GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - While on a visual arts journey through South Africa, Xander Ferreira (from the band Gazelle) recently stopped in Graaff-Reinet to absorb some of the beauty that only the Karoo possesses, and is depicted by Jacobus Pierneef in so many of his paintings of this beautiful landscape.
Ferreira, known for his song Die Verlore Seun and the hit song by Jack Parow, Hosh Tokolosh, is not just a musician but also wears the hat of philosopher and explorer.
Ferreira spent lockdown in South Africa, unable to return to New York, where he has been living for the last 10 years. "I collaborated with a friend in Canada on an exciting new project called the Armchair Adventurer," the artist said.
"Armchair Adventurer is a visual tour through which I'm taking my friend, Adam, to see the sights of South Africa, since he could not be here in person," he explained. "I don't just want to visit the head and legs of South Africa but the arms, heart and body as well". According to Ferreira, spots such as Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban are the 'head', while small towns, such as Graaff-Reinet, are the heart. Ferreira will be travelling to Dullstroom next.
"It's in these 'dorpies' where you meet people so rich in culture, it makes a person who he is," Ferreira said. "I'm painting a visual quilt of South Africa."
As we walked along the sidewalk of Parsonage Street, we met renowned local artists Janet Kingwill, just about to finish a water painting of the John Rupert Theatre, giving sustenance to this visual arts project of Ferreira.
Together with Ferreira and Karoo tour guide, Chantelle Marais, we also walked through Reinet House. On its yellow wood floors and passing likeminded tourist in the hall, it was a welcoming feeling that, finally, Graaff-Reinet is picking up the pieces of the pandemic. It truly gives you a sense of what to be thankful for this Christmas.
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