THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Fes Festival Fringe - Art, Culture, Music and Fun

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Fes Festival Fringe - Art, Culture, Music and Fun

One of the fascinating aspects of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is the emerging "festival fringe". The events in this years fringe include everything from photographic exhibitions and street theatre to flash mobbing.

Once again this year Jess Stephens is at the heart of the action. Jess, a visual artist and creator of the Culture Vultures enterprise, will open her pop-up gallery in the Tala'a Kbira (see map below) with exhibitions by local and international artists. It is the place to check out to discover what events are happening around the Medina and in the Ville nouvelle.

Pop- up art space ‘alZahra’ in the Tala'a Kbira

The Culture Vultures fringe events include Flash Mobbing Fez - spontaneous events with dance, music and song, presented in conjunction with the Australian Timbre Flaws Choir, Gershom Company and The American School Fez. It could happen just about anywhere at any time from June 7th to 15th.

A "street carpet"

Another event worth taking a look at is the extraordinary street carpet - a creation by Colleen Cassar, a multi-media artist from Australia. It will comprise a textile wall carpet from gathered waste fabrics and recycled clothing. The creation, inspired by the ‘boucheruite’ carpets and Morocco’s traditional cross stitch embroidery will become a vertical panel representing an Andalucian garden space.

Jess Stephens

Another imaginative event in the Festival Fringe is the three and a half hour Garden Walk Art Project with Heidi Vogels from Amsterdam. The genesis of this project was the research into Fez's gardens and stories Heidi undertook in preparation for a short film.

The Garden Walk includes an introduction to the historical development of the city’s green spaces, an intimate look into stories and memories of Fez citizens, and the illustration of the garden as imaginary space in poetry and song. Sharing stories, facts and finds is the starting point for the walk with the artist, while turning unexpected corners in exploring the medina gardens and their spatial and social aspects.

The Garden Walks will take place on Thursday 13th and Sunday 16th of June. They begin at 09.30, from the Pop-Up AlZahra. Do bring a sun hat, your camera and good walking shoes. Cost is only 300 dh per person which includes refreshments and a healthy dose of inspiration.

For more information and booking visit the Pop-Up art space alZahra during the festival or contact Jess: culture.vulture1@rocketmail.com Website: http://culturevulturesfez.org/