its one way or the highway to show 'n tell 2010

Some of you are coming by train and some by plane. Some of you are from Jozi and some are from China, china. Some of you will be masked and some will even be on the Cinematic Motion Picture Screen. But one thing’s for sure...we’re all maatjies (not matjies) and we’re all going one way. It’s been called everything from Mike’s Fountain to Mates Fonteen but there is only one.........Matjiesfontein.

Its 250 km from Cape Town,1 200 km from Johannesburg on the N1 national highway and 15 789 3764 km from China.

From Cape Town, take the N1 through Paarl, the Huguenot Tunnel, Worcester, Touws River and on towards Laingsberg which should take you 2 hrs 30 minutes. If you’re driving from Jozi, use a map, pal.

Now get those pens out and write down your ‘what to pack’ list. Why? Because you’ll never remember...so here goes:


- Dress-up for ‘wies jou oupagrootjie’ dinners. Come on, it’s Heritage Day...make it up!

- Raid that stationery draw for pens, pencils, crayons etc. for little maatjies events

- Bottled water - Lord Milner’s pipes are a little rusty, know whadda I mean?

- Cash (there are no ATMS’s or escalators for that matter)

- Snacks and drinks for lazy lawn sessions (there are no shops or panda bears for that matter but we’ve heard there are going to be owls... hoot! hoot!)

- Tennis, boule and soccer attire (if you’re on the show ‘n tell soccer team you are going to need a black AND a white shirt...we have no idea why so ask Adam Cooper when you see him)

- Swimming costumes for midnight synchronised swimming sessions

- Warm clothes for those c-c-c-cold, Karoo nights and mooooon gazing

- Musical instruments and your VuVuzelas (they count too, even if the English Premier League doesn’t think so)

- Cards, games and your poker face

- Your dancing shoes

- Whatever gear you need for your contributions

NB*

* Please settle all your bills (including that ridiculous bar tab you’ve run up over the course of the weekend – cards are accepted) and don’t forget to tip the hardworking staff of the Lord Milner
* If you are vegetarian, please tell the waiters that you would like something without eyes (that option is not on the menu)
* Self-catering peeps, if you are going to be having dinner in the hotel on any of the nights, please let reception know when you check in
* If you're lost, having a wardrobe crisis and need some advice, or just want to breathe heavily into your phone call Raffaella (082 3666 374) or Inge (083 2821283)

That's it from the Matjies Massive.
Over and Out.

p.s. This is a hula-hoop friendly event

Matjies Show 'n Tell 2010

Words by Toast Coetzer

Matjies Show ‘n Tell – 23 to 26 September 2010

Many people are confused when they see ‘Matjies Show ‘n Tell’ written as an email subject line. How should they know that Matjies, which is short for Matjiesfontein, is a place where maatjies meet for one weekend a year in order to show and tell like it’s nobody’s business? Even those maatjies who have been to Matjies before don’t always know their matjie from their maatjie, because you see the one is a small reed mat of sorts, the reeds growing in little streams such as the one at Matjiesfontein, hence the name, and the other one with two “a’s” being a maatjie, primary school Afrikaans for your buddy, your pal, your tjommie, your friend. What kind? The nice kind.

This year is the 5th Show ‘n Tell already! If you’ve missed out before, make sure you start thinking about what your contribution is going to be this time round. Keep one eye on your in-box and the other on the blog to find out when bookings officially open. Because this year is a long weekend we thought we should give everyone extra time to come up with a contribution and figure out their matjies from their maatjies so bookings will open in July.

Remember, the town can only take 100 guests, so when bookings do open the first 100 people to email us with their contribution idea and book their accommodation will constitute this year’s sum total of Show ‘n Tellers. In the meantime, don’t be shy.... email us with your contribution ideas or better yet, post them on the blog. Yes, it’s your blog too.

There are only two conditions to attending this event. No, make that three.

