectural artwork in itself and the hotel hosted the launch of a documentary book about the Land Art Event that took place in Plettenberg Bay last year.
Site_Specific explains that “discipline of Land Art uniquely combines culture and nature in a manner that brings art to the community’s landscape thus it has the potential to transform communities’ and individuals’ perceptions of themselves, each other, their environment and the interconnected relationship between all of them.”
Last year, many Plett residents watched in wonder as circles were drawn in the sand and rocks piled atop rocks as both national and international artists worked on their pieces in and around the town. After seeing the collection of prints, I am reminded of the saying: “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” Seeing the collection completed and the prints on display showcased the talent of these artists and photographers as well as capturing the natural beauty of the Bitou Community.
The launch was very well attended and included Site_Specific’s Strijdom van der Merwe, artist Anni Snyman and event designer, Heather Greig. The local art community supported the event and Jacques Moolman from the Beacon Island and Mayor Memory Booysen were also in attendance.
Both Mayor Booysen and Mr Moolman expressed their excitement over the Site_Specific project and future Land Art events in the Bitou area.
Most of the artwork created disappeared within a week or two, but Simon Bannister was commissioned by the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative to create a permanent work close to the Griqua community of Kranshoek. Along with local stone masons, he created a work entitled “Aartmoeders” and this is the first artwork in the Eden to Addo Corridor land art route.
Looking into 2012, the Site_Specific Land Art event will take place this year with a week long showing including the communities of Wittedrift and The Crags in addition to Kwanokuthula, Kranshoek, Robberg and the Keurbooms Corridor. The artwork and event will be focused around local artists with an invited artist creating a piece for the Eden to Addo Corridor and holding workshops during their stay at Ebenezer Estate.
Very exciting for nature and art lovers is the 6 day hike/mountain bike trail linking the Eden to Addo Corridor Land Art sites. Please contact admin@edentoaddo.co.za for more information as space is limited.
We are very much looking forward to this event this year and if you would like to get a copy of the book or a beautiful limited edition print, contact anni@annisnyman.co.za or heather@redart.co.za