Example of one of the trees from 2005

RELATED LINKS: Main Street turns into Christmas tree forest RIGHT in the middle of the city centre, Main Street has been adorned with a variety of spectacular Christmas trees. Read more Buy a Tree of Light globe for a loved one SEND a message of goodwill or simply remember a loved one who has died with the annual Tree of Light at the Johannesburg Zoo. Read more It's carols-at-Zoo-Lake-time again PACK the picnic baskets and bring out the candles, 'tis the season for festive cheer - and Carols by Candlelight at Zoo Lake. Read more What to do this week OUTDOOR adventure, heritage, family treats, new art or museum shows - follow Lucille Davie's weekly selection of the most interesting city activities. Read more Events calendar 2006M YOUR first-stop guide to city events, our interactive calendar ranges wide, from concerts to lectures to DIY shows. Search by date, area or category. You can also subscribe to free weekly e-mail alerts. Read more

Festive detail

Sparkling trees light up Main Street Main Street is again being turned into a forest of bright Christmas trees, all designed by local artists and made using a variety of interesting materials. November 30, 2006 By Tabisa Mntengwana CHRISTMAS trees and sparkling lights will again brighten up Main Street, in the city centre, this festive season. The Christmas tree forest, now in its third year, is in celebration of the season of peace and goodwill, and it features beautiful, glittering trees and lights made by local artists. The project is organised by mining company Anglo American and is aimed at celebrating the rejuvenation of the inner city. According to a press release, this year's show promises to be spectacular. The lights will be switched on at Anglo's offices in Main Street, on Monday, 4 December at 5.30pm. But the three-metre tall trees are not the only attraction. Also on the cards are activities for children such as face painting, balloon giveaways and train rides. Downtown Jozi will once again be lit up Various local artists were commissioned to design trees for the street. Featured artists include Dave Rossouw, Johan Thom, Gina Waldman, John Molteno, Thomas Kubai and KEAG, a Cape Town organisation. Materials used are bottles, glitter, metal, wire, resin, fabric, Perspex and stained glass. The trees' styles are influenced by different themes, such as mining, Joburg as a City and its residents, politics and spirituality. Thom's work is an abstract tree in the form of three massive light boxes shaped as yellow rulers. It is comprised of three, free-standing, enlarged single rulers with branches and decorations placed inside each other. "The trees are designed to illicit the viewer's interaction," Thom says. "Each light box will be placed facing a different direction, forcing the viewer to walk around the objects." KEAG's tree is a totem pole made from recycled materials. The trunk is made from plastic buckets and metal drums from old washing machines, the branches are made from cold drink bottles and the leaves are made from old shoes, toothbrushes and squashed bottles. The trees will be shining until Sunday, 31 December. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za