1.You have to book accommodation as it’s a three-day event and there are no other places to sleep in the vicinity except really cold, dark culverts. You can only book accommodation if you stipulate what you’re planning to contribute to the weekend.
2. You have to contribute, i.e. you have to bring some entertainment along. This is a show where you are the show. Some play guitar, others organize spoon and egg races, some bring interesting DVDs to screen, there are magic shows sometimes, also interpretive dance is even allowed, also we don’t frown upon poets reading their work out loud, even making a cartwheel grandly across the lawns can count as your contribution. A mini-cricket exhibition match, anyone? Everyone participates, everyone watches. You don’t have to be a pro at whatever you tackle – even better if you’re not. Guitarists are welcome to attempt the sax, poets are welcome to attempt fast bowling…Are you a closet pole-vaulter? Are you an illustrator but secretly you’ve always wanted to strum the ukulele? Now’s your chance.
3. You’ve got to be in it for the fun. No-one gets paid to perform so logistics and costs of your contribution are all up to you. Collaboration is the name of the game. Get five friends together and stage a play or whatnot.

That really is that. And don’t let us catch anyone confusing their maatjies with their matjies again. Sure, you can have a Matjies-maatjie, even Matjies-maatjies if you’re the popular kind, even Matjies-maters (maters are bigger maatjies than small maatjies) but you can’t hang out with your matjies unless you mean the reed mats and reed mats are no good conversation and thus not ayoba at all. You’ve gotta hang out with your maatjies. That’s rightly ayoba.

Q'nA about S'nT

For the uninitiatited what is Matjiesfontein Show & Tell?
“Show ’n tell” is a platform for everyone’s creative explorations. The aim is for everyone to contribute in the old fashioned way: perform, play and present in the tiny town of Matjiesfontein over a weekend.
Matjiesfontein is a Victorian “edelgesteente” (gemstone) located in the semi-desert Karoo. In prehistoric times, it was an inland sea, where strange reptiles and fish. In its colonial heyday, the town attracted dandies, damsels and plain old roughnecks. It is one street long, belongs to one man and consist of a victorian hotel filled with real antiques.

How does it work?
Everyone that comes to the weekend has to come up with a creative contribution to present. You could sing a song, bake a cake, juggle grapefruit during breakfast, play chopsticks on the bar piano, dj, recite poetry, challenge a rabbit on the tennis court, exhibit you favorite things or tell a ghost story … “Show ’n’ tell” is not a commercial undertaking - all participants are responsible for costs, logistics and technical requirements of their contributions. There is no added charge to see any of the shows.

What kind of person does it attract - do most people contribute something?
The mix of people who come are generally from within various creative fields - designers, poets, actors, photographers, musicians, writers , architects - but the idea is not for it to be exclusive to professional artists only - we believe everyone has some creativity in them and Show 'n Tell wants to challenge people to express their creativity in an informal situation. People have to state their contributions to book accommodation, so yes, everyone contributes in some way.

Why Matjiesfontein?
The town is a declared heritage site - it has a rich history of entertainment, murder, mayhem and magic and one can feel the magic tapestry of gallantry, ghosts fact and fiction. The victorian buildings and antiques are well preserved and feels like a magic set waiting for something to happen. It’s isolated and forgotten in the semi desert - it is the perfect place to have a weekend of play and escapism.

interview between Dan Pinch and myself, 2007

press release 2009

Show & Tell 2009

Not for the first time, friends and unknowns will descend on the tiny sub-Karoo hamlet (a place is a hamlet when a guide book says it is) of Matjiesfontein on the 2nd and 3rd of October 2009 for South Africa’s damn well nicest and best dressed* happening: Show & Tell.
Anyone can come. You too. It works like Show & Tell worked when you were a little cutie with ponytails who took a wounded Namakwaduifie in to Mrs Goosens’s class. Yes, you must do something. You can sing a song, hum Nkosi Sikilele, draw pictures of toenails, stick poems to the doorposts, create a labyrinth (last year’s was so good we lost four dear friends in there), organize a game of naked touch rugby or DJ the Koue Bokkeveld Skank or ANYTHING your precious Liqui Fruit box heart desires. And then you must come to Matjies, and share it with some of the funnest people you’ll meet outside of an AA meeting which decides to meet at Kaizer Chiefs home games, Main Stand, block G, row J.

* debatable

words by Toast Coetzer


The small print: Show & Tell is not a commercial undertaking, so all participants are responsible for their own accommodation, costs, logistics and technical requirements for your contribution.

bottom image from the :Portrait studio 2007

NOTE: click HERE or on the ABOUT tab on right to find out more

QUESTION What ISSSSS Show 'n Tell ????!!!

