The new Field Office in Woodstock – the third in Cape Town – promises to shine a new spotlight on the artistic talent in this diverse neighbourhood.

Just last week, amid threats of snow and rain on the mountain, the Pedersen + Lennard guys not only opened a third Field Office in Woodstock, they also unveiled its exciting new exhibition wall showcasing the artworks of this bustling suburb’s many talented artists.

Design duo Luke Pedersen and James Lennard’s latest in their series of coffee, co-working and design hubs is themed the Neighbourhood Edition. Although it’s a little smaller than the other two, we love that it picks up on that special Woodstock charm: it sits on a corner surrounded by the area’s enchanting Victorian cottages. We also think that its dedicated exhibition wall lends an added edge to the already great reputation established by their first two stores. Think good coffee, fab food and free wi-fi as well as a range of Pedersen + Lennard designer furniture. Now add art!

The current art exhibition features works by Lauren Fowler, Brett Murray, Paul Senyol, Nic Grobler, Paul Edmunds, Simon Berndt, Marsi van der Heuvel and others. So-called “chief whip” and curator Roberta Grantham will be negotiating with the artists to arrange new exhibitions and she says: “Much more community art collaborations are on the cards as well as a drive to eventually push things to a gallery level.”

The shop is all decked out in warm shades of gold, brass and natural leather, emanating a sense of homeliness, rather than the urban vibes given off by its two predecessors. “It’s a little more grown up,” says Luke. If you can tear your eyes away from all the art on the wall, check out the striking brass-plated shop counter. Two bulbous lights fixed on specially designed solid brass tubing extend from the wall to eye things out over the counter.

Providing stylish seating in one corner is a set of Pedersen + Lennard’s new Huguenot furniture range, made of oak timber and consisting of a table and chairs. Another brand new collection, so new it’s still nameless is also dotted around − a round wooden table top with three metal legs and mix-and-match round stools.  

A small range of the Pedersen + Lennard furniture and other products are also for sale.

Field Office, 34 Salisbury Street, pedersenlennard.co.za

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The epic creative crowd-sourcing project that blew the Mother City away in 2009, 1 000 Drawings, is back and an official World Design Capital 2014 project. A series of public doodle sessions has been launched and, well, they want your doodles. Yes you read right. Before you roll your eyes and think “there go those Capetonians again, what’s next…” read on.

The idea started back in 2006 when Paballo ya Batho, a Johannesburg-based innercity soup kitchen’s truck was stolen, and they found themselves without a way to feed the hundreds of homeless people they fed daily. So “The Night of a 1 000 Drawings” was born as a rescue plan. People were invited to donate A5 drawings of anything, which were then sold for R100 to raise funds. By the end of that first evening, enough money had been raised for a new truck. These days the concept has grown beyond Johannesburg to Cape Town (in 2009) and also runs in Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam, Tuscany, Belgium, Dubai and Bloemfontein.

This year’s Night of a 1000 Drawings will be held in Cape Town on the 28 August at the Good Hope Centre and the proceeds will go towards the upgrading of the Thomas Wildschutt School in Retreat. Expect doodles, graffiti, sketches, paintings, and other conceptual and experimental works, all available for R100 each. Who knows, you might even pick up work by a famous – or soon-to-be-famous – artist.

Leading up to the event, in an effort to generate the artworks, several doodle sessions have been organised around the city, in venues such as co-working office Twenty Fifty (that we featured here) and on top of Table Mountain. They’re generally pretty social events with drinks, music and an all-round awesome vibe. The next session is at Field Office on Thursday 22 May, but if you want to get involved and can’t make it to the events there are several drop off points around Cape Town.

Says organiser Shani Judes: “It’s a great honour to be making this happen during 2014 and to be chosen as one of the World Design Capital projects. Our cause now has the platform it deserves to reach more countries around the world. 1000 Drawings is a very simple concept that can change lives and we hope to encourage everyone, young and old, individuals and companies in Cape Town and the rest of the country to send us their doodles and artworks.”

Keep posted on upcoming events by following them on Twitter @1000drawingsSA and liking the 1000 Drawings Cape Town page on Facebook, 1000drawingsct.co.za

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