Art outdoors: Appreciating art, wildlife

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by Rosie Mitchell There is a veritable run of winter art appreciation and purchasing opportunities this month, all running from 10am to 4pm, and all setting a pleasant sunny winter’s day scene for socialising, eating, drinking, and most importantly, enjoying art by some of our country’s finest.

The Blue Moon Art Exhibition is on today at the new venue on Collins Avenue, The Riverine, with music by Drums of Peace. Next Sunday, head to Wild Geese Lodge for their ArtFest, featuring 40 artists, and a percentage of proceeds to charities

. On July 28, it’s that wonderful annual art lovers’ treat, the Verandah Gallery Exhibition, now turning 21, at 16 Woodholme Rd, Emerald Hill, with paintings by 60 artists, music by the Detema Jazz Band and 25% commission on sales to Emerald Hill Children’s Home and Emerald Hill School for the Deaf.

As usual, the Verandah Gallery 2013 Calendars will be launched and sold at this very popular event. So buy some new Zimbabwean art this month if you’re feeling flush, and if you’re not, just go along to appreciate the works, find out who’s out there in the visual arts world, and socialise with fellow art lovers.

For the energetic, the next events on the running calendar are the Kariba Half Marathon and Victoria Falls Marathon and Half Marathon on August 12 and 26 respectively. I’m opting for Kariba as I’ve not yet done this Half, and though I’ve heard it’s steeper than one might expect, it appeals as a good excuse to be Kariba bound and enjoy some winter sun.

The Harare Athletics Club (HAC) have their enjoyable series of Cross Country runs at this time of year, and a couple of these beforehand, on July 8 and 22, are a pleasant way to keep your training up for these excellent events.

Mukuvisi Woodlands is a truly wonderful place to walk and run (and do all sorts of other things besides) and more and more nature lovers are taking advantage of the ‘Last Sunday of the Month Run/Walk’ on clearly marked trails of varying distances.

Proceeds from the modest fee go to the up-keep of the Woodlands, which, like so many vitally important environmental projects run largely by volunteers, has a constant battle on its hands to pay for its maintenance, salaries, and many other expenses.

Membership of the Woodlands for a whole family is just US$35 a year, US$20 for an individual, US$5 for seniors, and well worth having, granting free entry year round with other benefits, and being a simple and effective way to support this community initiative which ensures that this lovely area remains as an enjoyable city greenbelt and game park.

We recently enjoyed a weekend entertaining some delightful overseas visitors from the UK and Bulgaria, and with just two days available to give the latter in particular a taste of our lovely country and its wildlife, were able to do so without even leaving the city limits. Henry, the student son of a decades-since-emigrated old school friend of mine, grew up in England, and is currently tracing his roots, doing a vacation job at Springvale School, where his grandfather was once headmaster.

He came for the weekend and I whisked him off on a wonderful 16km run. Though not a runner per se (rather, a squash player) he was gung ho and I was able to give him a great dose of the bush, starting in suburban Mandara and ending up in Chishawasha, cutting through the periphery of Gletwyn, Chikurubi farm, and the surrounds of Sternblick mining area.

He was amazed at how quickly we were “in the wilds”, thoroughly enjoyed himself, and was none the worse for wear, though both of us were tired by the end as, like mad dogs and Englishmen, we ran in the heat of the day, and almost lost one of the dogs (again — careless me!), who grew overheated by the exertion!

Next day, we entertained Henry and two lovely young Bulgarian computer hardware technicians out on a business trip, first in Mukuvisi Woodlands, then on to Haka Game Park for a long late afternoon walk, followed by wine at sundown, the perfect combination outing. They enjoyed eland, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, the beautiful scenery, and in Haka, the wonderful San rock paintings we took them to see.

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