HERE is the FULL low down - READ IT - or be square

When ?: weekend of 2 and 3 October 2009

Board the train, or pour some black gold in your car, gits, you can even walk if you have the time and want to keep your carbon footprint down to a size 4, but come! Where? What? Here, or there, to Matjiesfontein in the Karoo, where, besides the ghosts and the cat
in the foyer of the hotel and a lekker rowdy bar with a loud bell to clang if you don't get the attention you think you deserve, Heritage weekend offers you the most unusual party of the year.

Party? Half-party, half-event, half-made up, half planned, the Show & Tell weekend is now in its FOURTH year and promises to be all the undercover hype you've heard and more.

Thing is, Show & Tell is all about you . Yes, promise. It's made up by you. If you can sing, bring your voice. If you can strum, bring your guitar. If you have some old films or weird DVDs you wanna share with people, bring the projector or the screen or the whatnot. Everyone who comes to Show & Tell must bring something to show or tell, it's that simple. What happened at school if you didn't bring anything to show or tell on show and tell day? Yup, nought out of ten for you and an hour in the corner behind the sandbox facing the wall.

So don't be a drag, come participate. Play tennis in funny clothes, juggle grapefruit at breakfast, read a poem your mother wrote, make a handstand while holding your dog's leash in your mouth, whistle a Romanian folk tune, take photos, exhibit, paint your bum yellow, snort a tequila for Dali – everything counts!

Matjiesfontein belongs to Show & Tell for the weekend – the aim is to book out most or all of the village's accommodation so that it's filled with like-minded people.


Truth: Show & Tell is not a commercial undertaking, so all participants are responsible for their own accommodation, costs, logistics and technical requirements for your contribution. However, resources are pooled, ie if three of you wanna DJ, then between you you arrange for the decks or whatnot.

You speak to the ORGANIZERS
,the organizers points you in the right direction.
Introducing: Julia, Inge and Marc ( featured here)




No additional fees will be charged to see the individual shows, which will be scattered throughout the weekend in the most relaxed sort of way, indoors, outdoors, up a tree, in a cupboard.

Matjiesfontein can only sleep 100 people, so that's the limit. It's a heritage site, so there's no trampling the succulents going on.

Once you've decided on your creative contribution, book your bed and tell us what you plan to show and/or tell. You can operate alone or in a group of course.

words by Toast Coetzer

weekend 2 / 3 october 2009

hot off the press..
2009 Show 'n Tell dates - weekend of 2/3 October!!!

Keep it in your dagboek now ..lots happening that time of year..
start saving up for your luxury hotel room...

come hang out in the Karoo!

Time is speeding up and soon we will be chilling, g&t in hand, with the warm Karoo wind on our backs... in the magical and mysterious town of Matjiesfontein. I, for one... cannot wait! There are lots of surprises and fabulous things lined up and we will be giving you more and more clues over the next few weeks. So watch the blog!

I want to hear your questions, answers, ponderings and darkest secrets. Whats the word on the street? Are you getting enough Matjies love? If you are confused and lonely, or even just want to know if there is a plugpoint for you to use for your contribution, email me, Julia.

19 and 20 September 2008

Board the train, or pour some black gold in your car, gits, you can even walk if you have the time and want to keep your carbon footprint down to a size 4, but come! Where? What? Here, or there, to Matjiesfontein in the Karoo, where, besides the ghosts and the cat
in the foyer of the hotel and a lekker rowdy bar with a loud bell to clang if you don't get the attention you think you deserve, Heritage weekend offers you the most unusual party of the year. Party? Half-party, half-event, half-made up, half planned, the Show & Tell weekend is now in its third year and promises to be all the undercover hype you've heard and more.

Thing is, Show & Tell is all about you . Yes, promise. It's made up by you. If you can sing, bring your voice. If you can strum, bring your guitar. If you have some old films or weird DVDs you wanna share with people, bring the projector or the screen or the whatnot. Everyone who comes to Show & Tell must bring something to show or tell, it's that simple. What happened at school if you didn't bring anything to show or tell on show and tell day? Yup, nought out of ten for you and an hour in the corner behind the sandbox facing the wall.

So don't be a drag, come participate. Play tennis in funny clothes, juggle grapefruit at breakfast, read a poem your mother wrote, make a handstand while holding your dog's leash in your mouth, whistle a Romanian folk tune, take photos, exhibit, paint your bum yellow, snort a tequila for Dali – everything counts!

