Review: Immersion in Live Art Weekend, Art Must Be

It was a privilege to attend Live Art Weekend – Art Must Be – at the Masambe Theatre at the Baxter, last weekend, July 11-13, 2024. Live Art Weekend has been curated by Carin Bester and is presented by her company Working Title. There are four Live Art Weekends in 2024. Two events have passed. There are two more weekends happening in 2024: Art as Resilience – August 29 – 31, Thursday – Saturday and (UN) Inhabitable Zones -December 6-8 (Friday to Sunday).

Bester would love the platform to continue but that depends on getting funding. It is difficult to tag Live Art. It is a fluid umbrella term which may include performance, theatre, dance, visual art, poetry and other creative arts. Drilling down to the nub of Live Art, Bester tagged her 2^nd Live Art Weekend – Art Must Be?  Art must be – what? What it should or shouldn’t be is not the point. Art resonates differently with all of us. https://thecaperobyn.co.za/interview-activating-live-art-with-dynamic-live-art-weekend/ Art should engage and be meaningful for those making it and those receiving it and this is what Bester aims to do with Live Art Weekend – an immersive programme – an intersection of art approaches, expressions and practices. She provides a platform for creatives and a space to engage with others who want to explore art in its manifestations. The idea is to activate the Masambe Theatre and to use the spaces outside, the Masambe precinct, weather dependent.

Unfortunately I was able to only attend half of the Art Must Be programme as there was a clash with another show at the Baxter which I needed to be at so I am unable to write a “review” of the programme. I will say that the pieces were intriguing and the lighting was beautiful, with very good sound quality. One of the issues of attending Live Art/Performance which is site responsive in big spaces is that lighting and sound can be iffy. By using the Masambe as a place holder, Bester frames Live Art in a theatre space and that immediately brings the discipline of using lighting and sound and being keyed into technical aspects, in presenting the work.

I love the concept of bringing Live Art into the Baxter. Yes, some work may be presented outdoors but the space is demarcated and our gaze is directed to a certain extent and cannot roam. I like the format in that each piece is about 20 minutes long and requires our attention throughout. It is not durational performance, where we can dip in and out. Bester includes a question and answer talk back session during each weekend, with the artists taking questions from the audience. I look forward to the next Live Art Weekend. The venue is small so bookings advised.

✳ Live Art Weekend – Art Must Be, the Masambe Theatre, Baxter, July 11-13, 2024.