Touring Melville’s Art Mile this week was an eye opener

Visiting popup galleries, A CBD shop, artisan market, watching a Christmas carols performance and more, was part of the entertainment package on offer during the First Thursday tour.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

This was in fact, the last second stop of the tour, where a group of visual artists, mainly from University of Johannesburg, and others from elsewhere, held a group exhibition.

It was a place really to see the dreams of visual artists, especially young people, reimagine a city different from what they see daily. Even a different one seen by ordinary people, including their parents.

A young woman seated apparently sexually suggestive position, on what looked like cushions. In what looked like skirts, and her position was such that only one conclusion could reasonably be reached. And that is that, she was waiting for some man of hers to arrive, and God knows do what to her.

“That is exactly the problem. The assumption that, when a woman is seated in this position, she must be waiting for some man. She is in a sexual position anyway. But people never even think that, she could be preparing for giving birth. Women’s bodies, have always been sexualised in this world,” said University of Johannesburg visual art student, Shadi Khazi. Khazi, talking about the image above. An image that had a fair share of attention = from the touring team. This painting is part of mainly students’ of an exhibition from UJ, work, who took part in this initiative, Melville Art Mile.

However, Khazi, who hails from Eastern Cape, admitted that she had not yet stomached the courage to show her parents this particular painting. She is worried that her parents, coming from a conservative background, might not see this image in the way she imagines it –which is beyond seeing a female body as a sexual object.

”I have not shown my parents this one. Not yet.” She said this amid a muffled chuckle.

However, the team was first taken to other places in Melville, before this gallery. First, we were transported in a hired vehicle, to a building, corner Main Road and 4^th Avenue. The ERF350 building, which is currently hosting a popup gallery called Resource. We were told that there was also a Tik Tok channel in the basement of that building, which runs for 24 hours. An advertising agency is also housed here.

Sooner after, we were taken to Bamboo, on the other side of Melville, where Freedom Station Café is. Housed in the same building, where famous book store Love Books is.

In Bamboo gallery, we found an artisan market, selling exciting products. Such as home- made juice and home-made cheese. A young woman, Zinhle Mabaso, who we found manning the home-made juice stand, appeared to be proud of her wares.

But earlier on, the touring team, was introduced to Lyn Grobbellaar, who runs an art shop in the vicinity called Trov. Technically, it should be called a half gallery and half art shop. Here you will find African ceramics mainly.

Lyn had time to show the touring team some of the ceramic art. For example, calabashes created by the Tutsi people of Rwanda, used for mainly storing and serving goat milk.

It was then back to 27 Boxes Centre 4^th Avenue, where Aubrey Moloto, the guide, took us around the place, including a number of Popup galleries. Such as the upstairs gallery, where a group exhibition was on. Mainly artists from Asisebenzi Gallery, situated in Johannesburg CBD, and other independent artists. Here, a number of team members were impressed by Mutla’s paintings. Ironically his forte is sculpture, and there was one sculpture among a number of paintings on the wall, that seemed to impress the touring team more than the solo sculpture.

While at 27 Boxes, we also had an opportunity to view Carol’s solo exhibition at Stolkvel Gallery. Comprising of sculptures depicting dogs and paintings, you should see this exhibition before it comes down on Sunday.,

But before this, we were also taken to some other interesting places in Melville, including Hotel Hope, Corner 7^th Street and 1^st Avenue, wherev we were entertained by a mini Orchestra singing some Christmas carols. Yes, Christmas Carols in July. That is though before we were taken to a CBD shop nearby, which opened about five months ago, essentially a wellness centre where you can join as a member for certain privileges, Sherry Buso, the shop manager, explained to CITYLIFE/ARTS.

From here, we were taken to Six Cocktail Bar, also on 7^th Street, where artist Raven Biggar had a popup gallery. She likes painting images influenced by horror movies, she told CITYLIFE/ARTS. However they are so beautiful to the extent that you forget about the horror part of her art practice. One of the touring team members, actually bought one of her paintings.

And so, just to put this touring excursion into context, it was not a random thing.

The latest innovation by businesses in Bohemian Melville aimed at making the once vibrant suburb that in recent years, faced several challenges, is fast making this suburb a desirable place to live, work and play again.

And yes, over the years, the suburb, especially the ever busy 7^th Street, has lost some interesting features –such as clothing boutiques, art deco shops and interesting eateries, granted.

However, as some left, others moved in. Seeing opportunities where others saw doom, and once again, making Melville a decent place to have a cup of coffee, visit galleries and even have something funky, such as cocktails with even, funnier names.

Having lived on-and off-in this suburb for over 25 years, I have witnessed the several episodes of the suburb’s transformation, and therefore, its changing character.

I have witnessed the suburb facing the real threat of losing its position in Johannesburg, as a Bohemian, progressive and culturally vibrant node. That when wrong elements, attracted by its popularity with visitors both from out of South Africa, and others from other cities in South Africa, moved in. For example, crime and car theft, even the threat of physical violence in its streets, threatened to undo the suburb’s cool and vibrant character. However, the suburb has always fought back. Hard. To reclaim its pole position as a suburb of choice to chill and have a good time.

Right now, Melville is on the up trajectory, proving not only to be a resilient suburb, but also, growing new attractions in its belly. New coffee shops have come in. Replacing those that have left. For example, De Baba, which is hardly two years old, situated on 4th Avenue, is a really cool place to hang out in. Whether you want to simply have coffee and catch up on the latest news around the world, on your phone, or have a business meeting, this is it in Melville.

I used to have my meetings at Crème Dela Crème Conner 4ht and 7^th Avenue before, which unfortunately, closed down this year after running for a long time. When it closed down, those who have used that space as a place for breakfast and meetings, were clearly disappointed. I was one of them. This the place where over the years, I held some of my interviews with artists –from satirist Peter Dirk Uys, to Congolese painter Tonton Kabeya. My anxiety, however proved to be baseless, as it has turned out.

This is because, clearly, De Baba Café, has replaced Crème De La Crème, as a place for holding meetings over breakfast.

This year alone, I had two interviews there with writers, one from Canada, and the other one, with a local writer. I liked its ambiance and the friendliness of its waiters, so much so that, I can assure you, this place has now become a place in Melville where I will do my interviews with artists going forward. It also has a stable internet connection to enable you, to work almost as if you are in your office.

This is not all, as other cool businesses have moved in, including the popular First Thursdays, being promoted by a new initiative in Melville called Art Mile, fronted by Aubrey Moloto.

An organisation at the forefront of this is a Non-Profit Organisation, formed by businesses operating g in the suburb.

The organisation conducts tours to art spaces, such as art galleries, restaurants and the markets. I have been to one of them in the past, and I liked the experience.

That is why on Thursday, June 2, 2026, I was back again on this tour, promoted as the Mandela Month First Thursdays. And so Melville, is again on the move.

And therefore touring Melville’s art Mile this week, was an eye opener.