Matjiesfontein belongs to Show & Tell for the weekend – the aim is to book out most or all of the village's accommodation so that it's filled with like-minded people.

Truth: Show & Tell is not a commercial undertaking, so all participants are responsible for their own accommodation, costs, logistics and technical requirements for your contribution. However, resources are pooled, ie if three of you wanna DJ, then between you you arrange for the decks or whatnot. You speak to the organizer, the organizer points you in the right direction. No additional fees will be charged to see the individual shows, which will be scattered throughout the weekend in the most relaxed sort of way, indoors, outdoors, up a tree, in a cupboard.

Matjiesfontein can only sleep 100 people, so that's the limit. It's a heritage site, so there's no trampling the succulents going on. Once you've decided on your creative contribution, book your bed and tell us what you plan to show and/or tell. You can operate alone or in a group of course.

words by Toast Coetzer

19 and 20 September THIS year : two thousand and great! Come to the tiny dot of Matjiesfontein for a weekend of play. This little victorian gem will be our host for the 3rd Show'n Tell. All visitors have to state their creative contributions to the weekend- that can be anything BIG or s m a l l.
Bookings to start soon soon soon.. In the meantime dream up and start planning your idea.
The town can only accommodate limited numbers so keep watching this space..
the ball set to start rolling ssoooooooonnnnn

“Show ’n’ tell” is a platform for your creative explorations. Its a weekend away, a weekend of play.The aim is for everyone to contribute in the old fashioned way: perform, play and present in the tiny Karoo Town of Matjiesfontein- 19 and 20 September 2008.
You could sing a song, bake a cake, juggle grapefruit during breakfast, play chopsticks on the bar piano, dj, recite poetry, challenge a rabbit on the tennis court, exhibit you favourite things or tell a ghost story …

NEWS FLASH Matjiesfontein has been block-booked by us for 19 and 20 September 2008!
Note it in your dagboek so long - and start planning your creative contribution!!
( image of the haunted circus form here)

Remember that the Matjiesfontein Show ‘n Tell is a small independant festival that is not a festival.
So please relax and where you see fit please lend a helping hand in setting up screens and projectors and enjoy entertaining each other.

A... click on the HOW TO BOOK label on the right for details how to book. Click on ACCOMMODATION to see options..

“Show ’n’ tell” is not a commercial undertaking therefore all participants are responsible for costs, logistics and technical requirements for your contribution. There will be no added charge to see any of the shows.
We encourage all contributors to hand pick a venue in the ‘fontein ( see the locations Label). The program will ultimately depend on the kind of contributions you want to make.

22 and 23September 2007

We invite you to board the train and brave the ghosts of Matjiesfontein for a Heritage weekend of lucky packet style entertainment. Pack your gheeeetarr, your super-8 projector, your history-in-the-making-goulash-of-paint-on-canvas, your grandmother’s record collection, your gut-spilling grand monologue or a very fine array of rainbow cupcakes and join this motley crew of people for a song and a dance.
Matjiesfontein is a Victorian edelgesteente located in the little Karoo where long gone fish once flourished. In its heyday, the town attracted dandies and damsels and plain old roughnecks. Remnants of this town’s colourful past are displayed in orderly fashion in the Matjiesfontein museum.
“Show ’n’ tell” is a platform for your creative explorations. The aim is for everyone to contribute in the old fashioned way: perform, play and present. You could sing a song, bake a cake, juggle grapefruit during breakfast, play chopsticks on the bar piano, dj, recite poetry, challenge a rabbit on the tennis court, exhibit you favourite things or tell a ghost story … Finally! A weekend without TV.
The fine print:
The “Show ’n’ tell” is not a commercial undertaking therefore all participants are responsible for costs, logistics and technical requirements for your contribution. There will be no added charge to see any of the shows.
We encourage all contributors to visit the ‘fontein and hand pick a venue. The following sites are available: the Lord Milner hotel (lounge area, lobby, staircase), the museum, tennis court, coffee shop, red bus, bar, elaborate garden and amphitheatre.
The program will ultimately depend on the kind of contributions you want to make.
Please state your creative contribution when booking
accommodation. Matjiesfontein can only accommodate a hundred (100) people and is a sensitive heritage site, i.e. procrastinate and…
http:// www.matjiesfontein.com