Earthly delights: The Winter Fair at the Nirox Sculpture Garden offers Gautengers inner and outer fuel.
This weekend’s Winter Sculpture Fair, which takes place at the Nirox Sculpture Garden in the Cradle of Humankind, is being promoted as an opportunity to stock up for the cold months ahead. Local produce will feature and the committed outdoor-market set, which now includes thousands, will have yet another venue where it can go to obtain its fresh and bottled goods.
In case that sounds a little too demanding, think of it as a great opportunity to get out of town and spend quality time in one of the most beautiful locations in Gauteng.
Unlike others, we at the centre of the country’s most populous province suffer as a result of restricted movement. One hears people complain of a shortage of public space. So a day in the country might take care of an urge.
Presented by MasterCard, the event offers “Tengers” the opportunity to meander through the Nirox Sculpture Garden, which is showing large-scale sculptures in an exhibition titled After the Rainbow Nation. The works have returned from being exhibited in The Hague in the Netherlands in 2012 as part of the city’s annual exposure of world sculpture.
Curator Mary-Jane Darroll has added new works to the original line-up and big-name artists include Gavin Younge, Angus Taylor and Serge Alain Nitegeka.
The food side of the Winter Sculpture Fair hopes to bring a taste of Franschhoek to denizens of the north. Visitors will have the opportunity to buy a variety of cheeses, charcuterie, wines and chocolates from leading Franschhoek producers at the fair’s country market.
A separate retail area will sell whiskies, scarves, leather bags, books and more.
Lunches will be prepared by chefs from top restaurants including Le Quartier Français, Pierneef à la Motte, Reuben’s and Cotage Fromage. Food purchased can be eaten at picnic tables in the Nirox gardens — a treat, since the venue does not usually allow picnics. Wineries will sell by the bottle or the glass. Labels include Môreson, La Motte, Boekenhoutskloof and Vrede en Lust.