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Take a walk in a park
The Wilds is a jewel of a space – and one of Jozi’s feel-good stories in the way it has been turned around from a no-go area in the 1990s, to a beautiful safe park with cleared paths, indigenous planting revived, pools and fountains functioning, and marvelous sculptures by James Delaney, mover and shaker behind the revival of the Wilds. There is a weekly walk for seniors or you can simply go independently (it’s perfectly safe), take a picnic, or take the kids exploring to find the 67 other owls and all sorts of other wildlife! There are also loads of other outdoor spaces in the Parks suburbs.
2. parkrun on Saturday mornings.
The closest parkrun to Liz at Lancaster takes place in nearby Delta Park – it was also the first parkrun in South Africa. This weekly event is not only for locals (runners, walkers and families), but also international visitors!
3. Soak up world class exhibits
Reverse Futures is showing at Johannesburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF) in ForestTown until 5th December and Homecoming at the Standard Bank Gallery until end October. One of Jozi’s real hidden jewels is the Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts located on the 2nd floor of Wits Art Museum. The current Book Arts exhibition (Un)charted Territories speaks to how artists have used mapping in terms of conventions, iconography and loose and esoteric conceptual ways. There will be a walkabout in late August.
For other art galleries in Joburg
4. Enjoy a book launch
At Love Books in Melville – the next best thing to a full-blown book fair. Find out about new publications and hear directly from the author in probing interviews. And if you miss a launch, watch the interview on You Tube. Get on their mailing list: Home | Love Books Let’s keep print alive. Exclusive books also host book talks and book launches.
5. Join a Strauss and Co Auctioneer’s Artclub event
Exhibitions of art works to be auctioned by Strauss and Co are held at Strauss’ head office in Houghton. There are usually walkabouts of these exhibitions in advance of the auction, with accompanying talks, and often a specialist panel discussion. The next Art Club event is on 4th August when Wilhem Van Rensburg, Strauss’ Senior Art Specialist & Head Curator, will talk about Walter Batttiss and Rorke’s Drift Printmaking. Battiss started collecting prints by students when he was an external moderator for the printmaking department at Rorke’s Drift. Subscribe to the Strauss mailing list on this link.
There is also a walkabout on 19th July of Modernists like Pierneef, Sekoto, Welz, Preller, Pemba, Nagatane, amongst others.
6. Celebrate the carnival atmosphere of Main Street Sunday.
Jozi my Jozi is the amazing organization which is reclaiming our streets and getting people back into the inner city for leisure time. On a Sunday in April this year the first Main Street Sunday was held when Main Street was closed to traffic. Joburgers listened to Jozi my Jozi’s call to action: “Woza, Jozi! Bring the whole group chat, the little ones, ama-2k and even gogo, and make a day of it.” (ama-2k refers to South Africa’s centennials – those born around 2000 -tech savvy and socially influential).
While the event itself might be free there were tempting goodies to eat or buy! And with food, art, music, activities, and plenty more for all ages, it was for sure a Sunday to remember.
Next Main Street Sunday is 9th August.
And keep an eye out for the Jozi Walks in September. I LOVE their tagline: “Our annual love letter to the city, written on foot”. From their website: “Jozi Walks is not just sightseeing; it’s about shifting fear to familiarity, reputation to relationship. The walks surface hidden histories, street art, faith spaces, food spots, green pockets and small businesses that rarely make the brochure while directing real spend into local hands. ”
7. Take in a sunset from Northcliff Hill.
I have to rely on secondhand info here as I’m ashamed to say this is something I haven’t done …. YET! The general advice from Joburg.co.za is that safety is not an issue as long as you leave before dark. And probably best to go in a group – which is way more fun anyway! Maybe I haven’t made the trip because we are so spoilt right here at Liz at Lancaster with our blood-orange sunsets.
8. Experience different religious architecture
Visit one of the many religious buildings in an around Joburg. Three which are particularly impressive are the Russian Orthodox Church (by appointment) and the Nizamiye Mosque both in Midrand as well as the BAPS Hindu Mandir (Temple) in Northriding.
9. Feel the buzz at the preview evening for one of Russell Kaplan Auctioneers Wunderkammer Auctions.
The winter Wunderkammer preview last night was jam-packed with Joburgers from all walks of life who wandered through the curated spaces filled with art, furniture, objet d’art, vintage fashion accessories and more. Add champagne and jazz to the mix – what’s not to love. You do need to RSVP for the preview events of the 4 seasonal Wunderkammer auctions. You can watch the auction on-line, with multiple sessions taking place over 10 days. The next Wunderkammer will probably be the summer one in late November/December. Check 2 Summers marvelous post on this treasure trove.
10. Register for a Daily Maverick Webinar.
While some webinars require payment to register, others a free and cover fascinating topics mostly on current affairs. For example, on 22nd July Caryn Dolley will talk to Conrad Koch and Chester Missing about her latest book The Untouchables: Drug Lords, Dirty Cops, and South Africa’s Darkest Secrets. She will also discuss what the Madlanga Commission has surfaced so far and what is not being said.
One of the most valuable donations we can make as South African citizens (or those further afield who value the preservation of democratic values) is to contribute to independent investigative journalism. These brave men and women in South Africa who write for publications like the Daily Maverick and AmaBunghane have put their lives at risk to expose crime, corruption and scandals. Largely funded by private donations and individual membership, they have kept the freedom of the press alive in South Africa.
So from walks in the park, to bubbles and jazz amidst art and antique furniture, to religious architecture, to insights into organized crime and political corruption, you can’t complain of a lack of choice of things to do in Jozi for free.
Admittedly some of them might lead to some spending of money: like a book purchase here or there, or a delicious vegetarian meal at Shayona’s (best value for money you will ever get) at the Hindu Temple …. or maybe even a little auction madness?