29 June – 5 July, 2009

ART, lectures, bird shows, music, ceramics, dinners . . . it's all happening here.  Follow LUCILLE DAVIE'S selection of the most interesting city activities.

Vantage at JAG
The Johannesburg Art Gallery will be looking for answers to the contradictions around corsetry with a new exhibition called "Vantage", by artist Musha Neluheni. People often think of corsets as antiquated, particularly European female underwear, that have no local relevance. However, corsets today are used by men and women in sport, medicine, fashion and theatre. The exhibition is not about fashion objects, but rather what those objects represent. The exhibition opens on Wednesday, 1 July and runs until 27 September. Read more.

Talk to the birds
Get to the Joburg Zoo to see Bryan Vorster, the world-renowned animal conservationist and demonstrator and his bird show. The shows are interactive, with Vorster picking spectators to experience the creatures. The show is preceded by a reptile display, a show that leaves children and adults alike gaping with curiosity - and a bit of fear. The shows run from Tuesday to Sunday every weekday, including public holidays, until 31 August. Each show lasts for almost an hour; the reptile show starts at 11am and the bird show is on at 2pm. For more info, contact the zoo on 011 646 2000. Read more.

Randlord homes in Parktown
If the gold had been easy to extract Joburg would possibly be a ghost town. The Randlords, many from Europe, saw opportunities in Joburg's deep level gold ores, and settled in the town. They built grand homes in Parktown. Take a talk with the Parktown & Westcliff Heritage Trust, and visit these homes, on Saturday, 4 July. Walk the path of those who revelled in finding solutions and making fortunes for themselves and their shareholders. Their houses express in part the success they achieved. Its fun, it's politically incorrect, so come and enjoy a long walk. Meet at 2pm in the grounds of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment at The View, 18 Ridge Road, Parktown. Cost is R75, booking is at Computicket. For more info phone Eira (mornings only) on 011 482 3349.

William Kentridge at the Goodman
Pop in at the Goodman Gallery in Parkwood for William Kentridge's latest film exhibition, entitled "Breathe, Dissolve, Return". It runs until Saturday, 4 July. The gallery is open Tuesdays to Fridays 9.30am to 5.30pm, and Saturdays 9.30am to 4pm.

Chile and human rights
Register for a 3-hour lecture by the Chilean judge who prosecuted General Pinochet for human rights violations in Chile, Judge Juan Guzmán Tapia, on Tuesday, 30 June. He will talk on "Chile in dictatorship and transition", as well as "Human rights in the context of transitional justice". The lecture is scheduled for 9.30am to 12.30pm at the Council Chambers, UJ Kingsway Campus, Auckland Park. Cost is R500. RSVP to Ayanda Msibi on 011 559 6928 or via email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Holiday fun
There's plenty on the go for the kids – readings, traditional games, craft making, etc. Check out our holiday guide.

Secret of the grain
Get to Alliance Francaise for "The secret of the grain", on Saturday, 7 July at 7pm. The movie is directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, the 2007 winner Cesar's awards for best film, best director and best original screenplay. Enjoy a couscous meal, and try some belly dancing. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 011 646 1115. It's outdoors, so dress warmly.

Sports quiz
If you have cash to spare, go for something different. Talk Radio 702's David O Sullivan and Aki Anastasiou, and The Star's Kevin McCallum have put together a sports trivia quiz evening at the SAB World of Beer, based on O Sullivan's and McCallum's recent book, The Penguin Book of South African Sports Trivia. This happens on Thursday, 9 July at 7.30pm at 15 President Street, Newtown, where there is secure parking. Cost is R300. Book your place with Carol on 011 477 4404 or 076 393 8083; or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Go out and buy your book now and start reading.

Arts on Main exhibition
Get to Arts on Main, Joburg's newest art venue, from this Thursday, 2 July and check out artworks by a bunch of artists who played with oils and brushes while listening to soccer matches. Johannesburg artist Marcus Neustetter and Austrian artist Walter Stach came up with the idea, and will be doing it again for next year's soccer World Cup. While there, have a meal at Canteen, the new restaurant in the arts complex. Book a table with Matthew on 083 399 9740. Park in Berea or Fox streets (corner Main Street).

Water and spirits
The Origins Centre invites you to a lecture by Nessa Leibhammer entitled "Fluid of the ancestors: water and the spirit realm in southern African thought and practice". Leibhammer is currently the curator of traditional southern African art at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. The lecture takes place on Thursday, 2 July at 6.30pm. Cost is R25. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 011 717 4700.

