The new year traditionally begins slowly in the South African art world, as many galleries, studios and publications take their sweet time in getting started. But this year will certainly be a crucial one for many, as the climate of economic uncertainty curbs any laurel-resting. February and March, by contrast, promise to be industrious bordering on frenetic, as we build up to the second Joburg Art Fair in early April. Shows to entice you out of your slumber this month include Robyn Penn's new body of paintings at Johannesburg's Brodie/Stevenson, and Deborah Bell's exhibition at the Goodman Gallery Cape. Also, Johannes Phokela and David Andrew have separate but concurrent shows in the two spaces of Johannesburg's Standard Bank Gallery. That's good enough reason to put down the turkey leftovers, pack away the Tannenbaum and head on out.
