Open Streets Heads To Mitchells Plain

WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo IMAGES via Anwar Davids on Behance

Inspired by Bogotá’s Ciclovía, a recreational programme that creates 120km of car-free streets in the Colombian capital every Sunday and public holiday, Open Streets has grown into a movement that takes place in over 400 cities around the world.

Since its founding by a group of volunteers in 2012, Open Streets Cape Town has taken place in areas across the city, including Bree Street in the CBD, Observatory and Langa. It is an open and free day where selected streets are blocked off to cars so that communities can use them for recreational activities, be it team sports, cycling or just walking. The next Open Streets will be held on 3 April 2016 in Mitchells Plain, where Merrydale Avenue will be blocked off.

Members of the local communities have already expressed excitement, including local artist Anwar Davids, who was born and raised in the area. “Mitchells Plain is filled with a great energy and vibrancy. It is a place with so many talents and diverse active neighbourhoods. There are all walks of life here,” says Anwar, who also designed the poster for the event, in collaboration with Cape Town-based designer Matt Fraser.

Anwar credits growing up in Mitchells Plain and “walking around to different neighbourhoods just to see the graffiti art on the walls” as part of the influences that led him to study Graphic Design at Cape College, where he was further influenced by cubism, surrealism and pop art. He describes his poster design as being “about free movement and respect for each other”. A closer look at his illustrations reveals references to music, sports and artwork, with a strong sense of movement and energy.

Anwar’s illustration style, which he describes as “merely experimental”, is one he has developed over a wide range of projects, from T-shirts and murals through to album covers, as can be seen on his Behance portfolio, as well as on his website.

For more information about the event, visit openstreets.org.za.