Art workshops in Sophiatown
From Saturday, 4 July The Huddleston Centre in Sophiatown will be starting the Saturday Arts Programme for children from 9-12 years and 12-15 years. The workshops will be facilitated through Hip-hop, Pansula and Afro-fusion dance, drumming, arts and crafts and literature every Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm. The centre is on the corner of Good and Herman streets. For more info contact Zanele or Berlina on 011 673 1271/ 7238.

Rugby dinner
FNB Wits University Rugby invites you to celebrate 100 years of Power, Passion and Camaraderie at the Centenary Dinner at Montecasino on Thursday, 2 July. The event will be broadcast live on SuperSport's Boots & All programme with regulars Naas, Bob Skinstad and their chosen guests. The evening will also feature the club's special guests – Hugh Bladen will be chatting to former Boks Frik du Preez, Alan Menter and British Lion Jeremy Guscott. The MC will be the hilarious raconteur, Grant Heale, who will be sure to keep the wine flowing! To RSVP and for more information contact Elenore Baiocchi on 083 290 8684 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Malcolm Turner on 082 780 7981 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Olde 'n New concert
The next Olde 'n New concert takes place on Sunday, 5 July. Sit back and listen to the Charl du Plessis Trio, playing cool jazz. Charl will be on the piano, Werner Spies will be on bass, while Hugo Radyn plays the drums. Read more on the website. Be there for 4pm. Cost is R100, which includes refreshments. Book with Saul on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or cell 083 414 0041. Venue is Olde 'n New Antiques, corner Empire and Cedar roads, Auckland Park.

Zimbabwe crisis colloquium
The Wits School of Literature and Language Studies invites you to "Exploring the hidden dimensions of the Zimbabwe crises", a two-day colloquium which aims to extend the debate beyond what is generally referred to as the Zimbabwe Crisis and to critically explore the hidden, interrelated and unexplored multiple dimensions thereof. The colloquium will also map out the various ways in which ordinary Zimbabweans have been engaging with it. The colloquium takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, 1-2 July at 8.30am at Hofmeyr House, East Campus. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

In Dialogue ceramics
Get to Bamboo in Melville for "In Dialogue", a ceramic exhibition featuring Deon de Lange and Julia Kunstler. Deon's work focuses on domestic violence where the façade of normality is maintained, using varied, textured surfaces, incorporating text to create the "dialogue". He uses exciting colours on the shapes and has developed decorative wall pieces which are centre pieces for dialogue in a room. Julia K looks at the working side of domestic life, incorporating a farm style look into her ceramic pieces. The pieces are all quirky, yet essentially functional. These pieces will create their own dialogue around a kitchen table, Sunday braai or just between you and the art piece. The exhibition opens at 10am on Saturday, 4 July, and runs until 12 July.

Tracks through Africa
An exhibition called "Making tracks through Africa" is on at the James Hall Museum of Transport, and runs until the end of July. It attempts to honour those who have made a difference in the lives of Africans. It looks at land transport as the means through which people were able to bring humanitarian initiatives to African communities, but also about the infrastructure, aid, education and health care that was left behind. The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9am to 5pm. Entrance is free, but donations are appreciated. It is at Pioneer Park, on Rosettenville Road, La Rochelle. Read more.

Con Hill exhibitions
Catch a variety of exhibitions now on at Constitution Hill. There's a xenophobia exhibition; the Anne Frank exhibition, which runs until 30 June in the Women's Jail; and the International Committee of the Red Cross will be showcasing the Battle of Solverino from Wednesday, 24 June to 3 July. The battle took place in Italy in 1859, and as a result, the International Committee for the Relief of the Wounded was founded in 1863. In 1864, the first Geneva Convention was adopted by 10 states and the first national societies were formed. Then, in 1876, the committee was renamed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The exhibitions are open from 9am to 4pm weekdays and from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. Read more.

Saturn viewing
Saturn is now the brightest "star", quite high in the north-west, in the early evenings. The Planetarium has small-telescope viewing of Saturn before their evening Sky Tonight shows until mid-July, when Saturn starts moving out of our evening sky, and around the other side of the Sun from us. Sky Tonight runs every Thursday at 7pm and every Friday at 8pm. Tickets are R26.50 for adults, R17 for kids. Phone 011 717 1390 for more details, or visit the website.

Sundowners at UJ
The Monday Sundowner Concerts are back, so get to the Kingsway campus of UJ in Auckland Park for the free concert. This week you can enjoy Mathew Reid on clarinet and Pieter van Zyl on piano. The show starts at 5.30pm. The concert takes place at the UJ Art Centre, Entrance 1 on Kingsway Road. For more info call 011 559 3058.

Note: the events are subject to change without notice.