Solo Studios 2024 will once more transport you to seventh heaven with their Intimate Arts Encounter, taking place in August in the picturesque Riebeek Valley.
Be prepared for tantalising encounters with the Muses as you immerse yourself in the personal creative spheres of talented artists. Look forward to hedonistic moments of gourmet food and local wines. And be willing to be swept away by live music, poetry and theatre.
The eagerly awaited Solo Studios 2024, in association with Geddes and 1 Royal Street is designed to provide a feast for all the senses on the weekend of 9–11 August, starting with a gastronomic celebration of Women’s Day on the Friday.
Art still takes centre stage and 46+ artists are inviting you into their studios to engage with them and to experience their works in their own dynamic workspaces. 24 exhibiting venues, 5 galleries, live performances and several long-table epicurean events will add to the conviviality of the weekend.
“The greatest attraction to Solo Studios, besides the magnificent valley itself, is the intimate nature of the event,” says Ashley Stone, co-owner and co-project manager of Solo Studios. “Visitors can simply enjoy these inspiring connections or even return home with art investments, at great prices, that feel truly personal.”
The featured solo artists reflect the diversity of talent in the Riebeek Valley, from painters to mixed media artists to ceramicists.
Some of this year’s participants include Sharon Bischoff, Wiehan de Jager, Ade Kipades, Solly Smook, André François van Vuuren, Riaan van Zyl and Emma Willemse. Five more participating galleries add to the depth and variety of the art on offer. In addition, Spier Art Trust will run a special exhibition, Creative Block.
Sure-fire new drawcards are a range of complementary cultural events aimed at foodies and conversationalists. The Night of Long Tables, curated by well-known Riebeek Kasteel resident chef-stylist Isabella Niehaus at The Valley Potager, will contribute to the good times. These gastronomic celebrations marry the wealth of local farm-fresh produce and wines from Swartland producers with congeniality over exquisitely laid long tables.
A highlight on the programme will be Aldo Brincat’s solo theatre smash hit The Moon Looks Delicious From Here, a show that recently garnered a Special Jury Award at the Bitesize Theatre Festival in London.
Multi-talented Rudolph Willemse has already become an institution at Solo Studios events. Along with his participation as an exhibiting artist, he will perform his Afrikaans poems in a production called Swartland, in collaboration with seasoned talents such as actor Marcel van Heerden, drummer David Wickham and sound artist Warrick Swinney.
Other performers at Solo Studios 2024 include The Winelands Philharmonic Orchestra, where the world premiere of Kristi Boonzaaier’s Violin Concert with Eriel Huang as soloist will be performed along with singer-songwriter Wren Hinds, a Cape Town-based artist who recently signed a record deal with iconic UK-based record label Bella Union.
Now in its eighth year, the annual Solo Studios event and the Riebeek Valley (just 80km from Cape Town), with its abundance of natural and cultural heritage and a friendly community supportive of the arts, promise to attract even more visitors than before.
“Due to the overwhelming response at last year’s Solo Studios, which attracted over 1 200 visitors, we are already seeing great interest in this year’s event, with local hotels and guest houses booking up, particularly as it is a public holiday weekend,” says Ashley. “What better time to do a weekend or day trip to our beautiful valley of arts and culture, wine and olives, and tranquil vistas.”
Brent Geddes, co-founder and CEO of event partner and headline sponsor Geddes, believes that a small change in one community can have a large impact on the greater Western Cape and South Africa. “By investing in the art and artists of the Swartland, we are not only nurturing the seeds of tomorrow’s masterpieces, but also affirming our belief in the transformative power of creativity to enrich our community and inspire change.”
More Info
Ticket sales for events, weekend and day passes are available online. With so much to see, it’s worth staying over. Pre-book your accommodation. For more on Solo Studios visit solostudios.co.za.
Read more about last year’s Solo Studios here.