The guest speaker at the Winelands chapter of Mensa SA’s meeting tomorrow, Thursday February 16, at 7.15pm, in Somerset West, is Monique Schiess, one of the founders and the original coordinator of AfrikaBurn, South Africa’s official Burning Man regional event.
Monique has two degrees in environmental science and social anthropology, and “a doctorate in driving rebar pegs into rock and shale, and a PhD in the economics of artistic chaos and wrangling itinerant misfits and renegades”.
She is currently the creative development director and liaison for AfrikaBurn, and she will be speaking on AfrikaBurn: the what, the why, and some history, with a light sprinkling of dust, heat, wind, and inspiration.
AfrikaBurn has been taking place annually in the Tankwa Karoo, since 2007, and is centred on the construction of temporary artworks in a semi-desert environment, some of which are burnt towards the end of the event.
Many of the attendees wear elaborate costumes, and create decorate “mutant vehicles”.
Entry to the Mensa talk is free.
If you would like to attend as a guest, or would like more information about Mensa, send an email to wnl.secretary@mensa.org.za, or WhatsApp/SMS 083 462 9585.
