MEDIA RELEASE 8 JULY 2015

THE WHITE HORSE PROJECT

JESS OLIVIERI AND THE PARACHUTES FOR LADIES
You are invited to the opening event of the Vrystaat Kunstefees on Sunday 12 July 2015. Join over
200 fellow Bloemfonteiners in a parade of song, dance and costume down Raymond Mhlaba
Street (formally Andries Pretorius Street), to celebrate the White Horse of Bloemfontein, a
mysterious rock formation on the side of Naval Hill.
The White Horse has several historical narratives attached to it. Some believe is was created in
the image of the horse Thabure (Destroyer of the Enemies), which belonged to Chief Lerotholi, a
grandson of King Moshoeshoe, the founder of the Basotho Nation; others believe the British
Garrison that was stationed at Naval Hill during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War) of 1899
to 1902 built it because they where restless and wanted something to remind them of home. In
addition it was thought that the White Horse served as a landmark and indicator of a hospital for
horses injured during the South African War. It is also said that every time a couple kisses at Naval
Hill the White Horse moves one step forward and that on a Saturday night you can hear him
galloping!
The White Horse Project is about allowing space for the sharing of multiple narratives and
celebrating difference of opinion. Given the current debate on statues and symbols in South Africa,
the White Horse offers an opportunity to re-purpose and re-imagine symbols in South Africa. For
the last two years the project team has been collecting stories for the work and since May 2015
workshops with artists, scholars and community members have been held in order to create
performances for the parade.
Join the parade at 3pm at Two Tower Church (Tweetoringkerk), Charles Street Bloemfontein
on 12 July 2015. There will be spare instruments and costumes for those who join in. A
braai/ chesen yama will take place at Nice Place 92 Raymond Mhlaba Street (formally Andries
Pretorius Street) at the end of the parade.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/TheWhiteHorseProject
Concept: Jess Olivieri
Dramaturge: Gali Malebo
Curatorial advisor: Angela De Jesus
Production Manager: Mandi Bezuidenhout
Production Assistants: Charne Visser, Sandy Little
SituateArt in Festivals Media: Tiani Chilemi
SituateArt in Festivals Executive Director: Kelli Alred
Director Salamanca Arts Centre: Rosemary Miller
Videographer: Louis Kruger (documentary), Luis Herholdt (Elysium Productions)
Lights: Creative Kilowatt Productions
The Parachutes for Ladies (performers): The wonderful artists of Bloemfontein; Soprano Zanne
Stapelberg; Hodisa Choir; Navalsig High School; Smiley Kids Association; Bloemspruit School;
Sisonke Theatre Production.
The White Horse Project is part of the Programme for Innovation in Artform Development
(PIAD/PIKO), an initiative by the University of the Free State and Vrystaat Arts Festival and
supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture &
Recreation, SituateART in Festivals, Salamanca Arts Centre, Arts NSW, NAVA, Creative
Partnerships Australia and the University of Sydney.
For further inquiries contact:
Roxanne Konco
Marketing Manager
Tel: +27 (0)51 404 7947 roxanne.konco@volksblad.com
www.vrystaatkunstefees.co.za

PERSVERKLARING 8 JULIE 2015

DIE WIT PERD PROJEK

JESS OLIVIERI EN DIE VALSKERMS VIR DAMES

Hiermee word u hartlik uitgenooi na die openingsgeleentheid van die Vrystaat Kunstefees op
Sondag, 12 Julie 2015. Kom deel in die opwinding saam met meer as 200 mede Bloemfonteiners
in n optog van sing, dans en kostuums in Raymond Mhlaba Straat (die voormalige Andries
Pretorius Straat), om die Wit Perd van Bloemfontein te vier, n geheimsinnige klip formasie op die
rand van Naval Hill.
Die Wit Perd het verskeie historiese narratiewe wat daarmee saamgaan. Party glo dat dit geskep
is vir Thabure (Vernietiger van Vyande), wat die perd was van die Voorman Lerotholi, die
kleinseun van Koning Moshoeshoe, die stigter van die Basotho Nasie. Ander glo weer dat die
inspirasie kom van die Britse Fort wat gevestig was by Naval Hill tydens die Anglo Boereoorlog
vanaf 1899 tot 1902, wat iets wou h wat hulle aan hul tuisland herhinder het. Nog n teorie is dat
die Wit Perd gedien het as n landmerk vir n hospitaal vir perde wat tydens die oorlog beseer was.
Di met n meer romantiese uitkyk, glo dat elke keer wat n paartjie die kat in die donker knyp op
Naval Hill, die Wit Perd een tretjie nader gee en dat jy hom op n Saterdagaand kan hoor gallop!
Deur die Wit Perd Projek word n spasie geskep waar verskeie narratiewe gedeel kan word en om
verskeie opinies te vier. Gegewe die huidige debat rondom standbeelde en simbole in Suid-Afrika,
skep die Wit Perd Projek n geleentheid om n nuwe doel en verbeelding te gee aan die simbole in
ons land. Reeds vir die afgelope twee jaar is stories bymekaargemaak en vanaf Mei 2015 is daar
begin met werkswinkels waar kunstenaars, skoliere en die gemeenskap bymekaar kom om die
optredes te skep wat tydens die parade ten toon gestel sal word.
Die parade begin 3pm by die Tweetoringkerk, Charles Straat, Bloemfontein op 12 Julie
2015. Daar sal ekstra kostuums en instrumente wees vir die wat wil deel in die opwinding.
Die parade word afgesluit deur n braai, chesa nama, by Nice Place 92 Raymond Mhlaba Straat
(voormalige Andries Pretorius Straat).
Vir meer inligting, besoek www.facebook.com/TheWhiteHorseProject
Konsep: Jess Olivieri
Dramaturg: Gali Malebo
Kuratoriale Adviseur: Angela De Jesus
Produksie Bestuurder: Mandi Bezuidenhout
Produksie Assistent: Charne Visser, Sandy Little
SituateART in Feeste Pers: Tiani Chilemi
SituateART in Feeste Uitvoerende Direktuer: Kelli Alred
Direkteur Salamanca Arts Centre: Rosemary Miller
Videograaf: Louis Kruger (dokumentr), Luis Herholdt (Elysium Productions)
Ligte: Creative Kilowatt Productions
Die Valskerms vir Dames (kunstenaars): Die wonderlike kunstenaars van Bloemfontein; Sopraan
Zanne Stapelberg; Hodisa Koor; Navalsig Horskool; Smiley Kids Association; Bloemspruit Skool;
Sisonke Theatre Production.
Die Wit Perd Projek is deel van die Program vir Innovering en Kunsvormontwikkeling (PIKO/PIAD),
n initiatief van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat en Vrystaat Kunstefees, ondersteun deur die
Autraliaanse Raad vir Kunste, Vrystaatse Departement vir Sport, Kunste, Kultuur & Herontdekking,
SituateART in Feeste, Salamanca Arts Centre, Arts NSW, NAVA, Creative Partnerships Australia
en die Universiteit van Sydney.
For further inquiries contact:
Roxanne Konco
Marketing Manager
Tel: +27 (0)51 404 7947 roxanne.konco@volksblad.com
www.vrystaatkunstefees.co.za