MJ Lourens, pictured, is part of this year’s team of artists working on the Wavescape Artboard Project, which is being spearheaded by Brett Murray.
The Wavescape Surf and Ocean Festival from Friday March 1 to Thursday March 14 celebrates its 20th anniversary with a selection of ocean activities, the Wavescape Artboard Charity Auction, and several film screenings.
The events include an open air film screening with The Galileo Open Air Cinema at Kirstenbosch and a screening in Scarborough; beach clean-ups; a queer surf session; the Wesgro Ocean Film Symposium, and the annual flagship Wavescape Artboard Project, comprising an exhibition of artistic surfboards auctioned for ocean charities.
Festival director Shani Judes said she was proud of Wavescape’s achievements in the 20 years of its existence, with the Artboard Project at the pinnacle of this success.
“Since 2004, we have curated and managed the Wavescape Art Board Project, with a quiver of amazing South African artists who have accepted our invitation to turn surfboards into art for an exhibition and ocean charity auction, which has raised close to R7 million over the years for entities such as NSRI, Shark Spotters, Ocean Pledge, 9 MilesProject, Waves for Change, and the Beach Co-op. We have helped fund several NSRI boats and helped the Shark Spotters keep surfers and sharks in mostly harmonious cohabitation.”
The Deep South Film Festival at the Scarborough community centre will see a screening of Stoker Machine and Corners of the Earth.
The final event of the festival will be the Wesgro Ocean Film Symposium, which aims to boost early film careers, with speakers and networking opportunities.
The Wavescape Surf and Ocean Festival line-up:
Friday March 1: Outdoor screening at Galileo open air cinema at Kirstenbosch. There will be two films, Older than Trees, a short documentary about the ancient world of sharks by Oscar-winning director Pippa Ehrlich, and Point of Change, the true story of how the discovery of the perfect wave changed the Indonesian island of Nias forever.
Until Wednesday March 6: Wavescape Artboard Exhibition at Jack Black’s Taproom, in Diep River.
Wednesday March 6: Wavescape Artboard Charity Auction at Jack Black's Tap Room, in Diep River.
Thursday March 7: Deep South Film Festival, Scarborough Community Centre.
Saturday March 9: Beach Clean-up and Queer Surf Session, Muizenberg.
Wednesday March 13: Wesgro Ocean Film Symposium
Visit https://linktr.ee/wavescapesa for more information.