San Henge Project - Cathedral Peak Wine Estate

Cathedral Peak Wine Estate
June 2015
SAN HENGE PROJECT
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION and EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
This communique is a brief and concise open call for participation in one of the most exciting projects to be
undertaken in the art world ever. Over the next 9 months we will build a San Henge of similar size and proportion
as Stone Henge at the Wine Estate in a fresh, new and contemporary way.
Why? As Cathedral Peak Wine Estate we are the first Wine Estate in the local region and we are forging a new
industry in the region. Our wines promote a great sense of place. In this regard we are as acutely aware of the
heritage of our location - and in this we refer to the spectacular World Heritage Site - Unesco 985. More so we are
extremely aware that what we are doing now, will form part of the heritage of tomorrow.
During the next 9 months we will be building am amazing feature using methods of old and ideas of new in unique
design and construction around a known theme. Emphasis will be on zero footprint awareness techniques and
features and to couple this with legacy of the SAN. In the end the structures must build awareness of the history –
its place with Unesco and of the spectacular beauty and mountain diversity.
How? With the high focus on zero footprint and the awareness of heritage all structures need to reflect that the
ways of today is the heritage of tomorrow. The central message of taking responsibility for tomorrow by making
conscious choices is vital to get across. In this we will use art in all ways to get the message across. The site will be
built to scale – 75m in diameter - with columns of up to 6.5m tall in the centre. All materials used will be zero
footprint – and be used in such a fashion that from a distance it will seem like rock and then as you get inside the
circle it will be only be seen that it is not stone but other materials. On each slab will be an expression that tells of
the heritage of the area.
The possibilities are endless and we are excited that individual approach of this will be varied and thought
provoking. As Cathedral Peak Wine Estate we will assist those who want to use poles and straw as base material
for the slabs and add at the back an example of this so you can visualise what we will do.
In each of these slabs we will then embed a “rock painting” that tells a part of the story. These images will be
done San style. This then will tell the story of the San by creating replicas of the most famous, but also about how
the San would perceive our modern way of life. This use of material and thought provoking linkages and
perspective forms the base of the message.
Cathedral Peak Wine Estate (Pty) Ltd
(O): + 27 36 488 1857 www.cathpeakwines.com
Who must participate
participate?
articipate? We want you!! We want an expanded community to become part and find
participation on all levels. There will be a place for all – be it mixing cob, introducing a creative friend or a local
artist looking for a break. We want every single one to come and join in. There are just so many ways to
participate – it can be in the form of the most fascinating art form like crushed glass figurines or by making up a
team that will provide mental support whilst having a glass of wine. We don’t mind – we just want a crazy dynamic
that allows us to enthuse about the world and commit to making things better than we found it. In this we want
the feature to create a place that all can be part of. With over 240 structures, images and objects to be done from
very large to very small there is a place for all.
What needs to
to be done? On the website www.sanhenge.co.za you can get all detail soon. In simple
terms we will build Stone Henge to scale with materials in a stimulating and expressive way so it drives
societal awareness and change. This is achieved by choice of materials, thinking about the message
and words and creating a message one object at a time. This creates an
overall effect of informing of the past and create refection of today.
There are a million ways to do this – you can decide – but overall
we will build slabs, pillars, objects, pathways, images and
figurines to tell this as a single message.
When? The program will be launched on 11 July at our Winter
Wine Event. At the event the San Henge project will be opened
for part one of the build and all interested parties that come will be
of the development workshop during the day. That evening will end with
formal food and wine pairing of the evening function.
part
the more
Before then we will get the initial expression of interest and design and complete the project build schedule. This
will be distributed as a group mail and whatsapp until the website is finished.
With what?
what? This is open for interaction and so many ways are possible. We just have one objective and that is
too stimulate by visual effect and simple statements. It is expected that our creative communities will find
amazing ways to this and we just create a platform. It can be done with anything and from anything with the only
criteria that it stimulates. We include a variety of images that may stimulate.
What next?.
next?. Reply by mail to [email protected], or sms to 082 378 4204 and state San Henge and
we will sign you up. We will slot you in and assist you in taking part. This is a project for all. It is our world – it is
our place – let’s work together.
Greetings
J Vermaak
a. Project Base Line. The early inhabitants here were the San. The San
people that stayed here left an incredible legacy with their zero footprint
way of life and their utmost respect for all things living. The project must
tell their story with recognition of their ways and to promote the
spectacular diversity in the area. We want to tell this in a way that is
relevant and exciting to get this message across in a thoughtful and creative
way. By doing this we will create a very positive awareness of the area and
its heritage and stimulate a pathway of conscious choice of our ways in the way we live today.
b. Build Schedule. The Image and breakdown shown here is to assist all participants to see the scope and
to assist in understanding the build schedule and components. Its features will have the outer ring and top
plinths, the inner ring of figurines and the central pillars. Outside there is the walkway and outer bunds. For
construction through participation is the following
a. Outer Slabs
(32)
-4m x 2m x
1m
Plinth
(32) - 5m x 1m x
0.5m
b. Inner Figurines (32)
- 1,5m x 1.m
x 0.5
c. Central Pillars ( 5) - 6.5m x 3m x
1.5m
c. Qudr
Qudradrants.
dradrants. The design provides
for multi layered expression with each
portion laying over the other. The
segments each reflect on aspect as part
of a whole. Each quadrant has a project
leader that co-ordinates the build so it
forms a cohesive message.
d. Materials.
Materials. Anything and everything
goes, but with awareness off materials that contribute to global warming – limited cement and steel – unless
recycled. The structure needs to be self powered and light up at night in selected areas. It will pump water
from the wells and clean it and make it safe – it must draw attention to the health of our world heritage site
and inspire to make changes in our homes and workplace. You can make a contribution to this process by
providing batches of materials to us in any form bit may be: Tiles, steel for art animals, solar panels, crushed
glass, wood poles, old art or pumps. We will find a use for it – even old cash will work.
Examples of an outer slab of materials will be as follows
1 -clay brick footing, 4 x 6m telephone pole, 55 straw bales, clay, wire, labour, led lights, wire, cob, resin, paint
2 - clay brick footing, 4.5m offcut aluminium cage, river stone, rope, twine, cob, led lights, wire, cob resin,
paint
3 - clay brick footing, 4.5m steel frame, solar front panels, polystyrene fill, mesh, clime plaster, cob, resin, paint
4 - clay brick footing, 240 wheel rims in 8 columns, gravel fill, rope, wire, cob, resin, paint
This clearly illustrates that the structure itself will be of anything and then plastered with cob and lime plaster to
make the San Henge look like stone form outside. On the inner, the materials will be made visible through slots to
draw attention to material and human impact only. This will ensure it looks classy but gets the message across.
Water and carrying this in an ostrich egg was an important skill in dryer parts of San life.
Three different ways to remind us of it. How do we conserve it today?