So you have always wanted to… Enjoy a day with based cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro), Graffiti Artist Mak10ne and Sculpture Artist Robin Kutinyu 09:00AM Hotel departure to experience Cape Town with locals.

09:30AM Meeting Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) at his studio. Have a look at his work at www.zapiro.com

Meet Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) at his studio and while you are having an intriguing South African political conversation with him, Ozzy will be grinding African beans and serving quality coffee with his mobile alternative coffee brewing bar.

Born in Cape Town in 1958, Shapiro couldn’t imagine a career in cartooning, so opted to study architecture at the . After realising that a career in architecture wasn’t for him, he tried switching to Graphic Design and promptly got conscripted, but while in the army refused to bear arms, and became active in 1983 in the newly-formed United Democratic Front.

His arrest under the Illegal Gatherings Act caused some consternation in the SADF (South African Defence Force) and his being monitored by military intelligence while he participating in the End Conscription Campaign, even designing its logo. His work as a cartoonist began in earnest with a wide range of political and progressive organisations when the newspaper South began in 1987 and he became its editorial cartoonist.

Shapiro was detained by security police in 1988 shortly before leaving on a Fulbright Scholarship to study media arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York. New York was an eye-opening experience where he studied under comics masters Art Spiegelman, Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman. He returned to in 1991 and Is currently the editorial cartoonist for the Sunday Times and Daily Maverick. Previously he was editorial cartoonist for Mail & Guardian, The Times, The Sowetan, Cape Argus, Cape Times, The Star, The Mercury and Pretoria News.

A legend on the South African political arena, the opportunity to meet with him in his home, is a rare privilege not afforded many.

12:00PM Lunch at Olami

Olami is all about uncomplicated, wholesome food with a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influence. Olami’s food is freshly prepared daily in their kitchen by owner Nirit, together with a group of dedicated and passionate chefs who love to cook and “live” food. Olami’s food is the kind of healthy and affordable food everyone would love to regularly cook in their homes, if only they had the time. 02:00PM You will meet South African graffiti artist Mak1one for a street art walking tour, talking about South African history, art and street art while learning about the artwork of the street MichelANGELo’s of Cape Town.

Cape Town is home to some of the world’s best and brightest street artists, from the colourful works of Faith47 to the large-scale murals of Freddysam. Like many artistic movements, the street art scene in Cape Town began as a political protest. As opposition grew against the regime, increasingly angry and emotional paintings appeared on the walls of Cape Town’s notorious District Six.

Images of famous faces such as or Steve Biko were often accompanied by messages relating to human rights and freedom. These days, if you walk through the narrow streets of Woodstock you’re likely to stumble upon a piece by Mak1one, Faith47, Freddysam, Falko1. Working largely legally, these artists were still able to keep some of their work from being washed away or painted over. In place since 2010, the Cape Town bylaw is aimed to clamp down on vandalism and states that ‘the existence of graffiti anywhere within its area of jurisdiction to be a public nuisance’.

WHO IS MAK1ONE? Mak1one has been involved in graffiti art for over twenty years.

Having personally experienced the power of graffiti to change lives, this self-taught artist is committed to using his work to inform and challenge opinion on the one hand, and to inspire people to pursue their dreams and talents on the other. He has worked extensively as a mural artist in South Africa and abroad. He has collaborated on mural projectsin Greece, Germany, Belgium and the US and has presented two solo exhibitions in Cape Town and .

He is a serious and conscious artist with cutting edge concepts and ideas about the potential of graffiti as an art form. Being born and raised in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town in the 1970s meant (and for many, still means) living a life where putting food on the table was a daily battle, poverty was rife and choices were limited. Discovering the expressive medium of graffiti art in the late 1980’s was a liberating and pivotal moment for him. It empowered him to express who he was and what he was thinking. 05:00PM You will be meeting Zimbabwen sculpture artist Robin Kutinyu in his studio where he creates master pieces.

WHO IS ROBIN KUTINYU? In his own words: I’ve been surrounded by art my entire life. My father was an acclaimed sculptor who specialised in wildlife and also painted in oils in Zimbabwe. I first started at the age of five doing rhinos, finishing my fathers’ pieces. I honed my skills and sold my own first collection of birds and turtles at the tender age of ten. Since then, i have been completely absorbed by animals, the human figure and sculpture, the movement and anatomy of animals and human form.

I try to capture the essence of my subject i.e. an animal, immortalise a certain moment, a look and feel of what is happening. My work is about the soul of my subject, not just the outer form worked to perfection. I have made my way from understanding my material and the possibilities it gives me to shaping the intangible of an idea, an image, a concept.

There are different ways for me to get inspired. The sculpture might develop from an idea that forms in my mind. Textures create an image. Or I might travel thousands of miles to find an unexplored quarry where I wander around and listen to the stone calling out to me to be worked. Quite often I see in the freshness of nature the complete sculpture in a rock formation.

Working in the silence of the desert is like a retreat, where often sculptures start taking shape, getting their first overall expression. Moving stones that weigh several tonnes is a refreshing exercise to me. The tension between raw material and finished piece keeps me exited all along the process of creation.

I consider it a challenge to catch the movement of the human form in its endless variations. Studying the masters like Donatello, Bernini and Rodin taught me a lot about the different forms the human body can be presented in. To choose the right expression and media for an idea is the task that sets apart my work.

I use many types of media; alabaster and zebra stone from America, wonder stone from south Africa, semiprecious stone from Zimbabwe, wood, wax, and even ice sculptures, granite, marble, picture stone, sand stone, jasper from south Africa, Italy, Namibia, Madagascar, metal and cement. My favourite stones are; granite, for its multiple texture finishing qualities, marble for its classic association with sculptures, Bowenite, Potoro Leonardo, Jasper, Sodalite , picture stone for its dazzling colours, spring stone and wonder stone for the contrasting texture between polished and unpolished.

I have private regular collectors in USA, Germany, England, Australia, Switzerland and a small but growing number in South Africa, one of the highlights being two life size tigers commissioned by the Mother of an international sports figure. And a collection to the National Zoo & Aquarium RMB 999 Lady Denman Drive, Weston Creek, ACT 2611 Australia.

I’ve held personal exhibitions at the Safari Club International in Reno, Afridesia Gallery, Red Bank, New Jersey and an art promotional exhibition held by the Spanish ambassador at his Cape Town residence.

07:00PM Head back to the hotel to freshen up and think back on a packed day’s signature and unique experiences.

2019 SELLING RATE 2 guests R 48 500 3 guests R 49 000 4 guests R 49 500 5 guests R 50 000

TERMS AND CONDITIONS • The rates are quoted per experience and are based on 2 - 5 people • The rates are current and subject to change without prior notice • All bookings need to be made at least 1 month prior • Foreign language translators available at R3 000 per day • Payment: 30 days prior to experience - 50% deposit : 7 days prior to experience - 100% full and final payment • Cancellation: Should the booking be cancelled 7 days or less, 100% cancellation fee will apply

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US AT: T +27 (0) 87 354 6591 E [email protected] VISIT GREATPLAINSCONSERVATION.COM 5 March 2019