Portrait Party with the Cape Town Craft Club and The Mental Spectacle | 2 April

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ABOUT

Join our portrait party!

The Cape Town Craft Club brings creative people in the city together to make things in a laid-back, fun and judgement-free space.

For this week's Craft Night, we're hosting a Portrait Party! No experience is necessary and all basic materials are provided. From seasoned makers to those who haven't picked up a crayon since school, everyone is welcome.

This marks the beginning of a series of collaborations with The Mental Spectacle. Creativity isn’t about making; it’s about meaning and connection. It is how we bridge our internal worlds with others, sharing what it means to be, and to be ourselves. This collaboration brings together hands-on crafting with thoughtful conversation; turning simple creative acts into spaces for reflection, storytelling, and connection. 

What is a Portrait Party?

We very rarely see ourselves how other people do, and we talk to ourselves in ways that we would never speak to a good friend. We are so biased by being in the driver’s seat that we end up having quite twisted visions of ourselves. This event is a response to this distortion, as an exploration of identity, perception, and the space in between. It is a chance to see ourselves through someone else’s eyes.

We’ll start with a short talk on observer bias and the narrative model of identity, followed by a 'speed-dating' portrait round, where participants will create quick sketches of multiple people, loosening any hesitation about drawing. From there, we’ll pair off for longer portraits and guided conversation, using a conversational menu. We’ll end off with paper portraits, collaging a new way of seeing ourselves. 

Your ticket includes a hot drink and an evening of portrait-making, guided by Andie Reeves, a teacher, textile artist, and the founder of Cape Town Craft Club, and David Backwell, a medical doctor, cognitive enthusiast, and writer behind The Mental Spectacle.

Join us to:

• meet other cool people who craft
• carve out time for yourself to be creative
• make new friends in a low-stakes environment
• hang out with your friends in a fresh, fun way
• work alongside others who inspire and encourage you
• become part of a community of local makers
• find an artistic outlet
• simply spend a few hours doing something creative with your hands

What you'll get

A hot drink and three hours to be creative away from the distractions of home.

Make with mates

Everyone is welcome—bring a friend or two!

Or come solo

Craft Night is a friendly, welcoming space and a great way to meet new people. Don’t be shy about coming alone.

What to bring

All basic materials will be provided, however, attendees are encouraged to bring their favourite medium to work with—pencils, crayons, pastels, watercolours etc.

You are also welcome to bring snacks, food, or a bottle of wine in the name of getting the creative juices flowing.

If you have any special needs or requirements, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

See you at the party!

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