Braamfontein Public art hoisting
On Saturday 18th August 2007 from 09h00am, the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) and its partner the Braamfontein Improvement District (BID) will hoist the 20 ton, 5,5 metre-high concrete public artwork called the Eland. This spectacular hoisting will take place at the corners of Bertha and Ameshoff Streets, the Gateway site, Braamfontein.
Designed by renowned artist Clive van den Berg, the Eland was selected out of four other submissions following a process in which suitable artworks were invited by the multi-stakeholder Braamfontein Art Committee.
"Eland places a large representation of an eland on a corner where it has long since disappeared. This slightly forlorn image of a majestic animal would bring beauty and grandeur to a busy place. I hope it would also be an emblem that prompts reflection on our relationship to the past, and to the interconnectedness of environmental, cultural and spiritual destinies. The Braamfontein gateway corner is a busy connector of our lateral geography of memory and the spirit", says the JDA's CEO Lael Bethlehem.
The JDA-led regeneration work in Braamfontein has transformed the area into a thriving precinct in which office; retail and residential space is in high demand, and vacant buildings are virtually non-existent. The Braamfontein marketing payoff line: 'a place where people rise to greatness' sums up the mixed-use characteristics of the area, capturing the notion that it is a containable and manageable space, with surrounding corporate and educational institutions providing a context for building success.
The work of hoisting Eland will commence at 07h00 and finish at 18H00 in the evening. It is envisaged that the traffic flow into the City centre will slow down from 14h00.
The traffic will be diverted from Amershoff Street into De Beers to connect at De Korte to join into the Mandela Bridge.
Motorists are advised to use the Joe Slovo off ramp or alternatively the Booysen off ramp. Traffic on Jan Smut and Empire Road will be affected. Once on Empire Road it is advisable to drive up and turn at De Beers Street if you are travelling into the City. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by this work and we urged motorist to exercise patience when driving in the area.
Members of the media are invited to come and witness this spectacular event from 09h00 onwards.
ENDS.
For more information contact:
Sammy Mafu
084 777 5052
