Table Bay Hotel celebrates a festive summer with local decor
Expanding on the V&A Waterfront’s Joy from Africa to the World movement, The Table Bay Hotel has again partnered with local artists to craft festive decorations for the hotel.
The decorations include a hand-painted boat filled with Christmas gifts and a Christmas tree with illustrated baubles by Michael Chandler of Chandler House in the CBD, and beaded ornaments from Monkeybiz, based in Khayelitsha.
A paper-mache whale ship light was created by designer Michael Methven, who also crafted a wooden cargo ship, ceramic yacht, woven dhow, among other crafts.
The Embrace Collective, which aims to improve the life of people living with HIV/AIDS by creating job opportunities through the craft of paper-mache, made festive baubles out of recycled paper.
The general manager of the Table Bay, Joanne Selby, said the beautiful decorations welcome the guests to a festive season on the coastline, where boats arrived laden with surprises for more than 300 years.
“Our festive theme celebrates the Table Bay Hotel’s unique location - a beautiful bay that has welcomed hundreds of ships over the centuries.
“We wanted to be meaningful while making the traditions more contemporary.”
This is the second year that Monkeybiz partnered with Table Bay, who had last year created beaded pots and decorations that were reused this year.
The founder of Monkeybiz, Mathapelo Ngaka-Mtati, from Khayelitsha, said this year, they’ve added beaded seals - representing the hotel’s mascot Oscar the Seal - to the collection.
“This was our best Christmas so far. We are able to support the women who craft from their homes as well as their families, and Monkeybiz is being put on the map with these projects.”
The Table Bay Hotel has also provided Monkeybiz with cabinet space to display their work. If any of the work is sold, all the proceeds will go to Monkeybiz. Ms Ngaka-Mtati the products are selling so well, they have to replenish the cabinet every second week.
“We are very grateful.”
Artist Glorinah Kutso Mabazo from Pretoria’s Baubles covered in traditional Ndebele patterns were also reused this year.
“I hope visitors enjoy experiencing our South African cultures while visiting the hotel,” he said.
Mr Chandler said, with his illustrations, he wanted guests to relax and have fun.
“I’m all about taking the tinsel and snow away from Christmas in South Africa. We are in the middle of summer time and there is so little about that and the beaches. We wanted to bring this home.”
He said the illustration of the whale ship was birthed from a partnership with a big retail company for the past two years, and was approached by Creative director of Platform Creative, Cathy O’Clery, to form part of the project at the hotel, and together they worked to turn the illustration into a 3D sculpture.“
Meanwhile, the hotel will also be introducing a festive menu under the guidance of recently appointed chef, Lindsay Venn.
