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Blank canvas : Charlene's quirky taste in art and objets is clearly visible in the space. -
Blank canvas : Charlene's quirky taste in art and objets is clearly visible in the space. -
Blank canvas : Blankspace will sell limited-edition prints such as these by owner Charlene Walton. -
Blank canvas : Blankspace will sell limited-edition prints such as this artwork by owner Charlene Walton. -
Blank canvas : Blankspace also promises to become a go-to store for unusual gift stationery. -
Blank canvas : Owner Charlene Walton
WORDS: Carine Visagie | PHOTOS: Shavan Rahim
The Book Lounge in Cape Town will soon have a fun new neighbour: an unusual gallery and stationery shop run by graphic designer Charlene Walton.
The store’s name, “Blankspace”, reflects Charlene’s aim of “covering” any clear surface with a striking design or print. Expect to find letterpress gift cards with nostalgic typographic details, wooden blocks with colourful, expressionist portraits and fun collectables at the tiny store that’s taking shape in a beautiful, 100-year-old building.
Many of the limited-edition prints and products on sale will be by Charlene herself, but a small selection of work by other artists, including Pearly Yon, Karen Vermeulen and Adriaan Louw, will also be on offer. Only items with a fun, light-hearted theme are selected for the space that certainly isn’t for shoppers who take themselves too seriously.
While Charlene and husband Andy Walton are known both here and abroad for their creative work under the Cuie&Co. label, the Blankspace retail story only really began earlier this year.
Charlene had been toying with the idea of opening a gallery space and store when a talk at the 2011 Design Indaba Conference gave her the final impetus to get going. When a prime retail space at 71 Roeland Street became available on the same day, she knew she had to make use of the serendipitous opportunity.
Now, many months of planning later, Blankspace is finally ready to open its doors. The launch in mid-September will coincide with the Meet the Makers project – a Creative Cape Town and Cape Town Design Network initiative that will give participants a special sneak peek into the inner workings of some of the city’s most dynamic design studios.
Visit http://cuieandco.com and www.blankspace.co.za for more information about Blankspace, and join their Facebook group on http://www.facebook.com/blankspacecollective.
For more information on the Meet the Makers studio tours, as well as other events taking place during Creative Week Cape Town, go to www.creativeweekct.co.za or contact rsvp@ctdn.co.za.
