Bloem First Fridays

Bloem First Fridays is a walkabout show that takes place in the various restaurants and clubs that are situated at 2nd Avenue, from Kalahari.Fish to Blend. Every first Friday of the month, different artists showcase their art work in these restaurants under BFFs, it can be painting, pictures or sculpture. Nosana Sondiyazi who is in partnership with Nomzamo Entile in this initiative, said: “Bloem First Fridays is inspired by First Thursdays in Cape Town and Johannesburg. I worked in Cape Town, at Long Street and there, art galleries were opening until late and there was a map that was created for people who wanted to know where to go when they wanted to see creativity, night time. In Bloemfontein, creativity was not happening at night time, so we decided to bring it by bringing local artists in the spaces that were already open at night, which are the restaurants at 2nd Avenue. So BFFs is creativity, night time at 2nd Avenue, and that is just so far”.

The City of Roses is filled with creative beings but not much places that allow them to feed the eyes and the cognitive of the hungry but BFFs proves to be that place. It is at a very well-known street, the most popular in Bloem and whichever restaurant they display art pieces in has Bloem First Fridays’ sticker at their doors because not all the restaurants at that street become part of their every edition. It was revealed that 2nd Avenue is not the only street that they will be invading but that is a surprise that will be revealed when the time is right. If you’re an artist and you want to exhibit your work with BFFs, Nosana said: “they should give us a very good quality image of their work and have a theme for their art exhibition”.